PGRNY Current Missions

Honor Mission

Robert H. Brown, USAAF
and Bessie H. Brown, WAAC/WAC
World War II Veterans

Clinton, NY - 05/15/2025

***UPDATED 9 May 2025 - 09:25 hrs***
Please note the correction to the Primary
Staging Location below

Mission applies to the following Region(s):

Region 3, Region 4

About the Mission:

Patriot Guard Riders has been invited to participate in the honoring of two American heroes, SSgt Robert H. Brown of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), and Sgt Bessie H. Brown of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) and Women’s Air Corps (WAC). Robert passed in December at the age of 102. Bessie, his wife, passed in 2003 after 58 years of marriage. Unfortunately, Bessie did not receive military honors at the time of her interment. It will be our great honor to participate in the graveside service for both Robert and Bessie when they receive the military honors due to them both after faithful and dedicated service to our nation during World War II. Robert earned the American Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal and WW II Victory Medal. Bessie was awarded the WAAC Service Ribbon, WW II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal and American Service Medal.

Robert, a Utica, NY native, established the H. F. Brown Machine Company with his father after his discharge from the Army, working at the Utica business for some 40 years before retiring.

Primary Staging Date and Staging Time:

05/15/2025 at 12:15pm

Staging Location:

UPDATED

McGrath, Myslinski, Kowalczyk & Nunn Funeral Home
470 French Road
Utica, NY 13502

Click here for map

Lead Ride Captain and Contact Info:

James A. Sieffert
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
315-525-6802

Special Information:

Please join me in honoring the service and life of Robert and Bessie at their graveside honors. We will hold a briefing and stage at the funeral home, then ride five miles to the cemetery. There will be no escort, however, please mount your bike flags if you have them for our entry into the cemetery and stand with me in a respectful flagline to honor both Robert and Bessie.

Use the links below to view Robert and Bessie's obituaries as well as maps to the funeral home and cemetery:
Robert H. Brown obituary
Bessie H. Brown obituary
Map for funeral home
Map for cemetery

Is there a Second Stage to this Mission?

no

Submitted by:

James A. Sieffert

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