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MSG Clinton Culbert Laid to Rest

Jeff “Mario” Smith

April 20, 2006

Yesterday, approximately 25 Patriots and Veterans attended the funeral of MSG Clinton Culbert in Lawrenceburg, KY under the banner of Patriot Guard Riders as invited guests of the family.  Part of our group, sadly, had to also be in Glasgow, KY for another funeral there. In Glasgow, SPC James W. Gardner was laid to rest. Saturday, in Northern, KY, we have a Marine to lay to rest, one LCPL Justin Sims. It is has been a busy time in Kentucky paying respects to the families of the fallen. This is not a good thing. It never gets easy.

As is our custom, we lined the driveway into the church with PGR people holding large and small American flags, solemnly greeting those coming to pay respects. Many went out of their way to come and shake our hands and thank us. There were Vietnam Veterans, Korea Veterans, family members, and even a Battle of the Bulge Veteran who is the Uncle of MSG Culbert. We were in the company of heroes.

This was one of the biggest military funerals I, personally, have attended. Road Hogg commented that he had not seen so many O6's in one place ever, and he is a retired First Sergeant and Vietnam Veteran, so he has seen his share. There were also multiple Generals in attendance, a one star and

a two star MACV Veteran and KY Adjutant General Storm. What a name.

We kept the American Flags proudly flying at the funeral and three of our PGR bikes ran point for the hearse. There was a red bike, a white bike, and a blue bike with one of them flying a large American flag at point. Brooks out of Birmingham, AL, who made the ride from Birmingham a day early to coordinate with family and the church and funeral directors, kept us coordinated. Brooks did all this just two days before his son is coming back from Iraq having served a year with the 101st Airborne there. Hoooooah!

This is dedication and this Task Force Omega of KY / PGR rider will ride with Brooks anywhere, anytime.

What a guy!

We made the run from Lawrenceburg, KY to the Camp Nelson, KY National Cemetery in Nicholasville, KY in one of the longest funeral processions I have ever been a part of, if not the longest. Our three bikes, one red, one white, and one blue, led the way and the rest of us were in the rear with some of our four wheelers flying large flags back even further. Road Hogg's bike is still in the shop after breaking down on the BG Pkwy

last weekend on his way to a Pro-American Rule of Law anti-illegal immigration rally in LEFTington. I love people who stand up for God and country no matter the consequences. So, Road Hogg was in his pickup

with two large American flags flying off the back of the bed. There was no doubt to passers by that this was the funeral for a fallen hero. As is the custom in Kentucky, a southern tradition I revere, people going in the

other direction pulled over and stopped as a show of respect. I love Kentuckians.

The burial was very respectful with full military honors for this well liked and well known Master Sergeant for sure. Besides the flag ceremony and 21 gun salute, we also had a bagpiper and a three-helicopter flyover at about 400 feet. At least 100 soldiers followed the casket from the ceremony to the burial plot. God bless our troops and their families who sacrifice so much for the rest of us. God bless America.

Mario

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