Funeral home on a Saturday morning you ask? Some might assume, with disdain in mind, that it must be for the services for "one of those bikers." Couldn't be farther from the truth.
These bikers came to honor a fallen sailor, Petty Officer Curtis Adams, U. S. Navy, who had been shot down after stopping for who he thought was a stranded motorist.
To honor him, these bikers would escort him to the San Diego airport for the final flight home.
Arranged by the Patriot Guard Riders, this morning's mission included bikers representing several groups. The prevailing themes across the groups were patriotism, military service, and honoring for our men and women in uniform. In addition to the bikers, which included some younger active duty members of the military, there were roughly a dozen cars carrying Petty Officer Adams' fellow sailors, those who had served with him.
The package, as it is referred to, ultimately grew to 68 motorcycles, 14 cars, and the hearse. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, a prayer offered, and mission briefing provided.
At the appointed time, a flag line was set, honors were rendered, the pall bearers transferred the remains into the hearse, and the package departed and headed to the airport. Once there, they repeated the process, rendering honors as Petty Officer Adams was delivered to the airline cargo representatives.
A somber Saturday morning, with dozens of folks, the majority of whom had never met Petty Officer Adams, coming together as patriots.
In this hyper-intense period leading up to the mid-term elections, I noticed the absence of the media and elected officials. Damn! A young sailor dies, gunned down in the midst of trying to do the right thing, and not one member of the media or one elected official could spare even a few minutes out of their Saturday morning.
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