The family of Donald M. Blake has requested the Patriot Guard to attend and pay Honors to this American Hero. It will be a privilege to do so.
Donald M. Blake enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1966 and was honorably discharged in 1972. Don served in Vietnam from May of 1967 to June of 1968. In 1983 he joined the US Coast Guard Reserves where he served another 26 years and retired in 2009 at the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Donald M. Blake was a Patriot that served faithfully for over 10 years with the group at the Orange Circle Plaza honoring our American Heroes that have been taken way to soon. They also honor our young men and women that are currently serving or have served in the Armed Forces of America. Mark Wayland, who a lot of you may or may not know, leads this great group of individuals and has known Don for the past 10 yrs. He describes Don as being his right hand man...he was also Mark's assistant at helping to take care of business to make sure everything kept running smoothly. They meet every Wednesday at the Orange Circle to keep the public aware of the price that is being paid everyday for our freedom.
After retiring from the service Don ran the family body shop Blake and Nation for many years until retirement in 2014. He was very active with the Boy Scouts serving as Scoutmaster, District Commissioner, and Asst. Council Commissioner. Don was also a member of the Rotary for 33 yrs and Coast Guard Auxiliary for 26 yrs.
After Dons deployment to Vietnam he married his wife, Nancy Young, in August of 1968. Don was a lifetime resident of Orange, he graduated from Orange High School in 1965. Donald passed away October 25, 2018.
Don is survived by his wife Nancy and their 3 children, Christine McLeod (Gus) of Kilmarnock, Scotland, the Reverend Doctor Jennifer Blake of Omaha, NE, and son Hugh Blake of Long Beach.
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 church services 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 Saturday 17 Nov. 2018:1015 - Stage at 1st Presbyterian Church of Orange 191 N. Orange St., Orange, Ca. 92866
https://goo.gl/maps/GDNPdyiG2PA21030 - Mission Briefing
1100 - Flag Line as our Hero is brought out from church to coach
1115 - KSU to Fairhaven Cemetery, 1702 Fairhaven Ave., Santa Ana, Ca. 92705
https://goo.gl/maps/JnRPEEgPBXk1130 - Flag Line for our Hero as he is brought to his final resting place.
R/C Mike "Joker" Courtright
SoCal PGR - Ride Captain714-321-3356
mokynanapo@sbcglobal.net
"Standing for those who stood for us"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.
