BY: Shay Burk
hastingstribune.com
Patriot Guard riders “Diamond Dave” Jensen of Grand Island (left), Tommy “Too Tall” Reyna of Edmond, Okla., (middle) and “NRB” Bob Miller of Rapid City, S.D., (right) salute as pallbearers carry the casket of Marine Sgt. Joshua Robinson into St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church Tuesday afternoon.
Lining both sides of the street outside of St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church Tuesday were more than a hundred bikers dressed in leathers and patriotic colors holding American flags.
The flags whipped in the wind as friends and family of Marine Sgt. Joshua Robinson entered the church for his funeral.
Robinson was killed Aug. 7 while on patrol in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan. He previously served two tours in Iraq.
“We all know why we’re here. It’s for Sgt. Robinson, age 29, KIA,” said Roger Schleicher of Grand Island, assistant state ride captain for the Patriot Guard Riders of Nebraska.
Schleicher spoke those words to more than 100 motorcycle riders as they prepared to create a line of American flags outside the church.
Each of the riders stood silently and listened as Schleicher told them about the fallen soldier they would be honoring.
Those riders, who stood at attention for more than an hour before the service, all represented the Nebraska Patriot Guard.
“We’re not a motorcycle club. The only time we exist is during a mission,” Schleicher said. “Unfortunately, that means funerals and the send-offs. The welcome homes are wonderful.”
