The family of Manuel M. Barrios 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.
Manny was raised in Arizona and made his way to California through the Civilian Conservation Corps.
In 1942 at the age of twenty-one, Manny was drafted into the Army as an infantryman. Manny, then a Sergeant, was one of more than 13,000 paratroopers who landed behind enemy lines in Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Manny served in the Army’s famed 101st Airborne Division, the “Screaming Eagles”. Manny has several mementos from World War II, including a book that was written in German that he took while inside Adolf Hitler’s vacation home, better known as the “Eagle’s Nest”.
After being wounded Manny spent the next two months in a British hospital before reuniting with his unit at the "Siege of Bastogne" and eventually making his way into Germany as Hitler’s forces crumbled before coming back to the States in 1945. Many of awards/citations that he received included the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, WWII Victory Medal and the Army Occupation Medal. Manny was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in 1946
After the military Manny worked as a Professional Manufacturing Engineer, Tailor, Bartender and Cruise Line Agent for Carnival Cruise Lines.
Manny attained his Pilot’s License for personal use, he loved dancing, reading, painting, writing poetry and writing his memoirs. He was very social and loved organizing picnics for family reunions and his different associations that he belonged to. Manny was a Lifetime member of VFW Post 1013 in East Los Angeles.
Manny is survived by his daughters Vivian and Lorraine. He also leaves behind his two sisters Martha and Alice and four 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 Monday 13 May 20190800 – Stage at White Emerson Mortuary, 13304 E. Philadelphia St., Whittier, CA
https://goo.gl/maps/k8B36BnH8TdM4cbx7 0830 – Mission Briefing
0845 – Flag line as our Hero is moved to the coach.
0845 – KSU to Riverside National Cemetery, (Staging Area #2 for family, north of Staging Area #8 for PGR) 22495 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, CA 92518
http://goo.gl/maps/v0K0E1015 – KSU to assigned Shelter for Flag line, Service and Military Honors
R/C Rick “Moonman” Luna
So Cal PGR Ride Captain
lunardad@msn.com
626-378-2304
I Ride for fellow PGR Bothers
Vince Hernandez USMC
Danny Hernandez USN , USAR
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. Remember, cemeteries are hallowed ground. Show respect to all who are there, not just the ones we are honoring.
