Archive for the ‘Patriot Guard Riders’ Category

Semper Gumby is a phrase we always use for Patriot Guard missions. First it’s a play on the Marine motto and then it signifies the PGR being flexible. We have to be flexible since each mission is very fluid. I’m sorry to see that the creator of Gumby has died.

Art Clokey poses with a Gumby doll in 1995.(AP photo)
Gumby Animator Art Clokey Dies at 89 in California – AP

Clokey first molded Gumby for a surreal student project at the University of Southern California called “Gumbasia.” That led to his making shorts for the “Howdy Doody Show” and several series through the years

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Gumby, Semper Gumby, Art Clokey

It’s Veteran’s Day, a day to honor, thank and remember our Veterans.

“Those Honored Dead”

“Why do you fly the flag today?”
My Grandson wants to know.
I fly it for the graveyards
Where the countless crosses grow.

I fly the flag for children
Whose fathers are a name.
A half-remembered memory
of a face within a frame.

I fly it for the families
of sons and daughters lost.
They know the price of liberty
How terrible the cost!

I fly the flag for veterans
who lost their youth in blood.
And saw their comrades slaughtered
in the carnage and the mud.

I fly it for the ones who marched
In cadence off to war
To close their eyes forever
Upon some foreign shore.

I fly the flag for grief poured out
Upon a granite wall.
The laying-on of hands that heals
The scars within us all.

I fly it for the sound of Taps—
That melancholy tune
That lays to rest those honored dead
Who always die too soon.

Copyright 1994 Marion G. Mahoney

Now is the time to order your Wreaths from Wreaths Across America. You could order wreaths for Arlington National Cemetery or you can order wreaths for your local national military cemetery. If you live in Middle Tennessee the Middle Tennessee Veteran’s Cemetery at McCrory Lane in Nashville could really use your help.

This year WAA has a mission of delivering a truck load of wreaths (5,000 wreaths) to each of the 50 states. If you can sponsor a wreath please go to http://wreathsacrossamerica.org/sponsor-a-wreath.htm. You can select the participating location that will receive your donated wreath from their list of over 350+ participating locations. Individual wreath – $15, Family (4) wreaths – $60, Small Bus (10) – $150 and Corporate (100) – $1,500. Wreath sponsorships must be received no later than November 25th, 2009.

Location ID TNMTVN Location Leader Annette Robeck

Please join us in honoring our Fallen Heroes on Saturday Dec. 12th at 11:00 am at the Middle Tennessee Veteran’s Cemetery

“Wreaths Across America is about the spirit of Appreciation for what we have, and a determination to give something back.”

The Wreaths Across America story began 15 yrs ago when Worcester Wreath Company began a tradition of placing wreaths on the headstones of our Nations fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery during the holidays.
In 2006 this ceremony of wreath laying was expanded to Veteran Cemeteries across the country to run concurrently with Arlington Cemetery at 12 noon EST. The ceremony runs around 30 minutes, we will be in the enclosed gazebo on the hill with the large windows to view the cemetery, seating is also provided. After the ceremony we will be laying the wreaths at the graves, you are welcome to join us.

Please bring your children, we will be having all the children stand up to say the Pledge of Allegiance. We have Janna and Keith Landry (back up singers for Lee Greenwood) to sing the National Anthem and bagpiper Todd Boswell to play TAPS and play while we lay the wreaths at the graves.

Middle Tennessee Veteran’s Cemetery
7931 McCrory Lane
Nashville, TN 37221
Tel: (615) 532-2238

Veteran’s Day 2009, Wreaths Across America

This little girl knows sacrifice. Her Daddy deployed to Iraq for a year. Through Patriot Guard we do many mission to send off troops and welcome home troops. The send offs are always sad and bittersweet for the families. The welcome homes are great joy and celebration.

Little Girl Can’t Let go as Sergeant Daddy Leaves For Iraq
Some things are just not allowed when soldiers are standing in formation. One of them is 4-year-old girls.

However, there was no soldier stern enough to pry Paige Bennethum of Laureldale, Pa. from her father as he prepared to leave last July for a year-long deployment in Iraq.

Abby Bennethum captured her daughter’s emotions in a photograph that she passed along to the Reading Eagle, the newspaper in Berks County, Pa. The image immediately captured many other people’s emotions.

Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Brett Bennethum was preparing to depart from Fort Dix, N.J., for Iraq, leaving behind his pregnant wife and two little girls. His family was there to see him off. His commanding officer didn’t have the heart to tell Paige she had to let go of her daddy.

Tomorrow the Patriot Guard of Tennessee will be welcoming home Tennessee National Guard, 168th Military Police Battalion.

Time for Great Joy and Celebration!

Thank you to Mailloux at Redstate for the heads up on this story.

Staff Sgt Brett Bennethum, Paige Bennethum, Luareldale PA, Patriot Guard Tennessee, TNG 168th MP BTN

There’s a number of videos showing John Rich speaking with war veterans but this one happens to be with a WWII Veteran who is close to the hearts of the Tennessee Patriot Guard. You can read about John’s visit to Washington D.C. through the Honor Flight program.

John Hall, WWII Veterans, Tn Patriot Guard, John Rich, Honor Flights

This flag is privately owned (Jim Gentry of South Pittsburg,TN), the owner (at his own expense) brought it out for Sgt. John M. Sullivan’s funeral on Jan. 8, 2007 in Soddy Daisy, Tennessee.

It’s a Grand Ol’ Flag
Music and Lyrics by George M. Cohan
You’re a grand old flag.
You’re a high flying flag.
And forever in peace may you wave.
You’re the emblem of
The land I love
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev’ry heart beats true
‘neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there’s never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

U.S. Flag Rules and Etiquette

Flag Day, Grand Ol’ Flag, Jim Gentry, Sgt John M Sullivan

On Sunday, my friends (Mary Anne and Larry) and I left for Conway, Ark to stand with the Arkansas Patriot Guard to honor Pvt William Long and his family. Pvt Long was killed in a terrorist attack on our land, his memory needs to live on. The injustice by the media in the coverage of this attack on our soil left little coverage on this Soldier’s death. You can read other postings of mine on this attack here, here, here, here, here, here and here.

KATV7 has a short write up on the funeral. It was nice to see that a Democrat Governor (Bebe) attend the funeral. He even came around to the Patriot Guard flag line and shook each of our hands thanking us for being there. In the over 3 years I’ve attended KIA funerals in Tennessee, I’ve never once seen Democrat Governor Bredeson attend a funeral. He didn’t even attend the funeral of 1LT William Eric Emmert who was killed in Iraq, Tn National Guard, 269th MP Co 117th MP BTN, spent more than a decade with THP, worked for the Governor’s security detail and most recently started with TBI.

Turnout for the funeral by Patriot Guard was awesome with members coming also from Missippi and Oklahoma. One of the Oklahoma members was the Gold Star father of Cpl Michael E. Thompson ,who died in a helicopter crash in Iraq on September 16, 2008. Cpl Thompson’s father has memorialized his son’s truck. The truck is such a wonderful memorial.

There was also a Veteran who has this cool memorial he has mounted on his motorcycle trailer.

I couldn’t go without taking a picture of the Tn PGR Mascot on the Memorial

I have some video footage of the long flag line and the PGR Motorcycle escort to the cemetery, however due to my ineptness, I can’t seem to figure out how to convert 3gp files to wmv files. Actually, I don’t think I have the correct codec, so in the conversion process the program crashes. Hopefully, I’ll get this figured out.

Keep the Long family in your prayers, they’ve got the youngest son deploying in the next few weeks to the Middle East while also trying to grieve for the loss of their other son.

Pvt William Long, PGR, Patriot Guard, terrorist attack on Little Rock recruiters, Abdul Hakim Muhammad, Carl Bledsoe

This is such a cool story that the Tennessean wrote about John Hall. I’m not a fan of the Tennessean but John is an acquaintance of mine and I am so thrilled they wrote this story. John is just such a sweet man and I wish I would have been in town to join in the Patriot Guard escort for his drive to Huntsville but I’ve been in DC myself for the Milblogging Conference. I can’t believe they arranged for a “trike” to take John to Huntsville. What an awesome experience for John at 94 years of age. Rachel is definitely an angel for John and her Mom Susan is right up there with Rachel. Kudos to the Tennessee Patriot Guard for this wonderful and amazing mission.

94-year-old veteran to visit WWII Memorial in D.C.

MURFREESBORO — Ninety-four-year-old John “Red” Hall is on the trip of his lifetime.

“I’m excited about the whole thing, from one end to the other,” Hall said. “I never thought I’d see the day to do this.”

Hall, an Army Air Corps sergeant in World War II, left Murfreesboro on Friday afternoon in the passenger seat of a three-wheeled Honda Gold Wing motorcycle on the first leg of a journey that will take him all the way to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

“I haven’t ridden a motorcycle since I got out of service” in 1945, said Hall, who was as excited about the ride as he was about the landmark he will be visiting.

Hall was fitted with a helmet and motorcycle sunglasses by Sloan’s Motorcycle and ATV Supercenter earlier in the week. After a slathering of suntan lotion, he was ready to go.

Members of the Patriot Guard Riders and Rolling Thunder, two motorcycle groups that support U.S. veterans and troops, pulled out of Sloan’s parking lot Friday afternoon, escorting Hall and Nick Petty, the Patriot Guard member who chauffeured him to Huntsville, Ala.

There, Hall was to board an Honor Flight jet with up to 200 other veterans bound for today’s one-day visit to the nation’s capital.

Go read about John’s story.

Honor Flights, John Hall, Murfreesboro TN, Patriot Guard Riders

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA

Remember the fallen;

Honor those who serve;

Teach our children the value of freedom.

What started over 17 years ago, as one’s man’s dream to honor Veterans with Maine wreaths for the holidays, has become an annual event cherished by many. Humbled with a new understanding about the impact the Arlington Wreath Project has made, not only in honoring the dead, but recognizing the sacrifices of the living, Morrill Worcester – President of Worcester Wreath Company committed himself to doing more, by reaching out across the country.

Morrill Worcester – President of Worcester Wreath Company explains his desire to develop the Wreaths Across America project:

“Our goal is to expand the recognition of those who serve our country, both past, present, and future, as well as their families who deserve our support. Without the sacrifices of our veterans, there would be no opportunity to enjoy the freedoms, the life we live today.”

We invite you to come and participate in this year’s wreath-laying ceremonies on Saturday, December 13th, at 12:00 noon EST. Click here for a complete list of participating locations.

Middle Tennessee’s ceremony kicks off at 11:00 am (CST). I’ll be at the Middle Tennessee Veterans Cemetery off of McCrory Lane (7931 McCrory Lane, Nashville, TN 37221). Please come join us tomorrow.

Wreaths Across America 2008, Patriot Guard, PGR, Honoring Our Veterans, Military, Christmas, Freedom isn’t Free

Come join or cheer on Soldiers riding in the Wounded Warrior Project’s Soldier Ride on Saturday morning (November 8th, 2008) at 10am.

The Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride is a rehabilitative cycling program for wounded warriors. For many of these combat-wounded veterans, Soldier Ride provides the first steps in the return to an active lifestyle.

Many of these men and women have been physically active throughout their lives. Soldier Ride offers these brave individuals the chance to get on a bike and prove to themselves, “I can still do this.” Soldier Ride is not about politics; it’s not about the war. It’s simply about the soldiers.

Patriot Guard Riders will be escorting the bikers on their ride from Edwin/Percy Warner Park (25.56 mile). Here’s a map of the route:

Route LINK
Join Patriot Guard in supporting and cheering on these Warriors. A flagline will be formed at Edwin/Percy Warner Park starting at 8:45am, the riders will start arriving at 9:00am with a ride start time at 10:00am.

Patriot Guard will be escorting the riders from the Park to Franklin and back. There will be a BBQ lunch in the park after the ride. Stand along the route with flags in support of these Warriors!

WWP, Wounded Warrior Project, Patriot Guard Riders, PGR, WWP Solider Ride, Nashville Franklin TN, Support the Troops

One of my Patriot Guard friends started this troop care package drive 3 years ago. She got support from Bumpus Harley Davidson of Murfreesboro, Tn, AnySoldier and the Patriot Guard Riders. Susan pours her heart and soul into supporting our troops and I hope anyone from this area could stop by Bumpus in Murfreesboro and donate some freezer pops and throw in a few bucks for postage. You have until August 30th!

From Susan:

Hello To all American Patriots!

My name is Susan Westerfield. I am the Patriot Guard Riders Tennessee “Help On The Homefront” Coordinator. This will be the 3rd year that my family and I, Bumpus Harley Davidson of Murfreesboro, www.anysoldier.com , and now the Patriot Guard Riders, have organized this very worthy cause to show our appreciation in this small way for our deployed men & women . I sent out emails last summer to you all as well, and with the news exposure you provided, the response & donations were just overwhelming! We are so hoping for the same this year. I know with your help ……the “KOOLTREETS FOR OUR TROOPS” WILL BE A GREAT SUCCESS ONCE AGAIN!!

On Saturday August 30th, “The Patriot Guard Riders” will provide help and an escort to the local Murfreesboro Post Office to send off ALL the boxes of popsicles to our deployed Heroes.

Note: All contacts that are recieving freezer pops, were obtained from www.anysoldier.com

Note : Attached to this email you will find thankyou notes from our troops! PLEASE READ

We can’t thank you all enough for your PATRIOTISM & SUPPORT in this most worthy effort!

Please feel free to contact me:

Susan Westerfield
susan41@comcast.net

Susan has sent out an update on the drive:
So……. we need some help supporting our Soldiers again this summer. As most of ya’ll may know the temps in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and other areas in the middle east are hitting 140 degrees plus…Yes, I did say 140 Degrees and hotter. This is the 3rd year that we have organized a popsicle drive for our Troops. The past years about 2,500 Troops received popsicles from Tennesseans!!! This year there’s ALOT more that are asking for ready to freeze Popsicles. We have 7,089 troops that would love to have some and cool down with.

This means there will be approx. 284-293 Flat Rate Boxes filled with 225-300 popsicles each need to be sent $3,000-$3,200 to cover shipping costs for the 284-293 flat rate boxes which will cost $10.50 to send each one with the military discount of $2.00 from the USPS

(the numbers above represent the Least amount needed…if more is donated that just means more popsicles being sent to a lot of Hot guys and girls)

Bumpus Harley Davidson of 2250 N.W Broad St., Murfreesboro Tn. 615-849- 8025 is the Official Drop off site for ready to freeze popsicles and donations for Shipping costs. Any Supporting letters for our Troops that anyone would like to leave at Bumpus will be included in boxes. You can include email addresses if you’d like and you may hear back from a Soldier or a whole unit… there’s no feeling like hearing from these guys and girls over there!!!