What to Expect at Missions
When you attend missions, the Ride Captain in charge will give briefings at every flagline and riding mission. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them any questions you have; they collaborated with the family and funeral home.
Make sure you start hydrating before attending missions to avoid heat exhaustion; alcohol is not allowed at missions or processions. The heat and humidity have been know to rise quickly during missions.
You do not need to ride a motorcycle or be a veteran to join us. Everyone is welcome to attend missions if you're there to honor the Veteran or First Responder; Independents, club members, Veterans, civilians, and everyone is welcome to join us. Children are welcome with their legal guardian. CenTex patches are not mandatory and we welcome clubs to wear their cuts.
We dip the service flag while the coffin/urn is moving, during rifle volleys and taps, but the US flag stays upright through the mission as that is your salute. If you're a veteran who wishes to render a military salute, inform the Ride Captain so they can place you next to a member who can take your flag... DO NOT SALUTE WITH THE FLAG!
The rest covers most of what you'll encounter with our missions. Please give your Ride Captains attention during briefings, as their information will be more detailed for the specific mission and the information below can change if circumstances change.
Flagline Procedures
HYDRATE THE DAYS BEFORE THE MISSION!
Furl and Unfurl flags at the flag vehicles only.
Once the flagline is established, no additions will be made unless for an extreme circumstance.
No Smoking, talking, texting on the Flagline. Make sure phones are silent/off.
Pass off your flag if you need to do any of these things or go to the bathroom.
Render Honors when Coach passes. Remember, if holding a flag, that is your salute.
RC will signal and we will take the Flags and move toward Shelter or location where flagline will be established.
Flags furled & unfurled at flag vehicle – flag ALWAYS held in upright position and always left unencumbered (don’t stop the flag from flying)
COVER DOWN - LOOK RIGHT, LOOK LEFT & GET IN THE MIDDLE!
Once Coach is parked we will render Honors when the deceased is removed by Military Honor Team/Pallbearers and hold until the deceased is in place for Ceremony.
Leave line for smoking/bathroom break; RC will relieve you or hand the flag off if critical
Emergencies: hand off flag - Don't embarrass the family by falling down!
Procession Procedures
PROCESSION: NO LEO - NO RIDE!
You must be present for the riders briefing you won't be able to ride with the PGR unless there's a special circumstance.
Check your bike flag poles, flag conditions, and big bike flag lengths BEFORE attending the mission. Flags should not touch the ground at ANY time. No radios, no waving or honking during funeral processions.
Staggered formation - pull forward - No crisscrossing - EXCEPT when we first start the ride so you can get your positions. Stay on your side of the lane and don't fill a space unless the procession stops.
Be aware that three-wheelers are authorized the WHOLE lane.
BE AWARE of the bike in FRONT & BEHIND YOU during processions. Try to stay an equal distance between them.
LEO passes by us on both sides at high speed - watch for them!
Use throttle/gears - try not to use brakes too much
Flag/gear falls off - run over it
If we need a lane grab, the Tailgunner will do it.
If the pack is split, RC will go slow for you to catch up/see where we turn. DO NOT FIGHT WITH CAGES
If you have to leave formation, signal intent and move to right when clear.
If there is an accident, DO NOT STOP. The RC has already designated someone to do so.
Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery
Meet at the cul de sac unless directed by a Ride Captain to avoid interrupting other services.
The service flag will dip when it's time for the Rider on the furthest end of the line needs to start saluting, then goes up again when the coach meets the fork of the drive. All Riders need to salute when the flag dips to avoid a wave of salutes. DO NOT TWIST OR ROTATE WITH FLAGS!
Riders will be placed every few flags on the opposite side until the service starts and the Mission RC motions everyone forward.
Turn to the left when the cemetery worker's hand is on the hatch of the coach. When the coach leaves the drive and turns onto the main loop, look for the Next of Kin (folded flag) and face it until the family leaves or the RC says otherwise.
Urn coming to shelter from sidewalk
When the family comes toward the shelter, turn 90 degrees to the left so you're looking at the walkway. When the vehicle arrives, dip the service flag to salute until the vehicle stops. Still facing the walkway, dip it again when the urn is removed from the vehicle and given to the military, when the soldiers move with the urn to the edge of the shelter, and when they move to the table. Once the urn has been placed, turn again 90 degrees to the left, now facing the shelter. Dipping procedures are the same for a casket at this point.