***ATTENTION!!!*** Due to the inclement weather, the accompaniment for this mission has been canceled!
This mission will now be a FLAG LINE ONLY at Miramar National Cemetery.
***Please see NEW Time Table below***
The Family of Manuel Garcia Gonzales has invited the Patriot Guard Riders to attend the Services for this Hero of "The Greatest Generation". It will be our Honor to do so.
Manuel, or “Shorty”, served his Country in the US Army and fought in the Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns in New Guinea and Luzon, Philippines. Shorty first served as a medic and then changed over to be a cook, as a cook Shorty even had a Japanese Soldier surrender to him. The awards he received was the "Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal", "Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star", "Good Conduct Medal" and a "WWII Victory Medal".
In his Civilian life, Shorty was in the Construction business and worked as a Concrete Mason, and he did this work well into his 80's. Shorty loved sports of any type with the Chargers and Padres his most favored teams. Even though Shorty was quite short he was very proud of the fact that he was voted a Most Valuable Player Award on his High School Basketball Team.
Shorty's Beloved Wife, Bea Gonzales passed away in 2013 and they are both survived by their four Children, Louie M. Gonzales, Richard E. Gonzales, Kathy B. Luque and Susie A. Steiner. He also has six Grandchildren and one Great Grandchild and is survived by one Brother, Salvador (Chavy) Gonzales and one sister, Stella Guillen.
We have been asked to perform a Flagline at St John's Catholic Church at 12 noon at 1001 Encinitas Blvd, Encinitas, CA. We will also accompany our Hero and Family to Miramar Nat'l Cemetery for a 1430 Service where we will also perform a Flagline at the assigned Shelter.
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 FRIDAY, 8 JAN 2016:1345 – Stage at Miramar National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Dr San Diego, CA 92122
https://goo.gl/maps/xa35DR97Aey1400 – Mission Briefing
1430 – Flag Line, Funeral Service with Full Military Honors
R/C Bill (Doc) ReidSoCal PGR Ride Captain
ALR 416 Member
sandiegocoop@att.net
619-436-9395
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 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 post your condolences for the family at the following link:
https://www.patriotguard.org/showthread.php?412761
