Debbie Hope
Proud Mom of
LCPL Gil Travis, USMC, Iraq

He posts a portion of the pictures on his website with the families permission.

His main web page is http://www.iraqwarheroes.org He now has posted his pics of the Sgt. Pfister service the direct link is http://www.iraqwarheroes.com/pfistert.htm

Jeff

Rita

To understand this Mission, you need to ride with us starting at 0800 when about eight riders and two cages left our Rally Point and hit the road from Spokane to Pasco. The weather was nasty. Wet, cold and dark with snow all over the side of the highway. Our rest stop was scheduled for Ritzville about 55 miles away, so about an hour into the trip, we stopped to warm up and grab some breakfast. What we were expecting was a really good showing – about 60 bikes and maybe 20 other people who had to drive. Keep that picture in your mind.

As we left Ritzville, the weather kept trying to brighten up, so the last leg of the trip was much nicer and more enjoyable. I was having such a good time that I kept the speed down to about 60-65, rather than 70-80. And I got teased quite a bit for doing that. Like I care.

As we exited 395 and rode over 395, we could see the Rally Point and were met with a surprise. Remember our expectation of 60 bikes. We were wrong. There were 450 bikes! We had to wind our way through them to find a place to park. I’m serious, we were all blown away by the sheer number of bikes and the tonage of leather.

I was asked to ride in the Missing Man Formation. If you look at the photos of the 7-mile line of bikes, you probably won’t see the very first ones. That was the Missing Man Formation. The lead two riders were our State Captain (Cowboy) and me. I tell you that just to give you a perspective. Looking forward, I could see the blinking lights of the law enforcement car. But, looking in my mirrors, all I could see were bikes all the way to the horizon. I knew the line stretched beyond the horizon, all the way back to the Rally Point.

Immediately behind Cowboy and me were Knuckles and the missing man. I was sincerely touched by the honor of riding in the formation. It was made up of former Marines on evil V twins. I got to spend some time with Knuckles during the build up to the event and found him to be as down-to-earth a guy as you’d ever hope to meet. I found a new brother in that man.

As if that honor and thrill weren’t enough, I got hit again with the overwhelming sight of a thousand people holding flags and cheering us into the Flag Tunnel going into the Mission grounds at the Trac. If that’s not a reason to heal old wounds, I don’t know what is.

Like it says in Jeff’s report, there were about 3000 people there. That’s the count reported by the Tri-Cities Herald. We were celebrating the life and liberty that Travis Pfister died to protect. I think of it as a beautiful wake for a fallen hero. Where all those people came from, I don’t know. But I know why they were there.

I hope it’s encouragement and inspiration for all of you to go to http://www.patriotguard.org. Register and find out where the Patriot Guard Riders Mission is in your area. If you respect our men and women in uniform. If you enjoy your freedom and realize that it comes with the price of their lives. And if you want to stand up in support of them – you might be the kind of person we want standing next to us.

If you want to see the video of the Mission, go to:
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/video/story/8684473p-8581036c.html When it gets to the shots of the “protestors,” get ready to get nauseated.

Semper Fi,

Mike (Psycho) Lovas
District Captain/Ride Captain
Patriot Guard Riders
509.209.0032 (cell)

A MISSION BY THE NUMBERS

1 – God does bless AMERICA

0330 – Hours, was the departure time for a group of riders and a cage leaving Lacey WA for the 7-1/2 hour trip to Pasco.

30 - A wild guess of the number of bikes at the staging site at 0900 when I arrived, so much for my hope of a leisurely breakfast and time to prepare for rides/cages to start arriving.

23 – Pages of signatures collected for me on the sign in sheets by Jeff of Redmond, Thanks for taking on that task Jeff, I really needed that help.

125 – A count of bikes on site reported to me at about 0945…still an hour and 15 minutes before the “Scheduled” start of the ride briefing..( I should have know at this point the Schedule might adjust itself)

8 – Generous PGR supporters who were willing to give up their ride for the weekend, so that Sgt. Pfisters uncle “Knuckles” a member of the Booze Fighters MC who had flown up from California would be able to ride.

247 - Count of bikes at 1015, still 45 minutes and more roaring in each minute.

0 - the number of other “ride captains” I have found for support by this time, but I knew they would show and come through for us.

392 – Bike count reported just before the ride briefing was to start

8-10 Ride Captains and Support Vehicle drivers who stepped up to assist in and orderly departure from the Staging Area and orderly arrival at the Memorial service. Thank you all, and a special thanks to SSgt. Bam!! Oregon State PGR Captain for taking charge of organizing the Flag Line so that Cowboy and I could attend to other matters.

1 - PGR member whose bike was ridden by Knuckles, who forgot to take the keys with him when he left his “cage” at the staging area…apparently you cant lock your keys in a bike.(Sorry Dave…but that had to be in here)

2 - Other relatives of Sgt. Pfister, Uncle Steve and Aunt Kathy, who also showed up on their own bikes to ride with us.

3 – (2 Uncles and an Aunt) we were honored to have ride with us, and were able to provide them positions in the missing man formation leading the procession.

4 – Limo’s bearing family members who joined us at the staging area for the procession to the service, along with another half dozen or so other vehicles with closer friends. It was a great honor that the family thought so highly of us that they wanted to be a part of our procession.

5 – Minutes It took Cowboy and I to locate each other among the crowd in the parking lot at the truck stop while talking to each on cell phones.

Too many to count - People with Flags lining both sides of at least ½ mile of the road leading to the service site, many of us were having trouble with our glasses and visors miss functioning around this time. Shoulder to Shoulder they stood, as the road narrowed, the flags almost brushed our arms as we rode through, the tunnel seemed it would never end. They say a picture says a thousand words, look some of the links and you will agree.

100’s- Of other supporters who followed the PGR lead and turned their backs to the distraction on Burden Blvd. And their faces to the

2 – Huge American Flags…reportedly 50 feet long, one flown from 2 Fire Dept. Ladder Trucks and the other from a large Crane, and the hundreds of smaller flags lining the entrance road to the memorial.

2 - State Captains Cowboy (WA) and SSgt. Bam!! (OR) who traveled many miles and hours to support our local members. Thank you is not enough for what you 2 do in leading and assisting us at the local level all across the Northwest.

15 - Estimated minutes it took for the procession to depart from the Staging Site, from the first vehicle to the last.

Unlimited – Support from various riding groups. Booze Fighters MC (Thanks again Knuckles for the honor) Legacy and Vietnam Vets, Combat Vets, Intl., OVMA, Marines MC, Star Touring, Blue Knights, Desert Thunder, GWRRA, PNW Riders, Christian Motorcycle Association, thank you all, I’m sure that I may have missed some others as well, If anyone knows let me know. We thank you all for riding with us, and supporting the Pfister family. Every one did a great job, and it certainly was above and beyond my wildest expectations.

5 – at least States represented on this mission (WA, ID, CA, OR, NV)(If I missed any let me know, and I’ll edit the report)

432 – Bikes who rode with the PGR as counted by a PGR member after a recount at the site of the memorial service. This does not include an additional 25 – 30 support vehicles and other cages.

Several – Family members and close friends who thanked us sincerely when Cowboy and I were escorted into the Family waiting room by Gunny Solarzano to meet with the Family. Richard (Sgt. Pfisters Father), Lori (Sgt. Pfisters mother) and Karen Zepp (Jessica Pfisters mother) greeted us and looked on as we presented Jessica with the PGR Plaque honoring the remembrance of Travis. Jessica commented “He wouldn’t have wanted to go our any other way” as he was in the process of helping wounded comrades.

600 – Total bikes at the memorial service according to the Pasco PD Count.

3000 - or more Patriotic Americans who gave a mere few hours to honor Travis Pfister who gave his life for the freedom we cherish

3 – Local TV Stations that from what I saw focused on what the day was really about – Honoring Sgt. Pfister, and respecting his family as they reflected on his life and dealt with his loss.

21 – Gun Salute, honoring the Life of Sgt. Pfister

1 – Bugler playing Taps

3 - Uncles and Aunt who remounted their bikes after the service

A COUPLE OF HUNDRED
Flag bearers who waited throughout the service, and for the family to begin to depart, who clapped and cheered as

1 – Jessica Pfister climbed on the back of Uncle Knuckles bike and joined Aunt Kathy and Uncle Steve in leading the family home from the service….

To Jessica, Lori, Richard, and the rest of the Pfister extended family, our prayers are with you, we grieve with you for your lost Son and Husband, and will remember Sgt. Travis D. Pfister as a HERO forever in our hearts.

1 – God does bless AMERICA

I can’t tell you what a remarkable group of souls you are.

I can’t tell you how much you honor those you ride for…but their families and friends know. You honor yourselves with this service.

This was our first “ride” even though we were in a truck. A truly humbling, awe-inspiring experience.

Thank you for your service and your love of this country.

Chris, Linny, Josh

I’m sure I can’t grasp what the family went through, but I have to think they had to feel a little better from the outpouring of community support.