PGR MISSION: JAMES "JIM" EHLERT USN 3-28-2011

Today,  Monday, 3-28-2011, the North Texas  PGR had a mission at the Riverside Cemetery in Wichita Falls Texas, for the graveside services for James "Jim" Ehlert. Mr. Ehlert served in the US Navy and was a Pearl Harbor survivor and was aboard the USS Oklahoma when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Scroll down and join us for this Mission  as we pay our respects and final honors to the hero of World War II and a member of "The Greatest Generation". REMEMBER: IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE PICTURE BIGGER, JUST CLICK ON THE PICTURE                                                                     .                                                                                                                                      

 This is the entrance to the Riverside Cemetery located off of Seymour Highway in Wichita Falls Texas

 As I circled in back of the cemetery, I saw about seven wild turkeys running towards me. By the time I stopped the Harley and took off the lens cap to my camera, this was the only shot I could get of the last two turkeys as they ran behind me.

 I parked the bike and got this picture of Floyd & his wife Cathy, Tessica his daughter-in law and his step-son, Michael

Another picture of, left to right: Floyd, Cathy, Tessica and Michael. and Tessica is pronounced like Jessica but with a T (For those who thought I was misspelling her name.)

 Here are the PGR members setting up the static flag line. Ted is pounding the rebar into the ground and the other members slide a flag pole down over the rebar.

 Here are Floyd & Tessica getting some flags out of the PGR support truck, with the help of Barbara. Barbara is one of our Senior PGR North Texas Ride Captains and in charge of this mission.

 Here is Barbara,  a North Texas PGR Senior Ride Captain. All the PGR Ride Captains, wear the maroon ball caps or do-rags. The other members wear blue ball caps or do-rags

 Here are Cathy and Floyd. I felt bad for Cathy as she was about to freeze to death. There was a cool nip in the breeze today..

Here are Crazy Mike (black leathers) and Troy (blue levi vest). This was the first time I met Troy..

 Troy listens in as Barbara gives a short briefing

 I like this patch: WHEN YOU NEED HELP, ASK GOD.  WHEN YOU DON'T, THANK GOD"

 Here is Ted. Ted is a Bronze Star recipient for his actions during the Vietnam War and he is also a North Texas PGR Ride Captain.

 Another picture of Ted. I take extra pictures of Ted and send them to his daughter Vickie, who lives up in Fort Collins Colorado, so she can keep track of him. She runs an outstanding biker blog at : http://www.ourharleydays.blogspot.com/ .

 Here is Jimmy, another North Texas PGR Ride Captain, and Laura has her back to the camera.

 We gather by the hearse and wait until we get word the family is enroute and then we will form up our flag line around the gravesite.

 Here are Floyd , Tessica, Michael and Cathy as we stand around and talk.

 Floyd talking with Mike and Troy

 Here are Tex and his wife, Laura. Tex is a North Texas PGR Ride Captain and a recipient of the Bronze Star for his actions during the Vietnam War.

Another picture of two of my favorite people, Tex and Laura.                                                                      

 We get word the family is enroute to the cemetery and we get ready to form up our flag line.

 Here we are looking towards the cemetery entrance to see if we could see the procession arriving.

 Last second instructions being given out and then....

 A quick picture of me and Mike together,

 And then we form up the flag line and wait. The flag line to my right.

 Mike is to my left and is the end of the flag line on this flank.

The flag line is looking good. Not a sound from any of us.                                                                       

 To my right are: Laura, Ted, Tex, Jimmy and Michael.

 Mike at his position.

After a quick graveside service, we break the line and go put up the flags.  Here is Laura before we head to the truck.

 That is Tim and Tessica furling their flags. We unfurl the flags when walking and when we return to the truck, we furl the flags back up for storage.

 Barbara positions the flags in their bags as Ted furls his flag

 Here is Tim furling another flag and that is Floyd to his left..

 Barbara aligning the flags in the duffle bags. There are 20 flags to each bag.

 Tim looks around and sees there are no flags left in the static line.

 Here Mike, Ted and Jimmy talk before we get dismissed.

Tim , talking to Jimmy right before we leave the area.

Ted and Tex start walking to our bikes and trucks.

Mike checks his bike as Ted, Laura and Tex talk.

Mike, Ted and Tex talk and this is the last picture of this post and will conclude this post.      

It was an honor to be invited to attend this service by the family of James Ehlert. It was good to see my fellow PGR members and meet Troy, Cathy, Tessica and Michael.                                     

Scroll down for more rides, runs and events and don't forget to click on the "OLDER POSTS" link at the bottom of each page or directly under the last post on the page.

Continue to pray for all of our troops both in and out of Harms Way, especially for: CHE WHITAKER, CHRIS DRAGUE, FRED HUGHES AND WILL HIGGINS, all are serving in the Afghanistan Theatre Of Operations:  and for PATTIE JACKSON who is serving in Qatar.   

Until next post, ya'll be careful out there, keep the rubber on the road, keep your head on a swivel and most importantly of all...........................RIDE SAFE......................... JOHN