"Patriot Guard Riders" (Post in this thread)

[scts]

re: "Patriot Guard Riders?" (Post in this section)

If you live close to O'Fallon Illinois there is a PGR Mission tomorrow, 03/12/11.
A1C Zachary Ryan Cuddeback gave his life serving his country.
Details can be found at the Illinois Patriot Guard website.
wilks3
:USA

Wilks - Did you ride with the group for Zach? I'd been keeping an eye out with the local Virginia posts for this mission... his family has been living out here in Va and he attended the same high school I did (many years later than me though).

If you did, wanted to pass along my thanks and thanks from everyone from the hometown - from what I've heard he was another great kid that we've lost too soon and know several that would have been honored to ride with him one last time.

 

[sharpscuba]

re: "Patriot Guard Riders?" (Post in this section)

sharpscuba do you still get that heart felt feeling every time you hear a local Army Reserve Huey fly over? I can't explain how much better we felt with the choppers around. The only thing was when we were based with them, we got more rockets. But those Cav Warrant Officers that flew the Choppers were some brave fellers.

But nowadays I have often thought that when a Huey flys over (fewer of them left now) in their distintive blade sound, I can almost hear the heart beats of all the soldiers that did not make it back to the world.

You know many times after returning home I have felt the war is never over. People are just using different bullets. I sometimes wonder which are the more deadly. Thank God for our soldiers and thank God for the Patriot Guard.

R W B ...To answer your question...D TROOP 2/1 Air Cav..spent many a hour with my feet on the skids of a slick. Yes the sound will always forever live in my heart. I am a proud member of my old Cav unit and do keep in touch with a few of my Brothers. The sad thing is that the numbers that were not called back then are being called now. Each year there is always one less. All the tears that were held back then, sure come easy today. As I explained to my son the day that he decided to serve his Country..you will meet brothers that will give their life for you just as you will do for them but know that the time to grive will not be then. War has no preference in which lives are taken. Do your duty and the time to grive will come later. It is the right of every soldier that has fallen in battle to be laid to rest with all the respect that they are due. This nation to enclude the terrorists that protest, owe them for their sacrifice and thankfully there are folks like the PGR , and the honest, respectful God fearing people that do display their graditude and allow the fallen hero's and their familys for now is their time to grive. God Bless them All!

 

[R_W_B]

re: "Patriot Guard Riders?" (Post in this section)

... .... .... ....
It is the right of every soldier that has fallen in battle to be laid to rest with all the respect that they are due. .... ..... .... ... .. .... .... thankfully there are folks like the PGR , and the honest, respectful God fearing people that do display their graditude and allow the fallen hero's and their familys for now is their time to grive. God Bless them All!

Thanks to the recent ruling there are record numbers joining up the last two weeks. That's great news (I'm one of them). I had a flat tire on my way to my second mission yesterday. I would look at my phone to see what time it was and hoped there were plenty enough riders there so they did not miss my presence. I feel a sense of duty on every mission. I met people on my first mission that are geniune character. It's like Bodeen says, moral fiber don't come in a cereal box. It comes from people who care.

 

[sharpscuba]

re: "Patriot Guard Riders?" (Post in this section)

Amen!

 

[R_W_B]

re: "Patriot Guard Riders?" (Post in this section)

Amen!

I'm hoping to make a mission this Saturday (if I don't have another flat tire). It is not a funeral but a welcome home. That way I can get some pictures. It will be a long ride for me, but I really want to make it. We are staging a good hour and half (minimum) from my home, at a Nam Vets club. From there we will ride quite a ways more back towards Orlando and meet up with another group and then ride on to the Ocoee Fairgrounds to honor a Vet who is blind from war injuries. He won't be able to see us but he will hear us. And hopefully he can feel our love and respect for him.

 

[sharpscuba]

re: "Patriot Guard Riders?" (Post in this section)

Bob..the news that this ride will be for a welcome home is great news. I proclaim my thank you on behalf of my family to this Hero and salute him for all that he has done. I am sorry to hear about the Vet who lost his sight. I agree he may not be able to see you but in reality his vision now is in a way that you and I do not understand. I would bet that he will see, hear and feel you in his heart. He will shake your hand and then feel the respect and honor that you are there to be stole him. Tell this soldier that I too wish to thank him for his duty and sacrifice and salute him for his dedication to his duty and to providing Freedom to this Country. Thank you too Bob for your dedication. Hopefully your trip will be much better than the last. I pray that no harm or wrong doing will fall your way. I am right now trying to convince the wife that I want to ride the scoot down to see my family as they live in Melbourn. I have health issues though and she does not want me to make the trip alone. I have not given up the fight just yet. We shall see.

 

[wilks3]

re: "Patriot Guard Riders?" (Post in this section)

scts, Yes, Escorted Zachary Ryan Cuddeback USAF on 03/12/2011. Escorted SPC William Templeton USA,O1F on 03/15/2011.
Been on 3 KIA missions now, sad , very sad. Can't wait for the Welcome Home ones!!!!!!!
Ride Safe
wilks3
:USA

 

[R_W_B]

re: "Patriot Guard Riders?" (Post in this section)

Bob..the news that this ride will be for a welcome home is great news. ... ... .... .... .... .
Thank you too Bob for your dedication. Hopefully your trip will be much better than the last. I pray that no harm or wrong doing will fall your way.

Thanks sharpscuba, lately seems I might need your prayers to get there. Yesterday an old health issue (I'll spare you the details) flared up and I had to go the Vets Hospital in Tampa for treatment. They treated me and sent me back home but my medication is causing me to stay near the restroom. So now I am wondering if I am gonna make this Saturday or not. Sometimes it seems when something is really important to you, a lot of road blocks seem to come up. My wife's cousin (also a Vet) and his wife are going, and there appears to be plenty without me, but I sure wanted to be there. Will have to see how this plays out.

Oh and sharpscuba you can call me anything you want, it won't bother me none. But RWB is not short for Robert, or Bob, my name is Dave. RWB is my online name which is also a nickname of many attributes including Redneck White Boy. But I do ride a Street Bob so you can call me Bob anytime you want. And if I do get up there I will try to shake the young man's hand and tell him a brave member of the Cav many yrs ago in Nam sent him your respect and honor. Later....R_W_B (Dave)

 

[sharpscuba]

re: "Patriot Guard Riders?" (Post in this section)

So sorry Dave. Not to sure how that happened but the mind is not as sharp as the name implies. I pray that your issue is not to serious. I hope that all works out for you and you can go on that ride.
Wilks3..thank you for your dedication to see that these hero's had all the proper honors that they so much deserve. They will enter the Kingdom with a badge of love and respect. Their loss is not only a loss to their family's but a loss for all of the nation. May God bless both Zachary and William, And you and the others there showing your respect for all that they do. Yes lets all pray that very soon our escorts will be for all the soldiers that serve so bravely and sacrifice so much are coming home to their familys and friends. Let them rejoice in kisses and hugs. May the tears that we all share be tears of joy rather than ones of sorrow! I have felt the happiness of those tears first hand when my son Zachary came home from Afghanistan and wish that all the fathers in this great nation could have the same blessing. To watch the mothers run up to them crying and sqweezing them so hard is a sight that I will never forget and will always pray that others will feel. God Bless the soldiers and their familys, God bless all of you that serve here for them.

 

[R_W_B]

re: "Patriot Guard Riders?" (Post in this section)

This is the background info on the Sgt that has suffered so much doing his duty. This guy has cheated death and came back for more. My heart to him.

Honor Mission, Sgt Joel Tavera – U.S. Army Orlando - Ocoee, Fl - Sat 19 MAR 2011

The PGR has been invited to escort this hero from Orlando to Ocoee Fairgrounds. Army Sergeant Joel Tavera of Havelock, North Carolina (originally from Queens, NY) was deployed to Iraq in the fall of 2007. He was just 19 years of age. Prior to enlisting in the Army, Joel first fulfilled one of his lifelong dreams; he became an active member of the brotherhood of volunteer firefighters. He spent over two years serving as a volunteer fireman, before following in his father’s footsteps by serving the country in the military. Joel’s father served the country in the United States Marine Corps.

In March of 2008, the Humvee that Joel was riding in was hit by five rockets. The blasts killed three men. Joel was thought to be dead as well. Tragically, Sgt. Tavera lost sight in both of his eyes, his right leg, four fingers on his left hand, and suffered very serious head trauma and critical burns to 60 percent of his body. Joel received The Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

Sgt Joel Tavera. He is a Hero who has sacrificed much for our country and we are trying to pay back just a little of what he gave. There will be a ride (Not a Poker Run) from The Nam Knight Clubhouse to Ocoee where we will meet up with another group. We will then ride into the Ocoee Fair Grounds where Sgt Tavera will be waiting. He won’t be able to see us but he sure will hear us.
***Flag bikes strongly encouraged********Initial Staging: 9:00 a.m.
Nam Knight Club House 1451 County Road 13, Olando, FL 32822
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I must be loosing my mind because I saw on the news tonight that they were lowering the criteria for the Purple Heart to passing out and other superficial injuries. While not to discount life in a combat zone (which I can tell you first hand is no picnic) I cannot believe they are going to do this ridiculous insult to our military.