Archive for the ‘RIP’ Category

Next Wednesday, 11 November 09, is Veteran’s Day.

Each year the Patriot Guard Riders place 300 flags along the Avenue of Flags at DFW National Cemetery.

If you are willing to come out this Saturday (7 Nov 09) at 8a to help place the flags AND/OR next Saturday (14 Nov 09) at 8a to help fold the flags, your help would be most appreciated.

If you would like to be part of this volunteer activity, you are welcome to meet up with the Downtown Dallas Bikers at Cafe Brazil in Deep Ellum (2815 Elm Street, Dallas, 75226). They will have KSU at 7:30a and ride out to the cemetery in Grand Prairie. The group does ask that you please RSVP so they know how many to expect for the ride. You can RSVP at this link.

Patriot Guard Riders is an all volunteer nationwide motorcycle group that shows respect by presenting the American flag at the funerals of fallen military heroes.

For more information, please visit:

* Patriot Guard Riders
* Downtown Dallas Bikers
* DFW National Cemetery
* Cafe Brazil

Patriot Guard Riders to place 300 flags in honor of Veteran's Day at DFW National Cemetery.

….Dallas lost her favorite son in the death of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Gone - but never forgotten.

The widow of New York Yankees great Mickey Mantle has died at a hospice facility in Dallas. She was 77.

Merlyn Mantle died from the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. She had not appeared in public since last August, at a private dinner before a memorial for former Yankees star Bobby Murcer.

Merlyn married Mickey on Dec. 23, 1951, following his rookie season. They were married for 43 years, until the Hall of Fame outfielder died of cancer on Aug. 13, 1995.

The Mantles had four children - Mickey Jr., David, Billy and Danny. Mickey Jr. died in 2000 and Billy died in 1993.

Merlyn will be buried next to her husband and children at Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park in Dallas.

The best place to watch it will be on Hulu.com

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Funeral arrangements were finalized today for Dallas police Senior Cpl. Norman Smith who was shot dead on Tuesday at a southeast Oak Cliff apartment complex.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at The Potter’s House, 6777 W. Kiest Blvd., in Dallas. Burial services will follow at the Garden of Honor at Restland Memorial Cemetery at 9220 Restland Road in Dallas.

The Honor Flag will be raised at the Jack Evans Police Headquarters beginning at 3 p.m. on Thursday. There will be a candle light vigil beginning at 7:30 p.m. at headquarters on Thursday.

There is also an open visitation at Restland from noon to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Today, people expressing their condolences have left flowers at a marked police car parked in front of downtown police headquarters at 1400 Lamar Street.

Dallas police officer, Sr. Cpl. Norm Smith, was fatally shot shortly after 6:15 p.m. Tuesday at a southeast Dallas apartment complex.

Smith was transported to Baylor University Medical Center, was shot in the head while serving a felony aggravated assault warrant with a team of officers.

Authorities said Smith was shot through the door.

Three people were taken into custody. Authorities said they believe one of the three men in custody is the shooter.

Authorities said Smith had come into the office at 6 a.m. after receiving a tip on some aggravated robbery suspects. He worked a 12-hour shift in his attempt to catch the suspects.

Smith was a longtime veteran of the gang unit.

Chief David Kunkle said he always thought of Smith as invincible. Smith’s wife, Regina, is Kunkle’s administrative lieutenant and works closely with the chief.

“I don’t know any two people that were better suited for each other, who loved each other more,” he said. “They have one of those magical-type relationships.”

Smith, who was once awarded officer of the year and is the father of two teenaged children, would have celebrated his 18th year as a Dallas officer Wednesday. He was praised for his work with the communities in southeast Dallas and the Pleasant Grove area.

For hours after the shooting, SWAT officers and armed vehicles remained at the scene at the Oak Wood Place Apartments, located in the 4900 block of Wadsworth Drive near Loop 12 in Dallas. Authorities said SWAT officers cleared out the apartment.

In May 1998, two other officers were shot at the same apartment complex, which were then named the Sara Garden Apartments. While officers Edward Menchaca and John Midyette both survived the shooting, a suspect was killed from a chest wound.

Much like Tuesday’s shooting, the officers were checking a tip about a drug deal.

Last year, more Texas police officers were killed in the line of duty than in any other state. Fourteen officers were killed in Texas, but none of those were in the North Texas area.

The India Association of North Texas will host a candlelight vigil today in the wake of Wednesday’s terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India.

Today’s gathering, which is open to the public and will include multifaith prayers, will begin at 5 p.m. at the IANC’s office, 777 S. Central Expressway, Suite 7C, in Richardson.

IANT President Rajendra Vankawala said the group strongly condemns the attacks and expresses condolences to those who have lost loved ones.

For more information about the vigil, visit www.iant.org.