It was cold at 0500 on the morning of 4-7-07. I was going to meet another rider where we were loading our bikes to go to Mankato, Ks. 

        We arrived in Mankato to a temperature o 18 degrees and met with 2 riders from the Salina post and 1 rider from the Hays post.  A local person from Jewell, Ks also joined us on 2 wheels.  6 bikes and 15 people that arrived in cages started this mission held for SPC William Fullerton. We were soon joined by approx. 40 people from the community who helped us hold flags in these freezing temps.

        At 1000 hrs we took our small color guard and departed for the funeral home to escort the hearse to the National Guard Armory.

        At 1100 hrs we were overjoyed with the news that the idiots had called the sheriff's dept and stated that they were not coming.

        At 1215 hrs we again took our small color guard to the residence of David Fullerton (also the sheriff of this county) and escorted his family to the National Guard Armory. Again our people stood in the cold with the townspeople to welcome this family with flags.

        At 1400 hrs our contingent of flag holders met at the cemetery along with a man from Mulberry, Ks (whose name I failed to get) and they proceeded to stake flags in the ground for our avenue of flags and then stood holding more to ring in the burial site and the mourners. It was an awesome site as we rode into the cemetery with the escort.

        We want to truly thank the citizens of Mankato for the support they gave us in pulling off this mission. We didn't make them stay out in the cold and freeze but each time we requested them to come back and help they came with more. We are truly grateful to these people.

        This was personal and very hard for me. I served for years with David Fullerton, and I had the privilege to have been Williams supervisor in the National Guard. I was quite emotional all day. Thank You to the citizens of Mankato and to The Patriot Guard members who did show for helping me make this a good show of respect and a lasting memory for the family.

                               Mike Haas (RENEGADE)

                               SSG Retired

                               Sgt at Arms  ALR192