This would be a simple mission. There was one venue – no riding except to and from that location, and for me the trip was only 15 miles. Plus, the day would be a perfect temperature.

Tom Bernardy was a soldier and a PGRider so there were two reasons we would stand at his funeral. The only challenge would be the six or seven hours of standing. I can walk for six hours. There was a time when I could even jog for six hours. But standing is difficult.

A year ago when I provided my own flag (with a flagstaff that could travel on the bike) I had to hold it aloft with my arm strength. Today, the only things I needed were gas in the tank and a camera in the saddle bag. The flag that would be waiting for me would have an eight-foot pole that (thankfully) would rest on the ground.

In fact, both Illinois and Wisconsin support vehicles supplied us. After some standing-around and Linda’s briefing, we took our familiar position in front of the Congdon Funeral Home. Familiar because of the many funeral homes we have guarded, but also because PGRider Allen Rioux passed through this very one last October.

I was watching the passing traffic and listening to the street noise near the end of our flagline that was nearest the parking lot. A gentleman approached from the lot. From his body language it was evident that he would go down our line and greet each of us. I waited.

My son is a Navy SEAL.

Attending a funeral, addressing a flag-bearer, that is what he said. Perhaps he was thinking, “If my son dies, I want you to do this for him.”

I know I was thinking, “If your son dies and you invite us, we would be honored to do this for him.”

But all he actually said was, “My son is a Navy SEAL.” and all I could do was smile. We shook hands and he moved down our line.

So I had the benefit of a good start. Something like that puts you in the right frame of mind. My wife was at work; my grandson was visiting in Texas; my diabetic cat had had his injection. Honoring Tom Bernardy would be my only preoccupation for the next six or seven hours.

A short time after the SEAL’s father engaged us, a soldier in uniform moved down our line in the same fashion saying to each of us, simply and quietly, “Thanks.” When he faced me I noticed that his name plate read, “Bernardy”.

Tom’s sister Nancy went down our line and I had the pleasure to speak with her again later that evening. She was gracious and appreciative, and I realized that the whole Bernardy family represents the best among us. In talking to her I felt fortunate that the Patriot Guard had given me the opportunity to be there.

Al and I had been the first two to arrive. In our conversation he had said that the PGR is his kind of outfit – no dues, no meetings. A short time later I repeated that to Mark who characterized us as a “purpose-driven organization”. Denise joined last month and printed business cards that include the comment “Proud Member Since 06/01/07” which is not something you would say about your Costco membership.

“It’s not about us” we often say. And to the extent that Tom was one of us, it is not even about him. Al and Mark and Denise and Tom have stood in flaglines…to show the flag. It’s about the flag and the things that the flag means. We show the flag at the funerals of veterans to announce the values that the deceased embraced in life.

I was standing next to Rogene when a biker rolled past. By reflex he released the handlebar so he could maintain a salute as he passed our flags. Ro said it gave her goose bumps. I bet it did for Tom, too.

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