10 December 2010
Dear Patriot Guard Riders,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your show of support at my husband, SSgt Ortiz Rivera’s, funeral. I realize that you did not know him personally, and that the weather conditions were not at all pleasant. I am in awe of your dedication. I appreciate that you recognize and honor the fallen. It takes a hero, like my husband, to preserve our freedom, but it takes true Americans like you to not only express your gratitude, but to live by it. You have proven that you express your gratitude with actions, not simply with words. On one of the most difficult days of my life, I found comfort in walking out of the church and seeing the American flags waving. Although I was grieving, the flags were a reminder of the pride I should feel for my husband’s dedication to our country, and the honor I should feel in calling myself an American. I will be forever grateful to each of you!
Sincerely,
Veronica Ortiz Rivera
