Remembering PFC Tina Priest

Pfc. Tina M. Priest, 20, of Smithville, Texas died in Taji, Iraq on March 1, 2006.

Tina Preist's Headstone in Smithville, TX

Today, my wife and I made the 52-mile ride out to the small town of Smithville to pay our respects and to remember the passing of this young American Soldier who died fighting for our freedoms.

The very first Patriot Guard Riders mission that I rode was for PFC Priest. Several months later, on a hot Texas August afternoon, I stopped by to visit her grave again — and noted that there was still not a headstone on her grave.

Tina’s mother wrote me shortly afterwards to tell me that she had designed Tina’s headstone and the granite was being imported from India.

Tina’s death and my subsequent involvement with the PGR and with the people of Smithville and with Tina’s family will always be with me.