I left my house at 7:45 a.m. yesterday to make the short 15 mile ride across town to the Cook-Walden Funeral Home in order to prepare for the funeral services for Cpl. Michael “Craig” Ledsome.

The morning temperature — 39 degrees — was 12 degrees warmer than the previous morning, but still made for a chilly morning ride.

When I arrived, many other Patiort Guard Riders had already arrived and staked out a row of parking for our bikes. I was happy to see good friends and familiar faces all around, like Jerry and Betty from New Braunfels, Robert Flores from San Antonio, Muddy Duck from Round Rock, George Ulloa, Sr. from Austin, and Tim Carrington from Austin.

The funeral wasn’t scheduled to start until 10:00 a.m., but the funeral home staff graciously invited us in to warm up and enjoy some hot coffee.

Before the friends and family started to arrive, we formed a flag corridor at the front of the funeral home entrance. I’m always moved by the reactions many people have to our flag displays — I know for many, the sight of a large group of solemn, leather-clad bikers holding large American flags is unexpected. I’ve seen numerous people break into tears at the overtly symbolic display of patriotism and respect that our group tries to convey.

I remember one old man, a Navy veteran, probably in hist late 70s — as he walked, hunched over and slowly, through our flag corridor, he attempted to salute each and every flag. We later learned from his wife that he always salutes all US flags that he encounters. Another man wearing a cowboy hat entered and left the church several times — each time he removed his hat and held it over his heart as he walked through the flags.

After the church service for Cpl. Ledsome, we were standing in formation waiting on the Marine Corp. Honor Guard to place the casket in the hearse for the procession to the cemetery. While we were standing in line, a woman approached us and asked, “How did ya’ll know Craig? Was he a rider?”. I told her that we didn’t know him. We just knew what he stood for. She started crying, moved that complete strangers would take time to come and pay their respects.

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We only had 22 PGR bikes yesterday morning (and 6 cages). But our numbers were seriously (and gratefully) augmented by the motorcycle cops of the Austin Police Department and the Travis County Sheriff’s Department. Of the 72 motorcylces in the APD fleet, 34 of them were present to help escort home the body of Cpl. Ledsome.

The 34 APD bikes lined up in two rows and led the procession out of the church. The Ledsome family asked the Patriot Guard Riders to fall in behind the police escort, but in front of the hearse and the familiy vehicles. It was humbling to be asked to ride in this place of honor and to lead Cpl. Ledsome to his final resting place.

The Sherrif’s Department MCs did an outstanding job of traffic management, and when we made our way onto MoPac (a busy 6 lane highway that runs through the center of Austin), it was completely closed down…there was not a single vehicle on the road. We made our way down the freeway at parade speed (about 35 mph). It was almost eerily deserted.

The sight of the APD bikes in their tight parade formation and flashing lights was a sight to behold as we made our way through the center of Austin during the busy lunch hour — the large police presence announcing to everyone that someone very special was headed this way.

It looked like a Presidential motorcade, but our escort was much more important.

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At the cemetery, we once again formed our flag corridor, which was in place when the hearse arrived just behind three APD officers playing the Marine Corp Hymn on bag pipes. I was standing right next to the rear of the hearse as the Honor Guard moved into position to remove the casket. I couldn’t help but notice that at least 2 the Marines in the Honor Guard were wearing Purple Heart medals.

It was a moving, but short burial service, presided over by a Navy Chaplain. Watching the Marines in their dress blue uniform as they performed each motion of the military honors was emotionally impressive. It was the first time that I had ever heard duel bugles play Taps.

Cpl. Ledsome was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for the wounds he received in Iraq. One of the medals was presented to Cpl. Ledsome’s younger brother Brad, who was also wearing his Marine Corp dress blues.

The burial services ended with the APD bag pipes playing Amazing Grace. After 15 military funerals this year alone, I can usually make it through most of the ceremony without losing control of my emotions — which is especially difficult for me during the 21-gun salute and the playing of taps. But when bagpipes playing Amazing Grace fills the air, that’s more than I can stand. I watched as most of those attending wiped tears from their eyes.

President Abraham Lincoln stated in the Gettysburg Address:

From these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.

Godspeed, Cpl. Ledsome. Godspeed.