SSgt. Forrest D. Baker, 28, San Antonio, TX had just returned from Iraq and was assigned to the New York City Recruiting Battalion. He died July 2nd following a motorcycle accident. SSgt leaves behind three children ages 3 to 9 yrs. His mother requested the presence of the Patriot Guard at his funeral services in San Antonio, TX on July 15, 2006.
Over 100 motorcycles and numerous cages (cars) rode to honor and pay respects to another fallen Soldier.
As with all military funerals, it is especially difficult to see the young widow and the children and their deep, deep grief. The Gold Star Mothers were on hand to present SSgt Baker’s mother with a Gold Star flag — one of the mothers presenting the flag to Mrs. Baker couldn’t stop her own tears from falling as she read the symbolism and history of the Gold Star flag.
[mygal=pgr_ssg_baker]
After the funeral, the PGR was invited to the Lonesome Dove Ranch in South San Antonio to celebrate the living:
Hugh Long is the owner of Lonesome Dove, a 650-acre ranch in the San Antonio area. Every third Saturday of the month, Mr. Long puts on a Bar-B-Q where he invites wounded troops, their families and the staff from Brooks Army Medical Center (BAMC) to come out and enjoy a day of fishing, swimming, good food and friendship. He has extended that invitation to members of the Patriot Guard Riders as his way to say “thank you†for what we do.
A little history about Hugh Long: He and all four of his brothers served in Vietnam together. At the start of the Iraq war, Mr. Long vowed to put on a Bar-B-Q every month until the war is over.
A special thanks to Mr. Long and his wife Molly for having us out today. It was a wonderful experience getting to mingle and share stories with the soldiers and their families. It looks like all the kids had a great time in the pool, and we watched one young kid pull at least 12 Blue Gill and Bass out of your amazing pond.
Bless you all. And may he rest in peace. My prayers to his family.
Left by Terr on July 15th, 2006 at 10:34 pm