PGR_NTX Patriot Guard Honor Gold Star Mother Event

[Mission Information For North Texas PGR]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Yes, it’s me again.  Mike asked me to keep the ball rolling while he’s out
of town for a few days and an event has come to our attention that I thought
you would like to know about.

 

On July 19, 2009, in Anbar Province, Iraq, Marine Lance Corporal Brandon T.
Lara was killed in action.  Brandon lived in New Braunfels with his dad and
step-mom and siblings and he was buried in San Antonio at the National
Cemetery.  The Patriot Guard was present and, I understand, it was a
beautiful tribute to this American hero.  

 

Lance Corporal Lara’s mother, Shannon Martin, lives in Lewisville.  Mr.
Monty Slough, the founder of the Denton County Fallen Soldier Memorial,
contacted us and told us that the city of Lewisville is planning on
presenting a proclamation to Ms. Martin this Monday night at 7:00 PM at
Lewisville city hall.  Also present will be the Military Order of the Purple
Heart to make a presentation.  Mr. Slough says there will be Gold Star
families in attendance and others and that he asked the city manager if the
PGR could also attend.  He reports that the city manager was very excited
about having anyone from the PGR who could make it to please turn out for
the event.  It is as of yet uncertain but it is possible that the PGR may be
able to make a presentation to Ms. Martin on behalf of the riders from North
Texas in honor of her son.

 

While this will not be a formal mission with a ride captain assigned, and
Lance Corporal Lara has already been laid to rest in another part of the
state, when the opportunity arises to honor an American Patriot in this
manner and a Gold Star mom here in North Texas, I think it may be well
within our mission statement to be
always there.

 

Again, this is Monday night, September 21, 2009 at 7:00 PM at Lewisville
City Hall.  It is my understanding that there is a memorial location inside
city hall and the ceremony may be held there.  Best guess is to arrive early
and head for the front door.

 

Lewisville City Hall

151 W. Church St.

Lewisville, TX  75057

972-219-3400

 

map - http://tinyurl.com/lvj5md 

 

Below is an article written about Lance Corporal Lara at the time of his
death.

 

Thank you all for what you do every day for the fallen and their families.

 

Steve Lucas

Chief Ride Captain

North Texas PGR

 

Web Posted: 07/28/2009 12:00 CDT


A Marine to the bitter end


 <http://www.mysanantonio.com/email_us?contentID=51822057> By Sig
Christenson - Express-News 

Lance Cpl. Brandon T. Lara was in such a hurry to become a Marine that he
graduated early from New Braunfels' Canyon High School.

A few weeks after turning 18 on Oct. 7, 2006, Lara traded his diploma and a
bedroom dotted with Marine Corps posters for the rigors of basic training
and the chance to at last live the dream. He didn't even stick around town
for Thanksgiving or Christmas, as his dad wished. It was time to be a
Marine.

“Since he was a little boy, that's all he talked about, joining the
Marines,” his father, Jacob Lara Jr., said, adding that he wasn't quite sure
why the young man wanted to serve in the corps. “I know he had an uncle on
his mother's side that was a Marine and I think the whole uniform, as nice
as it looks — his dress blues — and just the respect and honor that are
given the Marines, he just wouldn't choose any other branch.”

The dream ended on a mission just over a week ago in Anbar province, when
Lara, 20, of New Braunfels was killed in combat. As his family mourned over
the weekend, those in the San Antonio area closed ranks.

They lined the streets of Randolph AFB after Lara's body was flown here
Sunday from Dover AFB, Del., holding flags and banners celebrating his
service. They were back again Monday, standing at roadside rest stops and
overpasses on Interstate 35 as the Lara funeral procession headed toward
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Some waved flags. Others held their
hands over their hearts.

“I don't know how many flags they had out there,” said Lara's father, a
37-year-old fire extinguisher technician living in Seguin. “It seems like
hundreds of them.”

In California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered flags at the capitol flown
at half-staff in honor of Lara, who served with the 1st Marine Division at
Camp Pendleton. He praised Lara as a “brave Marine who sacrificed his life
fighting for the freedoms that are dear to this country,” and “fought with
honor and courage.”

The somber farewell was in keeping with the younger Lara's state of mind.
This was his second tour of Iraq since 2007, and there were signs that he
was changing. A quiet boy who could be a jokester and a prankster, Lara had
evolved from listening to hard rock to Christian rock and rap. Just what
caused that isn't clear, but his father and brother said they saw it
happening.

“He was a changing a lot,” said Jonathon Lara, a 17-year-old junior at
Victory Academy, a private school in Seguin. “Just like talking with him
you'd notice a difference.”

As kids, Jonathon Lara said that his older brother “tricked me into trading
one of my Pokémon cards, like my best one for a regular one.” Over time,
though, Brandon Lara grew serious, working part-time fast food jobs and
playing baseball at Canyon High School.

“Growing up, Brandon was quiet, but he had just this personality about
himself that would attract people to him,” said Jacob Lara, his dad. “You
wanted to be his friend. He could make you laugh. When you tell your friend,
‘I have your back,' Brandon truly meant that. If you were his friend, he was
there for you. And perhaps that's why he went into the Marines.”

 
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