** Confirmed Mission** LCpl Jonathan S. Long, USMC, Barboursville, WV, TBD The Patriot Guard Riders have received, and accepted, an invitation from the family of Lance Corporal Jonathan S. Long, to provide our services for Jonathan as he returns home. The Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, CA said Monday that 22-year-old LCpl Jonathan S. Long, of Barboursville, collapsed Saturday night, was flown to a Palm Springs hospital but sadly, passed away. Long was a bulk fuel specialist with the 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group. His job was to keep tactical vehicles fueled, and he had recently served on a 7-month deployment to Afghanistan. Details are still being worked between the US Marine Corps, the family, and the funeral home, regarding Jonathan’s return home to West Virginia. This is what we do know, there will be at least two phases to this mission: 1) the family would like us to escort Jonathan from the airport (once it is determined) to the funeral home, and 2) provide our standard PGR services for the funeral, to include final escort to the cemetery. Depending upon where he flies in to, we may be requesting escort assistance from Ohio, or Kentucky. Please monitor this thread for updated information as it becomes available. Ride Captain assignment will be made once we have more details and firm dates.

If you have any questions, please contact WVASC Buddy Palla.

Buddy Palla WVPG ASC-south

deaconbiker@yahoo.com