Jack Zimmerman Welcome Home

Patriot Guard Riders,

Thank you all so much for being there to welcome Jack back to Minnesota. You have no idea how much that meant to him, myself and our families. He couldn't wait for his homecoming and flying in seeing you all standing there with the flags waving was more than we ever expected. We can never thank you enough and want you all to know how much we appreciate you all being there.

Jack and Megan Zimmerman

Thank You from Margaret Clarey Family

Slick and others of the Patriot Guard Riders,

I received a copy of the e-mail you sent concerning the service for Margaret Clarey, Stillwater on Nov. 1, 2011.

The entire family was very proud and honored to have you participate, and particularly such a large group on such a day. My mother would have been very proud and not a little humbled I'm sure. She would probably wondered what all the fuss was about too, but that was the kind of person she was.

Since my brother and I are also veterans it made us especially proud, I am an Air Force vet (68-72) and my brother was Army (72-75). The 4 of us (Father (James), Mother (Margaret) and me (Scott) and brother (Charles) also have pavers in a group at the Stillwater Vets memorial.

FYI, your group is on the front page of the Stillwater Gazette Non. 2, 2011 edition, here is a link.

http://www.stillwatergazette.com/articles/2011/11/02/headlines/625st_110211_honorguard.txt

One again, a special Thank You to you and your special group.

The Clarey Family.

A Thank You Note

To Patriot Guard,

I was at the Snelling Cemetery visiting a family member's grave yesterday and saw your group preparing to honor the death of one of our heroes. I wanted to thank all of you for the wonderful respect and caring you show to those that serve and have served our country as well as the families that are left behind. I am sorry I did not take the opportunity to say this yesterday.

Thank you, Monica

Thank You note

Thank you MN Patriot Guard who rode their motorcycles and did the flag line at my father's funeral on October 14, 2011. That day was amazing. I had a smile on my face when I rode my father's Harley and led 49 other motorcycles for his final ride into Ft. Snelling. I can't forget the 3 bald eagles that flew above us and called out. Wow! I think that took everyone's breath away. Thank you.

Ride Free, Mark Angermeier

SPC Shayne Everett

Minnesota Patriot Guard,

Words cannot express our gratitude for the respect, sincerity and compassion shown for my son Shayne at his funeral and burial. Your presence was so appreciated and showed the respect and honor we were all feeling. Your display was awe inspiring, and will never be forgotten. Thank you for all that you do, from the bottom of our hearts.

The family of SPC Shayne Everett,
Lisa & John Draper
Krystal & Sean Payton
Randi Weber

Wreaths Across America Thank you

Everett "Jack" Maciosek

My sincerest thanks to you….. and all the MN Patriot Guard members… that stood in the flag line for my father’s funeral service. 

This was my first time being on the other side of the flag line.  When walking out of the church and see all the flags and friendly faces…..you took my breathe away and the tears started to flow.  Only this time, I wasn’t wearing shades to hide them! 

My words cannot describe how grateful I was to see so many faces and the warmth I felt from my PG brothers and sisters.   The long distance so many of you traveled, along with the cold weather….my heart went out to you.

Thank you for being there….. and being a part of my father’s final journey.  You have given our family a special gift that we will forever treasure! Thanks for all you do; you do make a difference……

Kindest Regards,   Audrey Johnson & family NW Metro – MNPG Member

Thank you: Benedict (Ben) Auer Family

You can not beleive the impact you had for my Dad's funeral.  Father Stangl made a point during the Mass to point out how amazing the PG presence was for him too.

We do appreciate everything, and makes me proud to be a PG member, even if I'm a cage!

Thank you again.

Ken Auer

Michael Nolen Thank You

From Ninette Nolen (the aunt of Cpl. Michael Nolen):

I have lots of thoughts and feelings about and surrounding the death of my nephew and many are mixed and unclear. But standing out are the members of your group - simply there - caring, respectful, quiet and simply being present to all. I wasn't surprised to see you at the funeral home, but to see familiar faces the next day at the memorial service in Hudson, blew me away, knowing that some of you had been at Fort Snelling since 7:30 for other funerals. I can't comprehend, but I know we were blessed by having you with us. Thank you.

Ninette Nolen

Major Carlson at FSNC

I cannot thank you enough! You all did a fantastic job for sending off Major Carlson. His family was so very impressed..as was everybody else.
Thanks you all so very much again!

Joe and Sherry Folz on behalf of the Carlson Family

Ralph Carlson's return to Braham

Dear Patriot Guard Riders,

We are so grateful you could be with us on Saturday to honor Ralph Carlson's return to Braham. Seeing the church lot lined with flags and again at the cemetery was a powerful moment. The memory will stand out forever in our minds. Thank you for honoring our fallen men and women. Enclosed is a gift ($100) in Ralph's memory.

Sincerely,

Marvin Carlson, Florence Shebetka & family

David Riddering's, funeral in Barnesville, MN.

MN Patriot Guard,

On June 21, 2011, the MN Patriot Guard stood guard at my husband's, David Riddering's, funeral in Barnesville, MN. I can't tell you how much I appreciated your attendance and I know Dave would have felt honored too. I know this sounds strange, but I felt safe and it made a difficult day a little easier. Ted Riddering, a Patriot Guard member and Dave's brother, already thanked you all who attended verbally, but I would also like to thank you myself. Thank you for honoring Dave.

May God Bless You,

Anna Riddering & family

Ronald Longacre Mission

Jerry,


As I sit here a week after my fathers funeral, I am still in awe at the amazing feelings that each and every one of my family and friends felt at the presents of you and your fellow guards men and women at the church. You stood out there with such Honor in the intense heat and did not leave until long after we had left. You gave us wonderful memories on a very sad day. My father would have been so proud and would have shaken each and every one of your hands personally if he could have. What you and your fellow guardsmen and women do is an amazing tribute to our fallen heroes! I am proud to be an American and more so knowing that there are people like you out there. If I could sum up in one word to describe what that meant to us it would be WOW!!!!!!!

I would like to send you a donation and will send some pictures on when I get them off my daughter’s camera, just as a thank you for being there for us and him during the most difficult time of our life. Please know that you will always have a special place in my heart.

Please send me the address that so that I might send you a contribution to help you further your mission to honor more heroes in the way that you have my father!


Thank you and God Bless,

Sincerely Rhonda

Thank You from the Ronnei family

Dear Mn. PGR,

All that I can think of is WOW! For RC Ernie Johnson and all who stood for my brother Mike Ronnei at Fort Snelling on Wed. June 8th thank you! Being a PGR member and never being on the other side, I now know how much it means to the family. I have gotten phone calls, Emails, telling me how they were in tears when they saw you all standing there with your flags. I know my brother was grinning from ear to ear. He was a man of few words, and his wife told me that he would be so happy that ya'll are" regular" people. And for the gentleman who's flag I stole to stand, I'm sorry, spur of the moment thought. Thank you for sharing your flag with me.

My deepest gratitude,

Julie Ronnei- Murphy
SE Texas PGR member

Note from the family of Leonard Etzel

Tim,

We want to thank the Patriot Guard for their moving tribute to Dad. We were honored that so many attended Dad’s service on Tuesday. It was breathtaking to see all of your guard at the entrance to church and we were touched very deeply. The guard members endured record temperatures with not a word of complaint. Please communicate our sincere gratitude to all the members.

We want to make a memorial contribution to the Patriot Guard organization. What is the best way to get that to you?

Thank you for all that you do to remember our service members.


Sincerely,

The Etzel Family

Thank you for the Send-Off and Escort to Fort McCoy

Mr. Ernie Johnson, Mr. John Redfield and the Members of the Patriot Guard:

I just want to thank you for honoring my Soldiers at our deployment departure
ceremony and with the motorcycle escort to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. It's
wonderful for me as a commander to have groups in the community re-enforce
the importance of our mission and to also re-enforce the fact that Soldiers,
Sailors, Airmen and Marines occupy a special place in our society.

Thank you for the signed banner, we will proudly display it during our
mission to Kuwait.

Things are going well for the Red Bulls here at Fort McCoy. We've gone
through some paperwork, had a few shots and blood draws and received even
more equipment. Everything has gone surprisingly smooth. I guess the old
soldier in me expected the Army to lose more paperwork and records. But that
didn't happen!

Thank you again for your patriotism and service.

Respectfully,

LTC Gary Mundfrom
Commander, 1/34th BSTB MN ARNG

Pine City Deployment Thank You Letter

My name is Tracy Charchenko and my boyfriend just left for Ft. McCoy, Wis today. He is part of the 1-94th cavlery out of Pine City, Mn. I am not sure if I am contacting the right person but I just wanted to thank all of you guys for doin what you do! It brought tears to my eyes to see all of the flags around our soldiers. This morning before he got on the bus, like 5 of you guys showed up! My boyfriend had called me and said "babe their still here.... they are escorting us the whole way!". He said wow I want to shake their hand for caring so much about total strangers! I thought I needed to tell someone so if that was youre group or not in pine city.... THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU PEOPLE DO! If its not please send this to who needs it! MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL!TracyBlaine, Mn

Colby's Send Off Party

Hey Joe, Good Morning My Wonderful Brother

Been meaning to write you this note for many days now, but for once in my life I haven't been able to find the words to express my feelings. Still can't.

The night at Jake's, Feb 18 to be exact was so overwhelming. I felt as if for the first time my mixed up feelings about Colby's decision were being qualified and shared by a whole group of people that I had never met before yet we all became one heart.

Sometimes I still have some trouble grasping my feelings that go between pride and loss and fear and love. But that moment in time at Jake's pulls me together every time. And I know the memory of that evening will continue always to give me strength and peace through you and all the angels of our soldiers that I was honored to cross paths with.

I love you so much Joe and all the angels you walk with and brought with you for Colby and me. Colby, your nephew of few words, as you know, was more overwhelmed than I have ever seen him. He was bursting with a rare emotion that will carry him through his days in harms way.

Love forever and always,
Janet

Thank You from IJ's Parents

Dear Patriot Guard,

We were so honored to have you participate in our son, John's, visitation and funeral in December 2010. Your presence was indeed a tribute to our boy. We learned so much from all of the Guard's remarks at the funeral home that it allowed us to have a special look at our son. He truly touched some hearts and was a dedicated leader of your organization. The respect that you showed to our family during our time of grief was second to none!!

Enclosed find our check ($400) to carry on your work. We are plugged into your website and might show up sometime for an event. Right now I have tears in my eyes just thinking of you and your flags,

Sincerely, John & Evelynne Thompson