Emporia’s Patriot Guard Riders were honored to be a part of a special escort Thursday afternoon.
Emporia’s riders met up with members of the Arizona Patriot Guard Riders chapter who are in the midst of a Pony Express escort to deliver the cremains of US Air Force Veteran and retired firefighter Patrick John Gunn Sr. A native of Milwaukee Wisconsin, Gunn enlisted in the US Air Force in 1982 serving as a fire protection specialist until he was honorably discharged in 1986.
Following his military service, Gunn became a civilian firefighter at 440th Air Reserve Station in Milwaukee, WI, and the 94th Airlift Wing at Dobbins Air Force Base in Dobbins, GA, before retiring in 2012.
Gunn passed away Jan. 15 in El Mirage, AZ. The Patriot Guard Riders are escorting Gunn’s cremains from Arizona to Gunn’s family in his home state of Wisconsin where a visitation and military service will take place. Arizona Patriot Guard State Ride Captain Bill “Wildhorse” Wooster says the support and honor that has been shown for Gunn throughout this trip illustrates that “patriotism is still alive in America.”
This was the second escort of this nature for local Patriot Guard Rider Debi Fuller who says the riders’ presence for moments such as this can provide a great sense of comfort to the families of the deceased.
Gunn’s wife, Lynn Gunn, has been traveling with the escort and says there are no words that can properly convey her gratitude for all those who have done so much to honor her late husband.
Riders departed Emporia just before 5:30 pm Thursday and were escorted out of town by the Emporia Fire Department.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News
