SRA Will Newman

[puckmedic]

Today 122 bikes, 22 cages rode in procession to honor this EOD tech who was killed dismantling a road side IED. below is my mission KUDOS:

Folks, today we again showed why PGR is so well respected by the LEOS, Military and Media nation wide. It was hot and some of us faltered struggling to stay on the line. However, we looked out for each other, took appropriate actions and got help when we needed , to those who needed it. DOC BLUE ran her self ragged looking out for folks, I took the more older saner approach of walking casually.

Fortunately, no calls to EMS were sent. I want to thank so very much all of you who brought water, ice, and those super special wash clothes soaked in the ice water!!! Your actions, as well as running vehicles to cool down DOC Blue's and mine worse cases of heat exposure greatly reduced the risk of death. Yes folks, in at least 2 cases, I was ready to make that EMS call. You all that helped with the cool down station are my heros for the day.

Annette- What can I say? Central Tennessee has a fine ride capatain for the region!!! I think it was great that your daughter came along. Always good to see teens involved. Lots of young kids out there today!! Thanks to all.

Annette- These things for a standard rider are emotionally draining. For the ride capatian-this is even more so, due to logistics, schedules and praying for a good turn out. All while taking care of a full time job and a family, many ride captains sacrafice several days prior to the actual mission. It takes special familes to share the RC with all of us and a family for the most part we will never see again. Thanks to your husband, daughters and grand children for allowing you to do this mision the way you always have- with full throttle and 2 tons of heart and soul. I am honored to be among your "lil helpers".

Now I mentioned families we may neverr see again. I know two gentlemen today were on their frst ride with PGR.
They first learned of PGR when we requested to attend their son and nephew's funeral in Martin TN.

I attended that funeral for Dustin Laird and never thought I would see any of the family again. However, every now and then Dustin's sister emails me and I speak via email to folks who knew him. Today his dad and uncle rode with us.

It was my honor to present Dustin's dad with a Mission Complete pin. I only had two, gave the other to DOC BLUE. So if the uncle of Dustin would email me from here, I will arrange to get one to him.

I met many new folks, and caught up with others from previous missions. Many are glad I am making the transition from four to two wheeels. At least one was thinking I was kidding until I pulled out my license! Still in baby step mode but I will be there safe and alive.

The ole DOC is now going to drink about a gallon of the Magic Potion and crawl into bed. I have one killer headache, and I am aching. I am glad to be home, glad all made it in ok (that we know of) . Alabama, Kentucky and all the MC's that got to be here this time, so many thanks to all of you.

STANDING BY READY TO ASSIST

DENNIS E LEE
HOSPITAL CORPSMAN FIRST CLASS
ENLISTED AVIATION WARFARE SPECIALIST
UNITED STATES NAVY (RET)

[Da-Chief]

HM1 (Ret)

You don't understand the thing you are doing for these families. The poor families from Vietnam or Korea and other accidents never saw this.

It is a honor to have you on our little bit of Corpsman.com! Your a big part of this family and also PGR's family..

A heartfelt Semper Fi to you brother....
:not:

Darrell
AKA Darrell "Da-Chief" Crone

[8404]

Chief;

You have a few of us Patriot Guard Riders on corpsman.com. I ride in North Texas. Check my profile.

[Da-Chief]

Awesome, I myself have joined up here but alas I will ride in a cage..
;-)
And after getting de-bried (SP?) up an down the right side of my body, that was a amount of pain I never want to feel again!

There are a lot of politics up here in IL.. I have not done a ride as of yet becuase ..well hell I am still getting my feet under me with my retirement and getting my house fixed.

That and it is hard enough for me when I have to post about a HM here or right articles with reporters..

Don't know how I would do on the line..

Semper Fi Brother..

TTYL
Darrell

[8404]

Chief;

I was in the Marines and the Army Reserves. Later in life I still wanted to serve and stumbled across the Patriot Guard.

I myself have to limit on how many missions I go on. It wrecks havoc on me emotionally. A lot of us wear sun glasses to hide the tears. I can say that it takes me a few days to recover.

I'm not sure why I get so emotional, is it because I have a son who is an 8404 Corpsman and can get called for deployment at anytime? I can' even begin to imagine becoming a gold star parent. Yet, I ride for those who have served and for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

It doesn't matter what you ride to the Patriot Guard or it's members. On one mission we had a PGR member, a very old vet who needed a walker. He told me he has been involved with the Patriot Guard for awhile but would like to at least once ride a motorcycle to a mission. Well, I and a few others carried him over to our state captains motorcycle, a Honda Goldwing tricycle, and placed him on the back seat. The state captain gave him a "mission accomplished' pin and off he went with the biggest smile I ever saw.

The Patriot Guard store has magnetic cager placards which go on the front doors of your car. It identifies you as a Patriot Guard support vehicle.

I had the honor of helping plan my friends funeral, an Army veteran and 82 Airborne soldier. I contacted the Patriot Guard and set up the mission. It was an awesome funeral. After the funeral and at the reception, a 10 year old boy came up to me with my friends wife. She said he had something to say to me. That little boy told me, "thank you, for taking my grand-ma's hurt away". It's stuff like this is why I ride with the Patriot Guard.

I'm trying to change the world, by one "random act of kindness" each and ever day.

Welcome to the Patriot Guard, Chief and "catch you on the wind" brother.

[8404]

Following is a link on the Patriot Guard's website. There are over 14 exceptional video's about the Patriot Guard.

http://www.patriotguard.org/tabid/226/ctl/ArticleView/mid/665/articleId/90/Memorial-Day-Tribute-Video-Click-to-leave-comments-and-read-video-upload-guidelines.aspx

I can't begin to tell someone the emotions one goes through when riding on one of these missions. I can tell you, it's very hard to navigate a large heavy Harley Davidson cruiser through the many tears, while escorting a fallen hero's funeral procession.

[puckmedic]

For me--- I ride also for that one single second when the family and friends see us. Not because of any need to be recognized. Its that moment, when they look out and see us standing, eight foot high flag poles in hand, or mounted up leading them to the cemetery. In that moment and the rest of the day as they look out at us, they do not remember the hurt they are going through. A calmness washes over them, a sense of relief that we are there envelopes them. The Patriot Guard Website has links to many news stories, pictures and video. However, if you want to know how we affect the families and friends, read the thank you letters.

Have a towel to soak up the tears. It is powerfull stuff and really we don't need the thanks. Its a by product of the missions and it lets us know folks do appreciate it. Make no mistake- we would do it if we never got one word of thanks verbal or written.

When it comes to the earlier vets and the earlier funerals (BP or before PGR) we make up for it wioth Memorial day observations, memorial runs for specific guys etc. We even assist with the services for retired, and veterans. Many of these are termed "Short Notice".

As for the magnetic placards, mine is on my tail gate and remains there mission or not! Many a bike has ridden by me, signaled for me to pull over.

It's usually "HOW do I join?", or" man I'm PGR too!!!"

To clarify the original post, that was a cut and paste from the completed mission thread.

Yesterday at the staging area an elderly couple wanted to know if we were a gang. I said "No SIR!!!. We are Patriot Guard Riders. We come from every walk of life to pay reespects to a fallen Airforce Man today. He was killed dismanteling a road side bomb in Iraq. We are near 100,000 members in all 50 states and all territories. We are showing our suppport to the families by being there at their invitation only". The old man looked at me, looked at his wife and told me "we're in" It was an honor to let them slide in the line in front of me as we left.

They came for a few minutes and because it was so hot, they went inside the church. They were visiting Nashville on a vacation! I didn't se them again but I thought it was an extremely wonderful moment in my life.

It's true, it takes me 2 days to recover physiclly from a mission and perhaps a week to recover emotionally.

[8404]

Puckmedic;

Thanks for posting. I to leave my windshield banner on my bike all the time, regardless if I'm on a mission or not. It's wonderful to be riding my bike with my wife and getting waves or car horns tooted at us as we drive by. They give us the thumbs up sign.

I have a picture of my bike on my profile here on corpsman.com

Catch you on the wind brother.

[puckmedic]

Ride safe, rubber down and level.