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With less than 24 hours notice the Patriot Guard was asked to provide escort to a young Marine that was coming home from Iraq. Well, that is what we like to do best - Welcome Home servicemen.
We are to meet at Doc’s coffee shop, they don’t even bother telling us that it is more commonly know as the McDonalds at 87th and I-435 in Lenexa, KS. Anyway we are to meet there at 2PM and then at 2:15 we will head out to the airport. The plane is coming in at 3:30PM.
The group gets together, at the McDonalds. There is plenty of time to chat and say hellos. I had been gone for a week so it was good to see the guys again. One of the guys and I wish I had a better memory, but he was going through some sort of training with an Army unit recently. When the computers crashed they had some extra time and the instructor asked him to discuss the Patriot Guard with the group. He asked how many people there (all Army) knew about the PG. Half raised their hands. He asked how many knew about Phelps, about
Patriot Guard mission
StormVets seat on his bike half raised their hands. He proceeded to tell the unit about the PG mission and he wanted to relay to us some of the things the group wanted us to know. It was a nice message. He also presented Doc with a special token of thanks from the group.
Gary Palmer was there with his daughter. I had first met her on the Eagles Fools Run. It was good to see her again too. Rick Tate was there and of course Doc. I got hugs from all of them so I make a point to greet them every time! The American Legion Riders (ALR) Post 370 regulars were there, Tag, Steamer, and others, there was also a bunch from the Olathe ALR post (#153). One of these guys had a bike seat that caught my eye. He had upholstered his seat in desert camo material, but he had mounted his medal and ribbons on the back of the seat. I did see that until we were underway, so at the airport I took pictures and talked to him some. He is the director of the Olathe ALR, his name was Stormvet. I also checked out how everyone is mounting
their flags. I want something secure enough that I can travel at highway speeds, and it not break off or break something on the bike.
At the airport there was a large group of PG already there. I learned that there was actually 2 vets coming home. One was going to Oak Grove MO and then Cpl Green to Kansas City, KS. They did a show of hands and it showed the group was pretty evenly broken up. Each vet would have about ½ the group in their escort. The Oak Grove vet was coming home from rehab, he had lost his right hand in a bombing on June the 2nd. He was going to be home for 30 days then he headed back to a VA hospital in TX.
When the family was giving directions to Doc on how to get to the house, I learned he was from my neck of the woods. He lives about 5 blocks away. He no doubt went to the same high school as my son, but James is a few years younger. We all went in the airport terminal, as the police and terminal security allowed us to park right
outside the door. There had to be about 30 bikes in the escort, I didn’t count. When James showed up we all hollered and applauded, he was a little shook, I don’t think he knew what he was supposed to do. We all thanked him and shook his hand then headed out of the airport.
The ride part of the escort went great, the speed on the highway was about 60 which allowed the group to stay together. A police escort until we left MO and entered KS. We rolled up on the house and the neighbors came out to ask what was going on. The dad asked us to stay for food and drinks but we all let the family have their time together. After posing for a picture under the families Marine Corp flag, we headed out. Welcome Home James, and THANKS!
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