PGRNY Completed Missions

Honor Mission

Richard Van Benschoten

US Navy Vietnam Veteran

Hauppauge, NY - 12/12/2023

Mission applies to the following Region(s):

Region 8, Region 9

About the Mission:

The family of Richard Van Benschoten has requested Patriot Guard Riders participation in his military honors funeral services.

Richard was a proud US Navy Veteran who served during Vietnam. He was an Airplane Mechanic, but his only mention of his service to his family was of flying a supply mission into Vietnam. He served aboard the USS Wasp aircraft carrier. After his discharge he went on to become a Sheet Metal worker in New York City. He was moments away from entering the Twin Towers for a day of work before tower one was attacked and ultimately collapsed. He went immediately from worker to rescuer that morning. His family believes it was that exposure which made him ill. He will be remembered as a hard worker, joker and loving family man.

Primary Staging Date and Staging Time:

12/12/2023 at 09:30am

Staging Location:

Moloney’s Hauppauge Funeral Home
840 Wheeler Road (Rte. 111) ·
Hauppauge, New York 11788

Lead Ride Captain and Contact Info:

John Merkle
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631-428-3177

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:

After a dignified transfer at the funeral home, we will escort directly to Calverton for a 10:30 service..

Is there a Second Stage to this Mission?

yes

Second Staging Date and Staging Time:

12/12/2023 at 10:10am

Second Location:

Calverton National Cemetery
210 Princeton Blvd
Calverton, NY 11933

Second Lead Ride Captain and Contact Info:

Mike Osip
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631-494-8981

Second Stage - Special Information:

Please stage at the Main gate and await the escort from Maloney funeral home. We will have a second mission arriving that may require that we divide and cover.
Please bring your own flags in case this should occur.

Is there a Third Stage to this Mission?

no

Submitted by:

John Merkle

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