PGRNY Completed Missions

Honor Mission

William A. McGrath, Jr.

US Marine Corps Veteran

Rochester, NY - 12/01-02/2023

Mission applies to the following Region(s):

Region 1, Region 2

About the Mission:

The family of William A. McGrath, Jr. has requested Patriot Guard Riders participation in his funeral services. William passed on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at age 77, after a brief illness.

Bill graduated from Irondequoit High School in Irondequoit, NY and University of New York at Brockport State College. He entered the Marine Corps on October 7, 1968, the day after his 22nd birthday. After basic training at Parris Island he attended advanced infantry training at Camp Lejeune. While there he auditioned for, and was accepted as a marching percussionist with the USMC Drum & Bugle Corps. The drum corps is assigned to Marine Corps Headquarters at 8th and I streets in Washington D.C.  While getting his music degree, he worked with and was made the first Director of the New York State University College at Brockport marching band.

He retired from Xerox Corporation where he was an Operational Effectiveness Specialist.

Portions of the above narrative are contained in Bill's obituary, available for viewing online by clicking here

Primary Staging Date and Staging Time:

12/01/2023 at 04:50pm

Staging Location:

DiPonzio Funeral Home
219 Spencerport Road
Rochester, NY 14606

Lead Ride Captain and Contact Info:

Nigel Heaton
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585-202-0490

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:

Calling Hours are listed as 3:00 - 7:00 pm; however, we will stage at 4:50 pm for flag line at 5:00 until 7:00 pm.

Is there a Second Stage to this Mission?

yes

Second Staging Date and Staging Time:

12/02/2023 at 08:00am

Second Location:

DiPonzio Funeral Home
219 Spencerport Road
Rochester, NY 14606

Second Lead Ride Captain and Contact Info:

Nigel Heaton
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Second Stage - Special Information:

Members will stand a flag line for the dignified transfer, then depending on weather, will lead or follow to St. Charles Borromeo Church, 3003 Dewey Ave., Rochester (Greece), NY 14616. Where we again stand for the dignified transfer to the Church. After the Mass, we will escort to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 2461 Lake Ave, Rochester, NY 14612. Please do what you can to show support for this Family.

Is there a Third Stage to this Mission?

no

Submitted by:

Nigel Heaton

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