2007
December 1: Beep - Beep - Beep. It's 2:00 AM and the alarm is going off! How did that happen? Oh, this is the day that the Patriot Guard Riders join up with Snowball Express to escort 600 parents and 900 children of those who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Time to get moving.
I stumbled around and found coffee trying to get my body going. Shave brush teeth and gather up several layers of clothes as it rained all day yesterday and is chilly this morning. Out the door just after 3:00 to pick up Marilyn and meet some of the Riders in Cucamonga. More coffee and we set off with about 8 bikes and the truck for Corona to meet up with more of the set-up crew. We pull into the Park and Ride in Corona about 4:45 to find about 8 more bikes and another two "cages" and Bill Kourkos. Bill got up early to bring a donation from he and his brother! I gladly took his money. Imagine getting up before 4:00 AM to donate to this great cause.
We set off for Forest Hills, near Irvine, with lights flashing and found our way to the Wal Mart parking lot to prepare for the bikers that would begin arriving about 7:00. There was "No-Chute" he had music playing, the parking lot taped off and lights flashing on his "four wheel Harley". Wal Mart opened the doors early so we could dispose of the used coffee and pick up some snacks.
We made a run to McDonalds for egg mc-muffins and more coffee and had a decent "Tail gate brunch" on the back of my truck, juice, cookies, doughnuts and M&M's. Could it get any better?
Bikes had been drifting in and now there were well over a hundred. It's time for the ride briefing. We gathered in the parking lot after the platoon leaders had been given their directions. We split into 15 groups and each group headed out to a different hotel to gather up the children and their parents. Busses were already at the hotels. My group went to the Radisson near Orange County Airport and there were two busses and a bunch of anxious people. The busses were loaded and we led them across town and back to Wal Mart. The parking lot fills as the bikes return and lead the busses to the parking area.
You can't imagine the looks on the kids faces as they get off of the busses, surrounded by over a hundred gleaming motorcycles and all these bikers with their "leathers" adorned with the pins and patches. The kids soon lost their timid ways when a biker would walk up and say, "Do you want to look at my bike, maybe sit on it?" I even saw one of the mom's talk a biker into a ride.
I was talking with one "mother" from Missouri when she said that her son had been killed in Iraq. I gave her a hug so that she wouldn't see my eyes getting misty. She was proudly wearing a necklace with the "Gold Star Mom Pin" and a "Purple Heart Pin" and a sweat shirt with her son's picture on the back. She told about her son coming home from his first enlistment and saying that he was going to re-enlist and go back to Iraq. He said "I'd rather fight them there then fight them here".
Here are some excerpts from the post-mission comments:
To see the smiles of the kids and mothers made my heart swell with the pride and patriotism of this great country.
But the most incredible aspect of the day was to be able to bring a smile on the faces of these families who have paid such an enormous price for my freedom and my Country. The smiles and hugs and hand shakes make all I did for this mission not only worth every second, but also longing for next year.
This was my first ride with PGR and was so honored to ride with you all and so blessed to be able to honor these dear families. I was so moved by the families I got to meet. I was taken aback by the crowds lining the street to honor these families, waving their flags and holding signs of praise. I saw one man holding a sign for these families that read, "Your father is my hero". I almost lost it right there.
One dear little girl wanted her picture sitting on my bike, we got her all situated and I stepped aside so I would be out of the picture. But her mother asked me to step in so her girl could get her picture with me. I was so honored to do so. I would pay a fortune for a copy of that picture.
when this little fellow about 3 years old grabbed my leg and looked up at me and would not let go, I lost it,,,
I just got home from my first ever PGR ride. Man was this the best! I'm still getting chocked up thinking about the brave parents and children of the ones that were lost.
No-Chute your plan was outstanding! As one of your RC's we
went to the Radisson Hotel at John Wayne Airport. The escort went perfect...
thanks to your cool packets and guidance. Nettie's sharp eyes locating the
hotel. (of course on the OTHER side of the road then where I had led the pack.)
and a great team of riders who I hope to have the pleasure to ride with again
and Jim and Marilyn in there Support Pickup with flashing lights!
As I was wandering through the crowd one of our members came over and said there is someone here that you have to meet. It turned out to be John from the Snowball Express and he was wearing the "Congressional Medal of Honor"! What a privilege to have our picture taken with him.
It was time to form up and lead 30 busses to Oakley Park for their activities there. We put a group of bikes between each of the busses and headed for the park. Around the first corner the sidewalks were packed with people waving flags. Block after block they were there with signs, flags and waves.
There wasn't room at the park for the pickup to park and they waved us past. We went around a corner thinking it was over and were trying to figure out where to go next. Here come the bikers flags flying and wearing big smiles. We jumped in the line and followed them to Cooks Corners, a well known biker bar in Santiago Canyon. Can you imagine Marilyn in a biker bar? We invaded the place and had breakfast with "Grumpy" and "No Chute" and the whole gang.
I had given my card to a couple of people there and last night I got an email from Alysha Munger. She had been told that I had taken a picture of her son Colton holding a flag that was on the back of one of the bikes and she wanted to see the picture. It was one of the best that I took all day and I was happy to send it to her
Shift-click the picture for more.
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