PGRNY Completed Missions

Honor Mission

Daniel J. Bonner, Jr.

US Navy
Gulf War Veteran
and NYS Corrections Officer

West Seneca, NY - 01/27/2023

Mission applies to the following Region(s):

Region 1, Region 2

About the Mission:

The family of Daniel J. Bonner, Jr. has requested Patriot Guard Riders to participate in honoring his life and service. Mr. Bonner, Jr. of Buffalo, NY, passed away on 23 January 2023.

Mr. Bonner served our nation for 6 years on active duty in the US Navy from 1995-2001, with a rating of HN - Hospitalman (Hospital Corpsman.) He had almost 2-1/2 years of sea service, assigned to the USS Laboon (DDG-58), an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. In 1996 the USS Laboon launched Tomahawk Missiles on selected air defense targets in Iraq, becoming the first Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to engage in combat. During its deployment to the Arabian Gulf, the ship also conducted Maritime Interception Operations (MIO) to help stem the flow of U.N. embargoed goods into and out of Iraq. The Destroyer also participated in exercises Rugged Nautilus and Neon Falcon. Mr. Bonner's deployments also included just about every port in the Adriatic Sea, Aegean Sea and eastern Mediterranean Sea. Mr. Bonner's final duty station was the Naval Medical Center at Portsmouth, VA, and he was honorably discharged from active duty on 16 September 2001. For his Naval service, Mr. Bonner earned the following awards: Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon; Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon w/1 Bronze Service Star (2 awards); Navy Good Conduct Medal w/1 Bronze Service Star (2 awards); Navy Expeditionary Medal; National Defense Service Medal; and Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

Mr. Bonner served as a NYS Corrections Officer for 7 years, assigned to the Collins Correctional Facility in Erie County.

A full obituary is available for viewing online by clicking here

Primary Staging Date and Staging Time:

01/27/2023 at 10:00am

Staging Location:

Hoy Funeral Home
3855 Seneca Street
West Seneca, NY 14224
Click here for map

Lead Ride Captain and Contact Info:

Tom Murphy - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Special Covid-19 Mission Guidelines:

Updated 8 March 2022

Based on the most current COVID-19 Prevention Guidelines: Protect Yourself and Your Family from COVID-19, and CDC Guidelines of 3 March 2022, going forward, the Lead Ride Captain for any mission will be responsible for determining whether PGR members will have to mask up or not. Please ensure that you have a mask with you, should the need arise, and respect the LRC’s decision in these matters.

Special Information:

PGR will provide a respectful flag line for the arrival of the family and guests. The funeral service is scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM, with Military Honors to follow at the funeral home. NOTE: At this point there is no escort planned for this Mission. However, at the discretion of Ride Captain Tom Murphy, there may be an escort of the funeral director and Mr. Bonner to the WNY National Cemetery.  Please be prepared with a clean 3x5 American or US Navy flag, and dress for the weather.

We have 2 Missions on Friday in the Region. Please try to support one of them, including this one to honor the US Navy Gulf War service and Law Enforcement service of Daniel J. Bonner. Jr., and to support his loving family.

Is there a Second Stage to this Mission?

no

Submitted by:

Don Higgins, SRC, Region-1

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.