March 18, 2011, The Patriot Guard and Mission: M25 members as well as about 600 to 800 hundred other bikers said a final ‘Thank You’ to Senior Airman Nick Alden of Williamston, South Carolina.
Bikers showed up in mass, it was rumored that Westboro Baptist Church would be protesting the funeral. The protest was called off shortly before the funeral service thanks to a radio program that promised 1 hour of airtime in exchange for a “peaceful” funeral for the family. Many thanks to the radio station WORD 106.3 (talk radio) for the support they gave the family as well.
Senior Airman Alden was a native of South Carolina and graduated form Palmetto High school in Williamston, SC. in 2003. Nick was just 25 years old on March 2, 2011 when his service to this country ended. He was on a transport bus outside of the airport terminal in Frankfurt, Germany headed for Afghanistan where he would serve as part of the security forces team. It is believed that Nick and the bus driver both were killed by a Muslim extremist. Nick was posthumously awarded the Air Force Commendation medal. Two other soldiers were wounded in the same incident. Gary Burd, the leader of Mission M25, was in town and was able to attend the services with several other M25 members, including Hard CORE M/M of South Carolina, Salvation Riders, and Faith Riders.
I was reminded again about what it means to be a servant of all. Mission M25 planned to serve from the rear and not push their way up to the front where they could be seen. The patriot guard insisted that Mission M25 move to the front so the first thing the family would be greeted by was the banner from the “Real Church”.
Mark 9:35 “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” To God we owe all of the glory for the successful completion of this mission!!!
Mission Completed March18, 2011
