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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>Ladies and Gentlemen,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>Lewisville City Hall<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>151 W. Church St.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>Lewisville, TX 75057<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>972-219-3400<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>map - </span><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'><a href="http://tinyurl.com/lvj5md">http://tinyurl.com/lvj5md</a></span></b><b><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>Below is an article written about Lance Corporal Lara at the time
of his death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>Thank you all for what you do every day for the fallen and their
families.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>Steve Lucas<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>Chief Ride Captain<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>North Texas PGR<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Web Posted: 07/28/2009 12:00 CDT<o:p></o:p></p>
<h2>A Marine to the bitter end<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=txt-basic><a
href="http://www.mysanantonio.com/email_us?contentID=51822057" target="_blank"><b>By
Sig Christenson </b></a>- Express-News </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Lance Cpl. Brandon T. Lara was in such a hurry to become a Marine that he
graduated early from New Braunfels' Canyon High School.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>“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.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>“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.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>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.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>“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.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>“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.”<o:p></o:p></p>
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