RIP — George Moss of Temple, TX

I just received this email notification about a pending Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) mission this Friday for Mr. George Moss:

Mr. George Moss passed away on Tuesday, 2 December 2008 after having spent the last 10 years of his life being cared for by the Temple VA Hospital where he resided.

He had no home or family.

The Patriot Guard Riders has been asked to provide funeral services for this Veteran Hero at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas on Friday, 5 December 2008 at 1000 hours.

Staging will be at CTSVC beginning at 0900 hours. If you can participate in the firing team, flag folding team, pall bearer, etc. you must arrive at the cemetery at 0900 hours for a rehearsal. We get one opportunity to honor this Veteran Hero and to do it correctly, we need people who are willing to be perfect in what is requested. So, if you are going to take correction personally (during the rehearsal), please come to the mission and stand the flag line.

We are asked to provide pall bearers (6), flag folders (2), firing party with bugler (at least 4) and chaplain (1).

I have informed the Funeral Director that we can provide the pall bearers (probably) and the flag folding team with bugler. We’ll need people to step forward and volunteer to meet the other requests.

If you have a 5.56 mm (.223 cal) M16 style rifle, or a 5.56mm (.223 cal) mini-14 style rife or can borrow one for the funeral please answer on the thread. We also have access to four .30 cal M1903 rifles and blank ammo in both calibers.

We also need a Chaplain.

That email is not quite accurate.

Mr. Moss does have a family — every Soldier who has ever served is his brother. And on Friday, we shall not let Mr. Moss’ death pass unnoticed. He will be buried with all the honor and respect that a Veteran deserves.

On Friday, the PGR will be Mr. Moss’ family. And we’ll all mourn his passing as we give thanks for his life and service.

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I’m as proud of my membership in the PGR as I am of anything I’ve ever done in my life. The men and women who ride in this organization are some of the most genuinely decent, honorable, and patriotic people I have ever had the privilege of knowing.

And it’s not just the respect and honor we pay to our current Soldiers, but to those from the past as well.

Like George Moss.