Patriot Guard Mission
Capt. Lorenza Conner

10/25/2005

The life of U.S. Air Force Pilot Captain Lorenza Conner was celebrated during Saturday's funeral ceremony in Cartersville, which provided a sense of closure to those who knew him, because after 41 years abroad his remains had returned home.

Police stopped downtown Cartersville's traffic and dozens of Patriot Guard Riders and area motorcyclists escorted the Conner hearse from Owen Funeral Home to Trinity United Methodist Church. Upon arrival at the church, the motorcyclists formed a flag line to pay tribute to the Vietnam war hero.

More photos can be found at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ga_pgr_riders/2984178720/in/set-72157608454046746/

Conner, valedictorian of Summer Hill High School's Class of 1960, was missing in action and later declared dead after his F-4D Phantom II fighter jet was hit by enemy aircraft fire over Tuyen Quang, Vietnam, on Oct. 27, 1967. Results of a more than 15-year investigation, in which aircraft wreckage and human remains were recovered and identified as Conner's, were released to the public by the U.S. Department of Defense Oct. 2.

Along with escorting the hearse to Owen Funeral Home Friday morning, Duncan said area motorcyclists are invited to help Patriot Guard riders form a flag line prior to Friday's memorial and Saturday's funeral service and burial. Further details about the mission, such as a tentative schedule, can be found at www.patriotguard.org

Formed in 2005, the Patriot Guard Riders' mission is to commemorate the lives of deceased service members by shielding the family from possible protesters prior to funeral services. Standing shoulder to shoulder outside the entrances of ceremony sites, the participants form what is known as a flag line, which helps safeguard mourning relatives from vocal demonstrators.