PGRNY Completed Missions

Honor Mission

Raymond C. Etman

US Army
Korean War Era Veteran

Multi-City, NY - 06/02/2023

Mission applies to the following Region(s):

Region 4, Region 5

About the Mission:

The family of Raymond C. "Bunky" Etman has requested Patriot Guard Riders participation in his military honors funeral services. Mr. Etman, 88, a lifelong resident of Grafton, New York, died peacefully on Sunday, October 16, 2022, at his winter residence in Fort Pierce, Florida

Born in Grafton, New York, Mr. Etman attended the Berlin Central Schools and worked from the time he was a young teen. During his early years, he worked on the family farm and was employed by several different construction companies prior to enlisting in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He served two years of active duty as a Private First Class and an additional four years in the Army Reserves.

Following an honorable discharge, he was a truck driver for Rifenburg Construction, White Cross Diaper Service, and then Harrigan’s Laundry. He also served as Grafton Superintendent of Highways for four years. In 1975 he became a school bus driver for Brittonkill Central Schools and later for the Wynantskill Union Free School District before retiring in 2019 at the age of 85 and with over 44 years as a school bus driver. He was the proud recipient of the AAA Excellence in School Bus Driving Award.

Portions of the above narrative are contained in Mr. Etman's obituary, available for viewing online by clicking here

Primary Staging Date and Staging Time:

06/02/2023 at 09:30am

Staging Location:

Howard B. Tate & Son Funeral Home
2237 NY Route 7
Troy, NY 12180

Lead Ride Captain and Contact Info:

Martin Kaiser - 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:

Staging at the funeral home with a flag line for the arrival of family and guests. There will be a 10:00 am Memorial Service, followed by escort to, and interment with military honors at Eagle Mills Cemetery, NY Route 2 and Garfield Road, Brunswick, NY.

Is there a Second Stage to this Mission?

no

Submitted by:

Ray Sestak

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