On Monday morning I met 62 of my fellow Patriot Guard Riders at the Army National Guard hangar at the airport here in Austin. We joined the family and friends of Spc Matt Morris (23, Cedar Park, TX) and waited for the arrival of the small private plane that was carrying home his casket.
Spc. Morris was killed in action when an IED detonated near his vehicle in Balad, Iraq on April 6.
Before enlisting in the Army in 2005, Morris attended the Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro, Va., for more than a year. There, he met a history teacher who inspired him to want to become an educator.
“After his service, he wanted to go back to school and get a four-year degree to become a teacher,” his mother said. “He wanted to make a difference and give back to the community.”
His family never need doubt again as to whether or not Spc. Morris made a difference, as he gave the ultimate sacrifice back to his community.
Morris’ father was also an Army man. Glenn Morris was stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War. Morris said his son believed that serving in the military would make his parents proud.
“He was so proud to wear his uniform that he walked taller in it, and you could see the pride he had in his service even when he was in a T-shirt and shorts.”
I met Glenn Morris on Monday morning and shook his hand — I don’t think there is any doubt as to how proud he is of his son.
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It was another impressive and heart-wrenching homecoming.
The airport escort missions — where he meet the arriving soldier’s casket, and escort it to the funeral home where the services will be held a few days later — are always more difficult for me. On the funeral missions, the family has had several days to see, touch, and talk to casket carrying their loved one.
On the airport missions, they are seeing the casket for the first time. The emotions area almost always overwhelming.
The motorcycle police did an outstanding job of shutting down the 33 miles stretch of highway between the airport and the funeral home. If you were on Hwy 183 around lunch time on Monday, and wondered why the entire freeway was shut down for a procession of motorcycles, this was why.
At the funeral home, after the casket of Spc. Morris was carried inside, the family of Spc. Morris and his fellow soldiers all came by to shake our hands and tell us thank you. There were a lot of tears on both sides. Spc. Morris’ mom told me how much Matt would have liked our presence, as he loved to ride his own bike:
Family members said the motorcyclists were an appropriate farewell for Morris who had a passion for his own bike.
“He loved to ride it, and the louder the better,” said his mother, Lisa Morris of Cedar Park.
Spc. Matt Morris will buried today at the Central Texas State Veteran’s Cemetery in Killeen, TX. I wish I could attend the services to pay my respects — but I know that my fellow PGR riders will be there to ensure that the passing of this soldier does not go unnoticed.
Glad y’all could be there for Spc. Morris and his family.
I’m sure it was a solemn and emotional day.
Left by no2liberals on April 16th, 2008 at 2:00 pm