New MN Patriot Guard State Captain Announcement

Members of the MN Patriot Guard

Today at the Patriot Ride I announced that I am stepping down as State Captain of the MN Patriot Guard. Jerry Grundhauser, most recently the Ride Captain for the SE Metro, has been approved by our Leadership Team as the new State Captain.

The decision to step up to the Flag Line is both easy and difficult.

It is easy as I have been in this role for 2.5 years and, to be honest, I am tired. It is a day to day job of handling both the Mission oversight and general leadership issues. As I still work a "regular" job it does take a toll. I'm looking forward to some personal time back for myself.

It is difficult as I love you and what we do. I love the Mission and my opportunity to be of service.

Since my first Mission on July 3rd, 2006, my life has been forever changed for the better. This cause we found together gave me a new purpose in life. It has given me new friends. It has given me a sense of meaning. In a way not at all related to financial gain it let me use all my ability and give a gift that was there to give until it was gone.

I have thought long and hard about what to say when this day came. It keeps coming back the same thing when a family walks around and thanks us for being there.

It has been my honor. It has been a privilege. Thank you for allowing me to be part of this effort at the level I have been. I am a better person for having stood with you on the flag line.

What keeps running through my mind when I think about what we do is that I am so proud of you. Every time we put a call out, and the amount of notice didn't matter, you were there. We trust you and believe in you. I hope we lived up to your expectations as a leadership team.

There are so many people to say Thank You to. There are so many I can't name them all because the number is in the thousands. So I won't try to name them all. A broad "Thank You" to everybody is the best I can do.

I'm not going away... I am just not going to be sending all the emails I have been. I am going be on the receiving end of them and answering the same call you do. Stand a flag line when a family asks us to.

Thank you my friends for being part of this great and wonderful effort. Thank you for letting me be part of it with you..

See you on the Flag Line...

Doug Bley
State Captain
MN Patriot Guard