200 Patriot Guard Riders Honor Missouri Soldier

Photo by Jessica Stewart / St. Joseph News-Press /

DaLana Kelley, wife of Chief Warrant Officer Matthew G. Kelley, and his parents, Catherine Grafton Kelley and Col. Stephen Kelley, stand as taps is played at Mr. Kelley’s funeral Saturday afternoon at Harlan Cemetery in Cameron, Mo.

Everything about Saturday in Cameron, Mo., seemed like a tribute to the life of fallen Chief Warrant Officer Matthew G. Kelley.

From the flags lining the road to the Cameron United Methodist Church, where his funeral was held in the early afternoon, to the people holding signs and one another leading to his grave site at Harlan Cemetery in Clinton County, it all was in honor of Mr. Kelley’s memory.

Even the unseasonably sunny and warm February weather seemed to be its own sort of tribute.

More than 200 Patriot Guard motorcycle riders and hundreds of people from across Missouri and Kansas

attended or stood outside the funeral service to pay their last respects.

Jill Ward, of Kansas City, felt compelled to pay tribute after reading and hearing his story.

“Something about it just moved me, that I felt I had to come here to show my respect,” she said. “I have friends here in Cameron, and I know how much this means to the people and the community. It’s heartbreaking.”

Others were amazed at the turnout. Joseph Wright, of Lawrence, Kan., teared up at the sight of so many people.

“You see things like this and it’s so, so tragic,” he said. “But you also have to be in awe of how one person could bring all of these people together. It really says something about Mr. Kelley’s character.”

Mr. Kelley, 30, was a U.S. Army helicopter pilot from Osborn, Mo., serving in the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, in Iraq. He was killed in the line of duty on Monday during an early morning crash of two U.S. helicopters in northern Iraq. Three other American troops also were killed.

Mr. Kelley’s father, Col. Stephen Kelley, a retired Army veteran, told the News-Press last week that Mr. Kelley had a deep love of flying since he was 9.

Patriot Guard and American Legion Rider Richard Ogden said he has revved his motorcycle with both groups for countless numbers of soldiers’ funerals for the past five years, and each one is just as moving.

“We’re from all over. We’ve got a kid here from Manhattan, Kan., people from Topeka and Leavenworth,” he said.

Mr. Ogden, an eight-year Army reserve soldier during the Korean War, said he knows the sacrifice people such as Mr. Kelley make, and he intends to preserve its honor.

“Some give some and some give all,” he said. “He gave his all and should be honored.”

The mood outside the church during the service slowly changed from a hero’s celebration — with Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In the U.S.A.” playing and children running around waving American flags — to sadness, when Mr. Kelley’s casket was placed inside a hearse.

As Mr. Kelley’s friends and family poured out of the church, most weeping and holding on to each other, the people lining the road followed suit.

“You see these little kids out here, they probably idolize people like Superman or Batman. But today, they’re seeing a real hero,” Ms. Ward said.

Andrew Gaug can be reached at andrewgaug@npgco.com.