Wreaths across America...
I got a call from a friend late last week talking about the Patriot Guard Riders escorting a trailer truck full of wreaths for Arlington National Cemetery from Maine... would I like to go..? Sure, well I cannot go the entire route but I'll do a hop... when and where... ?
The Worcester Wreath company headed by Morrill Worcester donated 5000 wreaths for the cause and the Guard is escorting them all the way to the cemetery.
The schedule was for the truck to leave the Worcester facility in Harrington Maine Sunday morning and make it to LL Bean in Freeport before the end of the day.
Well we had snow since and that put many riders out of the wheeled scene due to icy driveways and all that..
I went over to meet the group and I met up with some folks that I had met from the group when they had come to honor a friend of mine back in the Summer. I decided to ride to Freeport with them, hell I was riding the Hack all warm and toasty with the Gerbing gear plugged in... Some of these guys were riding with no windshields but bundled up well... couple of Metric cruisers, couple of HD's including a '47, 74" flathead, sounded great too... ! ! Five of us were the escorts from the Guard...
We went under police escort all the way (30 miles) as they had from Harrington and as we came into the town of Freeport the street was lined with people holding candles and waving and when we stopped people came up to us to thanks us for the gesture. I was touched by the numbers of people there.
It was a real feel good for us but Mr. Worcester is The Man...
My Dad was a Veteran of WW II and this just hit home with me. He passed away in June of '05 and last Christmas we made a wreath from our family Christmas tree and put it on a stand at his grave in the Veterans Cemetery here in Maine, We will do this every year now, our way of sharing Christmas with him.
I told Mr. Worchester that little story and he just nodded, didn't speak, he knew how much what he was doing meant to many people... he just met one.
Take care,
Rob
http://wreathsacrossamerica.org
Some of the group..
Gas up and bundle up...
Spirited riders...
Color Guard at Freeport..
The Flag Ladies...
Wreath on the way to Arlington...
Thanks Rob for the post great story.
I will be here on the 15th.
Bay Pines National Cemetery - Bay Pines
Officer Terrance Power
Contact # TBD
Clearwater Cadet Squadron
Thanks for posting,and thank your DAD for his serviceI am in charge of the project in Grand Junction Co. for the PGR as I am the Western Slope Ride Capiain for the PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS in Colorado
Richard,
That is wonderful that you will be there, where is Bay Pines...?
Ron,
Good for you as Guard Captain... This is a great thing you folks do.
I am not a Guard member however I have ridden with them twice now, first in the Summer at the procession for a friend lost to the Iraq war and now with the wreath ceremony.
I do not know if I qualify to become a member as I am not a veteran. I will ride with them when I can though.
Rob
Rob,
Bay Pines is in between Clearwater and St Petersburg, FL. This is also where the VA hospital is also. I am a veteran but you do not have to be to be a member of the Patriot Guard. I just sign up this morning.
http://www.patriotguard.org/Home/tabid/53/Default.aspx
Originally written by RichardMc4 on 12/12/2006 9:49 AM
I am a veteran but you do not have to be to be a member of the Patriot Guard. I just sign up this morning.
That's good to know... I think I will join if they'll have me. Be a nice tribute to my Dad and more.
My Mother is still going to Fla for the Winter months, she is on the west coast.
Thanks,
Rob
We would love to have you aboard Respect is what it is all about.You don't even need to own or ride a bike to belong anyone can belong
I've heard about that wreath company. That is a wonderful thing to do and I'm sure that it made you proud to be an escort.
I am a Korean War veteran and have been hesitant about joining the Patriot guards due to my uncertain knees holding up my Valkyrue
Now that I've got a Valk/Spyder rig, that eliminates the knee problem and I think that I'll join the local Patriot group. My son, an Air force veteran has already joined.
wayne
I to am a Korean Vet, the PGR is the only ones that I have ever had tell me THANK YOU for my service . Being with a group like that brings tears to this old mans eyes and I am extreamley proud to be one of them. We have 5 missions this mounth to welcome home our troups 2 of them have been seriously wounded in IraqRon in Co
Yes the actions from this group really do touch a man's soul.
I think I will join also...
Thank you,
Rob
Well I took a short ride to Wreaths across America at Bay Pines National Cemetery. There was not a large group. There was a wreath for each service and POW/MIA. This is one of those things I will do each year. Below are some pictures.
We had a small but very respectful ceremony to day in Grand Junction ,not a large turnout but very touching and a large showing of respect to those who have given the ultimate commitmentRon CampbellWestern Slope Ride Captain Colorado
That is awesome you guys... Thanks
Never forget.
There was a news spot on the NBC Nightly News about the ceremony at Arlington...
Again, this is a great thing you do.
Rob
For the record I just joined.
Viet Nam Vet
Claude
Me to
Also a Vet
