My Start With The PGR

  It was July 22, 2006. Amanda and I were with the kids at the Vietnam Veterans “Moving Wall” in Rogers Arkansas.  It was a Saturday, and they were having the Motorcycle ride in at the Wall.  It was called Thunder in the Ozarks. I was talking to my friend  John Baker, a Brown Water Sailor in Vietnam. The bike looked beautiful as they came past the side of the VFW building and made a pass in front of the “Wall”

John would often tell me who was riding which bike, and one stands out now in my memory. It was a yellow Goldwing Trike. John told me that is my friend Ed Schreck, I complimented on the trike, but really didn’t figure I would remember the name since I have a problem with names.  But now I cannot  forget it.     I had heard of a new group the “Patriot Guard Riders”, and in fact had plans to watch them in action that afternoon in Pryor Oklahoma, at a Welcome Home for an Injured Marine.  I noticed a few of these bike had the Blue and Yellow windshield banner proclaiming they were members of the PGR.

  As soon as the tribute ride was finished I said good-bye to John loaded up the family and headed to Pryor. We arrived at the Pryor American Legion Post and waited with the others. Then we heard them coming, Police Firefighters, and lots of motorcycles.  A local Motor home dealer had donated the use of a large motor home to transport the Marine from the Tulsa Airport to Pryor.  It was like the arrival of a famous singer on the tour bus. The crowed lined the road and the driveway to the Legion, crowds had been all along the streets of Pryor, most businesses had Welcome Home on their signs.  There was a ceremony in the Post, and this Marine was treated like the Hero he was. I was hooked on the PGR.

    Two weeks later I had the Honor to Stand for an Arkansas National Guardsman Killed in Iraq,  Derrick Plowman, That was my first encounter with the “UG’s”  or uninvited guests.  There was over 200 bikes, many cages, and a Grand Showing of American Patriots. The local LEO’s placed the protesters down the street, and had them gone before the family had to deal with them. We staged at a local truck stop in Valley Springs AR. And were escorted to the High school by the local law enforcement. It was an awesome sight.  At the school, folks lined both sides of the parking area, American Flags held proudly. It was a hot August Saturday, and  The asphalt made it worse. Folks were dropping from the heat, but God was with us as a local Ambulance company had donated the use of an ambulance, and it was staffed by volunteer EMT’s that took great care of those in need. One of these folks would become a large part of the PGR in Arkansas, Bob Olds, Senior Ride Captain West Arkansas, and one of the finest people I have ever met.  I would venture to say Bob is one of the most respected Ride Captains in the country.  Another person saw a need that day and his road name was chosen.  That was the need for water. This gentleman went and bought cases of bottled water, and iced them down, and passed them freely to all present driving his pickup down the lines and keeping the riders hydrated. His act was greatly appreciated, and “Camel” would continue onto become an Arkansas State Captain for the PGR. I was proud of my daughter Robyn that day, she took a trash bag from our car and walked the lines collecting the empties.  After what I witnessed that day I was hooked solid on the PGR. Another person that day was Pete Waddell, who was our Ride Captain, he was to advance to become a member of the National Board of Directors. We met a few folks that day, but there were too many to keep in my memory banks. For many of us in Arkansas it was our first real PGR Mission but would not be our last.  I still find riders that were there with us that day, and still Proud to be members of the Great organization PGR has become.

   ON September 8^th of 2006, I stood my first mission for a deceased veteran, Corporal Charles Wilson, US Army Korean War Veteran had passed away. His Family requested our presence to Honor their Hero. Our Ride Captain was Fred “Rockinn” Nelson. And he was assisted by Don “Dragonnnnn” Horton. We staged and then rode as a group to the Funeral Home where we stood a flagline in Honor of Cpl Wilson. As we were standing there, Mr Wilson's daughter, Mary Ann, came along the flag line thanking each of us, and shaking our hands. I was very impressed with the appreciation shown by the entire family.   Also on this mission was MRRON, aka Mr. Ron long.  Who has come to be a great friend. Fred was RCing his first mission, and had a brand new maroon cap, it blew off his head, and Gerald Gaines promptly  ran over it for him. Fred was to become Senior Ride Captain Northwest Arkansas, and then Senior Ride Captain for all of Arkansas.  Gerald would go on to be Arkansas State Captain.   After the Mission, Mary Ann joined and was to become first a Mission Support Coordinator, then a NWA Ride Captain.  I too would soon be known as a Mission Support Coordinator.  

To Be Continued