Tuesday, April 21, 2009

PGR - Welcome Home Army Specialist Kester Willy

Pics are from top to bottom, click on a pic for a larger pic, text for a pic is under the pic..

So I was just about to get on my cranky machine for a 15+ mile ride to make up for not getting any exercise yesterday due to a great PGR mission and blink... RUSH/FLASH TODAY appeared in my email...

Less than 1 hour from notice to KSU for the ride, I thought... gotta do it, not many can under this time line....

TEN (10) bikes showed up!!!!! Fee Nom In AL!!!!!! Thanks to all that ride! God Bless!

Army Specialist Kester Willy (our bagpiper's son) was coming into San Jose! And a ride was on the books...


I pulled into the staging point and didn't expect to see anyone yet, and there were 8 bikes already there!!!! I made 9 and Doug met us before escort home.. Ahem, he was a tad late.... What's that Spike???!!! I can't hear you!! GBG


Waiting for KSU... Mom in the red...


The arrangement with security at our airports is fantastic, thank you again SgtMaj!!!


We had a few minutes to spare, getting ready to line up....


Mom taking pics, she was just soooo excited, and for very great reasons!!!


Kester finally made it off the plane, beaming mom and son!


Kester thought he was just going to walk through the line... not so fast!!! GBG We all got our hugs in!


More hugs..


Off to Pleasonton and we arrive at home with just a tad bit of noise... all the neighbors came out for the welcome home.


Ok, you have to take a pic of the bikes... we were spread out but this a few...


Greatings and hugs... The troops coming home get their fill of all the hugs they've been missing for sooooo long! Well deserved!


Don giving Kester a PGR pin...


Of course there are dues to be paid! We have to have our colective picture taken.


More hugs....


Sign says it all....


Blue Moon wheat ale with an orange slice.... Hope it was the absolute best of the best! God Bless and Welcome Home!!!

PGR - Welcome home Marine Cpl Alan Wiggins

Click on a pic for a larger pic, pics are from top to bottom, text for a pic is under a pic...

One of our PGR and veterans support parents son Alan is coming home, and a PGR welcome home ride was on the books!

The stars lined up and almost 40 bikes showed up! Fantastic turnout! Thanks to all that ride!

Now here is the neat part, Alan was to meet mom at our staging and he didn't know about PGR being there.... you will see the Oh Sh*t below... GBG



Mom just arriving and saying "hi!".


More hello's...


The group was large, trying to get one pic was impossible.


Mom taking a pic of the bike line.


I tried to get a pic of all the bikes, but it was impossible...


Alan arriving....


He was in the process of mouthing "Holy Sh*t in this pic, quite surprised...


After introduction and welcome, the folks lined up to give a hug and say thank you for your service!


Here is Debbi's son that just got back with Alan, bless 'um both!


SgtMaj, Alan and mom...


Parking at Livermore Park where a reception was held...


A prayer was offered thanking safe return and for all to come back home safe..



Livermore VFW Honor guard...


Congressman Tierney giving Alan a Congressional Proclamation...


Dad, Alan and Mom getting an award, Dad won, he got the 6 pack of Sam Adams beer!!! GBG

Hope the family enjoys it along with a great end of year holiday! God Bless!!

PGR Wreaths Across America GGNC San Bruno, Ca 08

Click on a pic for a larger pic, text for a pic is under the pic, pics are from top to bottom...

Wreaths Across America! Number three for me, it was a cold ride up 280 at 0800 but felt like I had to go.. and "ahem", I'm the ONLY rider on his scoot there! That was for Rich M! GBG

Afterward it was on to my VROC Polar Bear Ride starting at Livermore... Don did a blog for us: http://tinyurl.com/5fwg47 But back to our honor mission to GGNC...



There was a nice crowd this year, hope more folks make it in the future!



The lady with us is a Gold Star Mom,Sue Turley, we visited her son's grave afterward, pics at the bottom.... behind are Rich B, John, Cranky (me) and Rich M. She offered a Prayer for all that have fallen at the service.

BTW, she is a pastor at the VA hospital in Palo Alto! Thank you for being there for them!



A pic of the ceremony where all the flags and wreaths are to be placed. John on the left, one of our PGR members and a fellow ALR District 13 rider got drafted to place the Army wreath. Rich Martin also got drafted for the Marine honors, this is two years in a row for him.

The sun played heck on my photos, it was just coming over the hill, as you can see by the wreath on the cement, it was quite windy and cool. This is the first time we did not do it up on the hill, I guess that was good as it would have been windier up there...



Debbie, one of our Pacifica Blue Star Moms is placing the MIA / POW wreath, sorry for the blur, but I wanted to show the photo.



After the service, which lasted about 1/2 hour, we visited two graves, Debbie placing a wreath on Travis J. Layfield's grave.



Group pic of PGR riders, Cranky, Rich M, Rich B and John surrounding Blue and Gold Star moms, and grand moms! GBG

We Have Debbie, Sue, and Debbie's mom Dorothy Bolton.....
and we were on to Sue Turley's son's grave next, she's the lady in the middle, very sorry for the loss, there are no words that can really say "I'm sorry", God Bless!



A wreath for Keith Jesse Moore's grave, God Bless and Rest in Peace! Thank you Sue!


Another pic of PGR surrounding the ladies... it was an honor to visit and offer respect for these fine American Heros!

PGR - Pleasonton Veterans Day Parade

Pics are from top to bottom, text for a pic is under the pic, click on a pic for a larger pic!

Veterans Day! And Parades are in order! Pleasanton is today - 11/2 - and San Jose is, gee whiz, on 11/11! Veteran's Day!

The weather was supposed to be "iffy" but turned out nice, it did not rain all day...er, until John and I headed back home, John had just pulled off and about a mile down the road, the skies opened up! It was for two miles, just enough to mess things up, sigh. But the parade was good for all!

Bike count as close as I could guess, as folks kept arriving at different times and a group escorted Heuy to the parade, was about 25. We made up for that in volume! GBG



So District 13 ALR staged at Post 564 to ride to the parade staging a bit before 0900 and of course Jake had to show up 1 minute before 0900 shouting "I'm not late" GBG
John, Don, Jake, Georgie, Gary, Audie and Cheryl.




The parade pre-staging area, Sgtmaj was the only one there, we were early.. more showed up later..


The parade staging area....


Another shot.


Here's Huey! Bunker, Spike, Rich, and others escorted him to the parade!


I caught Spike's daughter looking at Huey and she saw me before I got the shot off...


I wondered why all the leaves were in Huey.... duh camouflage.... geez!


Another staging shot...


I had a chance to do a shot during the parade, we were behind Huey.


After the parade, we did not have to wear helmets or much gear during the parade, so time to suit up for the ride home and the "shower"!

The town turned out in force, nice crowd. They enjoyed the parade as I think we all did!

God Bless those that serve!