What a wonderful day, even though it did start at 0445 this morning! The 113th MP’s from Brandon, MS came home from Iraq! It was just a year ago that the MS PGR escorted this find men and women as they were on their way TO Iraq. I was not able to make that mission, but I was not going to miss this one. We staged up outside the south gate of camp Shelby and waited for the busses to roll out the gate.
As you can see from these pictures, there was a great turnout of PGR for this mission. I know I speak for many, if not all of the PGR membership when I say that to be able to do a “feel good” mission once in a while, to see these men and women reunited with their families, helps us all and means so very much to us and our troops.
I didn’t get an actual count of the number of bike on this mission, but I believe that there were some where between 75 and 100 bikes. We rode from Camp Shelby through Hattiesburg to south of Jacksonville and then on to Brandon, MS. It was a quiet ride for most of the trip. then we started seeing people on the side of the road with American Flags.
And as we kept riding, we saw more and more people with signs and flags.
There was no black or white. The only colors were red, white and blue.
There was no Republican or Democrat, just people showing their support for their loved ones.
There was no for or against the war. Just people saying thank you for what you do.
We were met at the Armory with a massive amount of family and friends.
During the ceremony we learned that one soldier had lost his grandfather(also a veteran) while he was deployed. He was not able to return home for the funeral. But it was his grandfathers wish that his grandson receive the American Flag that had been draped across his coffin. It was presented to him today.
After a few more people made their comments, the soldiers were released to great their families.
We even had one of our own who had a son-in-law in this unit. He was given a PGR flag to take to Iraq. The only request our friend had, was the his son-in-law bring it home to him, signed by he unit, in person.
For me, this was a very special mission. I can not name nor tell you where all of the escorts I had in Iraq came from. But I can tell you that each escorted me to the best of their ability and several went above and beyond the call of duty. Today was a great honor! Even though this unit never escorted any of my convoys, I was in a way, able to return favor. I was given the honor to escort them home to their family and friends. I will never forget this day and I hope with all my heart, that I will have the opportunity to receive this honor again.
I am sure that many of you remember the post about Cpl Dustin Lee and his dog Lex. Well, after a petition and many letters, Lex came home to Cpl Lee’s family on December 22. As with any other of our military Hero’s, the Patriot Guard Riders were there to escort him home to his family.
I have to insert a few personal notes here.There were several PGR mission this day around the Mississippi and Louisiana area that day. With my brother and Dad having been on Cpl Lee’s Funeral mission many months ago, I felt this was the mission I needed to attend. My Dad and brother were not going to be able to attend this one, so I felt someone from our family needed to be there.Along with 3 other PGR member from the MS coast, I made the cold ride to Meridian, MS that morning. Many of us met at the Harley shop, talked, had coffee and then rode to the state line to meet Lex and his new family.Lex flew into Georgia. The family met him there as well as the GA PGR. As they made their way home, the AL PGR joined the escort across their states and then the MS PGR as they came into their home state. A couple of the MS PGR even made the trip to GA to escort Lex from start to finish.When my small group from the coast arrived at the welcome center at the states line, we were told that the family was picking up more and more escorts at every stop. I was very proud to be a part of this and to call this country, the United States, home.
At the welcome center, the family got Lex out so he could meet everyone. what a wonderful and friendly dog he is. (You can see my arm in this picture petting Lex) He greeted every one with great energy and wagging tail. After Lex greeted everyone we mounted up and escorted him to where Cpl Dustin Lee was laid to rest. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the county when the family brought out Cpl Lee’s combat boots, set them on the grave. Lex sniffed the boots and then laid down beside them. I know I had to walk away. I couldn’t keep my composure.
As anyone knows, that has had a dog growing up or even as an adult, there is a bond that is great. The bond and love between Lex and Cpl Lee was one of these great bonds. Even though this wont bring their son back, the family does have a little piece of Dustin with them every day.
CBS has a video up of an interview with the Lee family.
you can find it here –> wbztv.com/video/?id=6743@cbslocal.dayport.com
Along with many other men and women of this great country, I am a member of the Patriot Guard Riders, (PGR). From this article that I read today, it looks like we are going to be VERY busy guarding our Fallen Hero’s and their families in the future. The Kansas based Westboro Baptist Church vows to continue protesting at funerals even after being ordered to pay $11 million to the family of a fallen Soldier that they offended.
“We will continue to warn you of your impending doom as long as our God gives us breath,” church leaders said in a press release lined with biblical references and pictures of the signs its members flaunt at funerals.
They have since picketed the funerals of Frank Sinatra and Bill Clinton’s mother, celebrated the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks as an act of God’s wrath, and have even targeted Santa Claus and the Ku Klux Klan.
These nut jobs have been given the freedoms that they have in this Country by the very people whos funerals the protest. How can these people call themselves “Christian” and act in such a disrespectfull manner?!
The group’s presence at the funerals of dozens of troops across the country has sparked a grassroots movement of bikers determined to drown out the jeers and taunts.
This last quote from the article I fond on Military.com is what I would like to address. Here is the PGR mission statement.
The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join us.
We don’t care what you ride or if you ride, what your political views are, or whether you’re a hawk or a dove. It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what your income is; you don’t even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.
Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives.
1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
2. Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors.
We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.
To those of you who are currently serving and fighting for the freedoms of others, at home and abroad, please know that we are backing you. We honor and support you with every mission we carry out, and we are praying for a safe return home for all.
If you dont ride a motorcycle, you can still join and be a support vehicle. We always need someone carry water and the American Flags.
These pictures are from the last mission my local PGR did a little over a week ago.
With these crazy nut jobs vowing to protest at more funerals, the PGR are going to need every able troop supporting body that we can get. So come join me and the over 100,000 other Patriot Guard Rider members in standing up for those that stood for us…..because it is the RIGHT thing to do!!!
Today was a day that is both joyous and very sad. But a day like today will help restore your faith in man-kind and the world we live in. Well…. at least it did for me.
Craig Goodroe is a 15 year old boy that I, and many other bikers, met today, and he LOVES bikes. Craig suffers from a hereditary disorder called Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia. His remaining time is short. The doctors have told Craig and his family that his disorder has progressed to the point that they can not do anything more for him.
Hereditary hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT or Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome) is a rare inherited disorder characterized by malformations of various blood vessels (vascular dysphasia), usually resulting in excessive bleeding (hemorrhaging.) Chronic nosebleeds are often the first apparent symptom associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Malformation of various blood vessels may result in abnormalities affecting various organ systems of the body including the lungs, brain, and liver. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait.)”
When I met several PGR members for the Veterans Day Parade last week, I heard one member talk about this boy that was dieing, and how one of his last wishes was to ride a bike. There was no debate as to weather we would make this young mans wish come true, it was just a given. Emails were sent out, phone calls made, and this morning members of the PGR, along with members of the Christian Motorcycle Association gathered in Mcgee, MS to make this wish come true.
It wasn’t an official PGR mission, but what can I say. When you have a group of very patriotic, loving, and giving American’s like we do in the PGR, and you mention something like this, there are going to be MANY of us there!
Some started from the coast at Gulf Port. I and several others joined them at Hattiesburg. We met many others at the WalMart in Mcgee.
There were 60 bikes, 1 cage, and 72 people that showed up to make Craig’s wish come true. When we all arrived at his house, we filled his yard and some of us had to park on the side of the road.
Needless to say, Craig was surprised!! He was not expecting all of us. He was expecting one man to show up and take him for a ride. He was presented with his very own biker vest, a Guardian Angel pin and a cross necklace.
Then it was load ‘em up and ride baby ride. We took him on about an hour long ride through the country on a few curvy roads. Craig did great!! Having to be on oxygen, and all the other stuff the young man is dealing with, we were not sure that he would be able to make that long of a trip. But he did! He is a real trooper and was all smiles at the end of the ride. He went from person to person, shaking hands and thanking them for making his wish come true.
But yesterday, were the parades and the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) were there to show their respect and to honnor those that have stood up for our Freedom over the years.
All the guys and gals dressed in their respective military uniforms looked very sharp! I felt VERY honnered to be able to ride in the parade with these Hero’s. I can’t not tell you how wonderful it was to meet each adn every one of them adn to hear a bit of their story about their time in the service. Every stoy was different. Some were sad and some made me laugh. With many of the PGR members also being military of former military, I really got an ear full. Course, with my ahving been a contractor over in Iraq, the ones that had not heard my stories wanted to hear them as well. It was a great day!
Course, I now have fried thighs and a very sore hand from gripping the clutch, but is was worth it!
So to all the Veterants out there, Happy Veterans Day!
