A community of bikers quietly traversed thousands of miles to grant their fallen buddy one last honor.

Staff Sergeant Jonathan Turner served in the Marine Corps for 17 years, including seven tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. After retiring from the 11th Marines at Camp Pendleton, California, Turner became an avid motorcyclist and a member of the Patriot Guard Riders.

Unfortunately, Turner’s war-related injuries took their toll on his health. Turner passed away in August 2015, but since his family lived in Georgia and couldn’t afford to travel to California, the Marine Corps paid to have Turner’s remains cremated and shipped to his family.

The problem? The Marine Corps was going to ship Turner’s remains via FedEx Mail. Simply put, no military veteran’s remains should be shipped home in a FedEx box.

The Patriot Guard Riders refused to allow their friend to be shipped across the country like a piece of junkmail. Instead, the motorcyclist club arranged an honor guard escort from California to Georgia. Without alerting the media or garnering any national attention, hundreds of bikers zoomed across the countryside, stopping only to transfer Turner’s remains to the next Patriot Guard chapter and observe a respectful moment of silence honoring the fallen veteran.

Turner’s ashes were carried 2,000 miles and across seven states by Americans who had never met him.

On the Patriot Guard website, the group said it was the least it could do for a hero and friend.

“Turner was a great leader who inspired his fellow Marines, both in the Corps and in daily life,” the organization said. “You were his friend if you knew him for five minutes or five years. He would give you the shirt off his back.”

Semper Fidelis, Staff Sergeant Turner.