Day Three:

I was able to drive the 400 miles to Canton in time to stand for the whole visitation for Nick Casey and meet some of the wonderful guys of the local PGR. Jim Stanitz was first to arrive and he made me welcome. The State Captain had PGR business elsewhere but he sent two ACU-dressed teddy bears for our fallen hero’s two young children. We were well led in his absence by Ralph Bago, shown below holding the teddy bears. That’s Jim with him.

Myrl came over to check on our morale. He is 83, a USO volunteer and a PGRider. Of those three attributes, the last two conflicted this day, so he opted for the USO work. The first of the three does not seem to conflict with either of the others.

Jim says he only hopes to do as well.

The Sandy came over. What would the deputy want? Move our bikes? Stay on the sidewalk? Try not to look so scary?

None of the above. Sandy told us that she has a big clean garage just a few blocks away in case any of us were from out-of-town and needed a secure place out of the weather for our bikes.

And then we stood. Ralph allowed us to go through the receiving line individually but mostly we just stood. Eyes forward, motionless. Ralph allowed us to talk when no one was around, but the mourners who walked between our flags this day passed serious men. Plus Dave’s wife.

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