By rssfeeds-admin 
Donald Lee Mikel was a U.S. Army Sergeant who served from 1967 to 1970. During his service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal in recognition of his dedication and honorable conduct. On December 31, many gathered at the cemetery to honor Sergeant Mikel, including the Patriot Guard Riders. Captain Roger Brown of the Patriot Guard Riders expressed the appreciation that Abilene has for its Veterans.
“It means a lot to… well, look at all the people…
“We have anywhere from 3-500 people coming just from Abilene. Abilene shows up. Abilene is a wonderful town for the Veterans. They show up when nobody else does,” Brown expressed.
Sergeant Mikel had no next of kin to attend his funeral, yet nearly 300 individuals gathered to pay their respects to this distinguished military member. He was laid to rest with full military honors, including the folding and presentation of the American flag, the haunting notes of “Taps,” and a solemn missing man flyover. Broke spoke about how the community’s presence, honoring fallen comrades, helps others find solace and strength in the face of their own tragedies.
“I spent a year and a day in Vietnam, and this helps me to get over some of the problems that I have. Just being with buddies and friends, talking about it; we can get over a lot of stuff just talking to each other,” Brown shared.
Brown went on to express that the support shown by the Abilene community for Veterans has a profound impact within the local Veteran community, offering strength and encouragement to those who have served.
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