The family of Tommy May Sanders, SSgt USA (Ret) invites the SoCal Patriot Guard Riders to participate in the honoring of their beloved father, uncle, brother, and grandfather at his burial at Riverside Ntl Cemetery on Wednesday, 23 November 2022 at 1130 AM.
Tommy May Sanders passed away in Barstow on 1 November at the age of 80. He leaves behind a legacy of love, service and practical wisdom.
Our hero was born in Sumter County, Alabama to Wiley Sander Sr and Annie Hines Sanders. He was a proud son of Tuscaloosa, Alabama who finished his primary education and joined the military as a teenager during the Vietnam War. His war time decorations included the Purple Heart for combat wounding and a Bronze Star for valor.
During 23 years of service, Tommy experienced a world of opportunity and culture. He trained as a firefighter in Monterey, CA and wore “Fly Boy” as his sole tattoo from learning to jump out of helicopters. After service stints in Germany and South Korea, Tommy returned stateside and finished his military career as an advanced training instructor of chaparral missile air defense systems at Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX. He retired at the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Tommy moved to Barstow in the 1990’s and joined Bethany Christian Fellowship where he was active in service for nearly 30 years including leadership roles on the church board and at the grill during cookouts. With military discipline, Tommy brought usher marching to Bethany and trained several churches from Barstow to Long Beach in usher best practices.
Along with church service Tommy served Barstow as a proud veteran co-founding and working as Vice President of the U.S. Veterans Support Group of Barstow. Tommy became a walking encyclopedia of military benefits and he’d reach into his own pocket to help a veteran if needed.
In recognition of his service the City of Barstow honored Tommy by designating August 19, 2019 as Tommy M. Sanders Day.
Those who knew Tommy can likely still hear his voice saying the many bits of practical wisdom and homegrown humor that got him through life. If for example you asked him how he was doing on any given day he would say , “I’m blessed by the best and can’t be stressed.” In difficult times he would say “You got to take the good with the bad and keep on pushing.”
Tommy is preceded in death by the love of his life Alberta Sanders and survived by his daughter Tammy.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran. For those interested, and all PGR members are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero and his family from the mortuary to the cemetery of approximately 90 miles. 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 Wednesday, 23 November 22:0900 - Stage at Mead Mortuary, 36930 Ft Irwin Rd, Barstow, CA 92311 (
https://goo.gl/maps/sQvibCyqM5SYeJUY7)
0915 - Mission Brief
0930 - Flag Line as Hero is transferred to coach.
0945 - Accompany hero to Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren, Riverside, CA 92518 (
https://goo.gl/maps/asEMKsDajKK4Cp2X7) (approx 90 miles)
1115 - Est arrival at RNC
1130 - KSU to assigned shelter for Flag Line, Service, and Military Honors for our Hero
R/C Brian Zane
“Spyderman”
So Cal PGR Ride Captain760-953-9915
brianzane.bz@gmail.com
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 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.
