The family of Mario Arturo Rodriguez has invited the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) to attend the Military Honors of their loved one as he makes his final journey. It will be our honor to do so.
Mario was born on 05 January 1936 and entered onto Eternal Rest on 16 January 2017.
Mario enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1951 and was awarded the Korean Service Medal W/1 Star and United Nations Service Medal. He was honorably discharged as a Corporal in 1952. In 1954 Mario re-enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as an Airman Second Class and was honorably discharged in 1958.
Mario did not talk very much about his military days but he was very proud to have served.
Mario met his wife Judy on the base in Colorado, they later married and move to California in 1962.
Mario worked for the City of El Monte for thirty-five years as a mechanic repairing their work trucks. He did not miss one day of work in thirty-five years. He was very dedicated and very responsible. He loved being around people, having a house with a pool, he would invite the whole neighborhood over and have barbecues. Mario liked to work on cars with his co-workers, he liked fishing, hunting and was very outgoing. He was very supportive of his children in sports after working all day. In his younger years, Mario was a Golden Gloves boxer and also a bus driver working for RTD Bus Line.
Mario is survived by his wife Judy, six children, nineteen brothers and sisters, twelve grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero and his family from the mortuary to his final resting place. Please see the time table if you would like to participate. For those who would rather go directly to the cemetery, we will meet you there.
Time Table for Friday 03 February 2017 1230 – Stage at Arlington Mortuary, 9645 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA 92503
https://goo.gl/maps/5m5NV1300 – Mission Briefing
1315 – Flag line as our Hero is moved to the coach.
1330 – KSU to Riverside National Cemetery, (Staging Area #3 for family, north of Staging Area #8 for PGR) 22495 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, CA 92518
http://goo.gl/maps/v0K0E 1430 – KSU to assigned gravesite for Flag line, Service and Military Honors
RC: Ray “T-Bone” Gould
SoCalPGR Ride Captain
951-634-4112
ray@gouldgps.com
You do not have to be a Veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. Everyone is welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the R/C (Ride Captain). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
Please remember that our mission is to stand tall and silent, and with honor and respect for our Heroes. No talking, smoking, or cell phone use during the flag line or service. Please keep radios off and engine noise to a minimum. Observe the 15 MPH speed limit. Remember, cemeteries are hallowed ground. Show respect to all who are there, not just the ones we are honoring.
Gil Zaragoza
SoCal PGR Mission Ops
gilz45@gmail.com
951-440-2136
