The family of Manuel Flores, 98, has invited the Patriot Guard Riders to be present to honor their hero for his service to his country. It will be our privilege to do so.
Manuel Flores was born on July 19, 1925, in Cambridge, Mass to Manuel and Gabriela Flores, immigrants from Portugal. He had three siblings, Gabriel, Alice, and William. When Manuel was 11 and during the Great Depression, His father died, making him the “man of the house.” He falsified his age (17) on his enlistment papers to join the U.S. Marine Corps. Manuel was sent to Parris Island for basic training and on to Camp Lejeune for parachute training. While there, he was promoted to corporal and was assigned to the 3rd Marine Air Wing.
In 1944, his unit was sent to Okinawa aboard the USS U.S. Grant. His assigned duties in Okinawa included inspecting the parachutes given to pilots of the 3rd Air Wing F4U Corsair fighter planes. He was also assigned to be the driver for Brigadier General Schilt. Upon the war’s ending in 1945, Manuel was transferred to train new recruits in low-level parachute jumps. At one point he was a stand-in for then actor Ronald Reagan in a WWII-themed movie when it came time for Reagan to jump out of a plane. Manuel left the Marine Corps after transferring to San Diego where he met his future wife of 69 years, Charlotte Diaz, at a USO dance in National City.
After a very short courtship, they married and started a family. His beloved wife died in 2015. Those left to cherish his memory include his children Bernadette and Jim Tomsovic of San Diego, Margo and Dan Haugum of San Diego, Toni and Dallas Simmons of Diamond Bar, CA, and Manuel and Michele Matassa Flores of Seattle, WA. Manuel is survived by 7 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
Manuel will be remembered by family and friends for his devotion to faith, family, and country.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran. For those interested, all PGR Members are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero and his family from Mission San Diego de Alcala to Holy Cross Cemetery, his final resting place (approximately 8 miles). Please see the time table below 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 NOV 20231050 - Mission San Diego de Alcala, 10818 San Diego Mission Road, San Diego, CA 92108
https://maps.app.goo.gl/KXM4TPnCWYFpVanx5 1110 - Mission Briefing.
1120 - KSU for Holy Cross Cemetery, 4470 Hilltop Drive, San Diego, CA 92102
https://maps.app.goo.gl/evfLgh5vAzkz4V629 1145 - Arrive at grave site for Flag Line of Honor for Military Honors.
R/C Phil “Wile E” Hersey
SoCal Patriot Guard Ride Captainfishawn208@gmail.com
(619) 454-1408
You do not have to be a veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. All PGR members are welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this is your first mission, go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the Ride Captain (RC). 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 the 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.
