WELCOME HOME 129th Rescue Wing

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

PGR was invited to welcome home our heroes and it was an honor to be there!

As I like to say, all missions are different, no exception.  Buzz did the RC duty and made the contacts.  While we were at the staging point, he heard about the second part of the mission, so we got to do a loop to Moffett and back to get round two!    It worked out fine.  We only had 5 scoots and a cage, and we lost one scoot after mission 1, but 4 hung around for round 2.

San Jose Police outdid themselves, we had about 12 squad cars for both trips!  Lots of lights and when we hit Moffett, sirens galore!  They DID hear us coming!  GBG

We staged at our favorite place on first st, short trip to the airport.

 

So today's  contingent amounted to 5 scoots and one cage, my size of escort!  Don't like the big rides....

Buzz chatting with our liaison to the PD.  Everyone else was around Hercules!  He is JD's dog and rides in the sidecar with him.... everywhere!  Folks love him!

My good friend and fellow ALR Dist 13 rider Slick John showed up!

Another shot of the group, the Prius belonged to a Gold Star aunt.

The sign on Hercules hack.

Every ready to pose, he is such a nicely mannered Service Dog.

Round 1, at the ready.

Nice poster!

What better than a Blue Bird for Air Force folks.  Baggage truck was behind.

In front of the bus, 4 scoots and 1/2 dozen squad cars....   Now look across the road, just over the first squad car..... yup more!  We had a convoy!

Made the ride in fine police flashing lights fashion. 

All the happy folks getting off for some treats then debrief and then FAMILY!!!!  This is their time, God Bless 'um!!!

Just shooting some shots... Didn't get a pic, but I saw a soldier holding a brand new baby, first hold, first time.   Bless him!!!  

Our 5 scoot bus escort.

Some fellow service folks watching on...  

Folks visiting before debrief.

                                      ROUND 2!!! 

So we lost JD and Hercules, he had to make a trip to the VA Hospital for a visit.  They love Herc and look forward to their visits.  4 scoots and a cage came back around.

The young lady in the green told us that her dad, who is big into PGR in Minnesota, was on that flight!  Well that called for a coining, and Greg did the honors!  He was, as his daughter, blown away!     He was so impressed that they joined out escort out to Moffett!    I gave him one of the 129th pins that Carolann W was passing out, I went back and got another.   

The young man in a blue shirt asked about what we did.... we have a new member!  Buzz ran out of cards a LONG time ago on this mission!  GBG   Slick John even gave the one he had back to him!  

Again, across the street, line of squad cars, about 12 more again!  OUTSTANDING!!!!  Thank you SJPD!

Safe again!

Visiting and treats before debrief.

And then there were 4.   Outstanding escort!  I really do like the smaller missions.

A few more friends on hand.  Outstanding ride!  If you could've heard those sirens on base, and as we went around a curve, seeing all those flashing lights, OUTSTANDING! 

God Bless 'um and Thank You for your service!

PGR - USAF Veteran O' Ray Perry 

PGR mission post:

The Patriot Guard Riders have been requested to Escort and give
final Honors to USAF Mr O Ray Perry. We will be Escorting
this Hero from San Jose Ca to San Joaquin National Cemetery in
Santa Nella Ca. Please bring your Flags and lets Honor this Hero
as he is laid to rest.

And it was an honor to attend, altho I did meet the mission about at the top of Pacheco Pass.  Bit of a story, I was late in leaving, and knew I would miss the staging, so headed directly to SJVNC to meet the escort.

I left at the same time as the group was to leave and I was closer, I thought I had plenty of time.  As I was riding up Pacheco Pass, I saw this red Harley with it's flashers on, and I know what that means, but there was no escort?

I followed for a bit and he appeared to be bird dogging a car, but then they took off.  I continued my ride and caught them a few miles further, along with the entire group.  My guess is somehow the last car got separated from the group and the tail gunner was staying with it, as he should.

Well I just fell in behind, I knew who they were and where they were headed.   Still couldn't believe they were ahead of me, but all missions are different, and you just roll with it, must be flexible!  We arrived safe and sound.

Before I caught up with the group, someone else met them at 152 junction.  We had 8 scoots and 2 met on the fly.  Pretty good mid week group!  And it looked great with the flags flying and the entire escort.   

I hope I have this right, someone correct me if I don't.  Chaplin Ken took the mission and received many compliments for his efforts.  Thank you for doing this!  We need more like you!

Tried to get a pic of the procession line, but had to walk up for another shot.

The main body of the scoots, real nice showing for mid week.  Nice group of family and friends also made the journey.

Walking back down the line, got a better shot of the "tail gunners".

Successful mission and as we went over Pacheco Pass, the weather warmed right up.  It was quite warm there!    The family was grateful for our being there and as always it was an honor to attend.  I thank them much for inviting PGR to ride.

As I am apt to say, all missions are different, and you just roll with 'um.  I'll say this is the first of hundreds of missions, the bugler didn't...    The services have moved to a electronic bugle, someone holds it and it plays taps.     We once had a mission that our PGR Ride Captain played taps.   Today, it didn't, I guess we had an equipment malfunction.  We waited an appropriate period of time and preceded with the service. 

PGR - WW II US ARMY CORPS Pascual Solis Robles

PGR was invited to stand for one of our finest generation, and it was an honor to be there.

Mission Post:   

The Patriot Guard Riders have been requested to Honor
WWII Veteran Pascual "Pat" Robles of th US ARMY CORPS
Pat served in WWII with the U.S. Army Air Corp, 8th Air Force
as a Ball Turrett Gunner. He flew 20 missions in the B-24
Liberator and 7 missions in the B-17 Flying Fortress.

He met his wife Angie in 1938 to which they recently
celebrated 70 years of marriage on November 29, 2012.
Pat is survived by his wife Angie, daughters, Angie Jr., Linda,
Rebecca and son, Louie. He is preceded in death by his son Eddie.
Grandfather of four and Great grandfather of four.
Uncle to many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life service will be held on Monday,
February 18, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at the Cathedral Of Faith
2315 Canoas Garden, San Jose, Ca 95125  with Reverend
Mike Garcia officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
 
I was in the flag line and as such did not get many pics.

Link to Cliff's / Flagman's pics:  http://is.gd/GoqizO

I didn't notice it at the time but the 2cd person in line was coming over to say Hi!  Mike G The Noisy Kid  Good to see you, been a while!  We had a good showing of ALR Dist 13, IIRC at lest 5 of us attended.

Just some pics of the scoots, we must've had close to 25.  

Cas and his nice Valk made it also.

JD giving Hercules a well deserved walk.  Herc was the star as he often is.  Our fallen hero liked dogs a lot.  After the service, a family member asked that  we all pose around Herc for their pictures.  Very nice!  

Very nice and memorable service and it  was heavily attended.    Please celebrate the long and good life lived.  We will all be together again.  God Bless

PGR - Purple Heart Ceremony for PFC Gustavo Zarate US ARMY

VA - PAHCS blog:    http://is.gd/zSin4C

Cliff/Flagman pics:   http://is.gd/l7V5RB 

Mission Post:

The Patriot Guard Riders have been requested to participate in the Purple
Heart Ceremony for PFC Zarate. PFC Zarate was wounded in Pakistan on
May 19th, 2012 when his base came under missile attack. He's been in the
hospital ever since and recently started walking with assistance.  He's a
first generation immigrant and most of his family do not speak english, so
we will have a bi-lingual ceremony with translators for the parents.   The
weather is supposed to be sunny, so should be great for the riders.
Location is Building 7, Healing Garden.  BBQ to follow.

The VA has a brand new PAO who will be there. And also a brand new
Army Liaison who is also going to be there.  Neither of them are familiar
with the PGR or the Blue Star Moms other than what I've told them.  It
would be good for them to meet you guys.

Please bring your Flags as Cliff may not be able to attend this and lets
Honor this American Hero as he receives his Medal. The Purple Heart will
be given to PFC Zarate by US ARMY Col. Bill Carter and a Sgt Major still
to be determined.

These Missions are an Honor to be a part of as this type of thing is
usually done in private at the VA. We get to stand holding our Flags to
let PFC Zarte and his Family know that we as a Nation are thankful for
his service and sacrifice.

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

It was an Honor to attend and we had a good showing, about a dozen scoots some cages and Blue Star Moms.  Thanks to all.

Our line of scoots, looking fine, and of course, illegally parked...

James and Cliff/Flagman chatting, you can see all the flags that he put up surrounding the entire area.  Does a great job!  Thank you my friend!

More folks on the right.

Podium set up for presenting.

Getting ready for the presentation.

Just scanning the area.

Cliff put up all the flags you see.

Scanning the crowd.

The ladies on the right offered a Prayer for our hero, and all that serve.

Our hero standing in honor of all.  Thank you and God Bless! 

PGR - Army National Guard Claudio Navarro

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

PGR was invited to stand in honor for a Veteran and an honor it was.  The mission post:

Link to Debbie P's facebook pics:     http://is.gd/yYO3FO


The Patriot Guard Riders have been requested to give final Honors for Claudio Navarro. This will be a Flag line at the Cemetery and  Escort to his final resting place at same location. Here is what his Daughter Elizabeth had to say about her Dad...

Dad loved to march to cadence. He absolutely loved it. He enjoyed the military and took pride in his uniform and the time he served to the point where he'd get a bit teary eyed when reflecting on his time while serving.

Short notice mission but seven riders arrived, 5 scoots and 2 cages.  Thanks to all that could make it.

Arriving at our staging across the street from Oak Hill, some of the scoots...  My sweet Ruby in front.

Doug / Sgtmaj on the right chatting with the riders.  He is still in a cage while waiting for his scoot to get out of the shop. 

We moved over to Oak Hill and Debbi P was taking a pic of the riders. 

I had to jump right in!  On the right end standing by Slick John.

Debbi's batteries were getting weak and she wanted in a pic also and we snapped another.

Slick and Doug chatting and Debbi to the right.

The only pic I took at the service as we were setting up for it to begin.  I won't take pics while in a flag line, do not believe it to be the right thing.  Please look at Debbie's pics posted before mine for additional coverage.

 

PGR - Woman's Army Corps Natalia Mead San Jose

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

Mission post:  

The Patriot Guard Riders have been requested to Escort (WAC) Natalia Mead to her final resting place. Here is what her grandson had to say:

My grandmother was a member of the Women's Army Corp (WAC) who worked as a aircraft mechanic for the US Army Air Corps during World War II. She was stationed at 268th Army Air Base, San Francisco.

E-3/PFC Natalia Mead was also a member of post #564 and was a huge supporter of our troops. 

Please bring your Flags and lets Honor her and her Family.

And an honor it was!  Thanks to the family for asking PGR / ALR / and others to attend.

I live in S San Jose so it was a short ride, I had just got on Monterey Hwy and saw a fellow ALR rider, thought I recognized him, but turns out he was coming in from Atwater - over Hecker Pass in the cold.  He had ice forming on his windshield, brave man!  

He's standing behind my sweet Ruby, ALR Chapter 83.  ALR was very well represented today.  We had three from our host post 564, ALR District 13.

Sgtmaj in the tan jacket a little to the right was our Ride Captain (RC) for this mission. He's currently caging missions while his scoot is being repaired.

Close to service time so we formed our flag line, on the left....

... and right...

I found out from Ed J, on the right, that there were more folks in the rear so took a few pics.  Slick John in the center with his old red/gold Harley behind him.     Ed has been a long time member of post 564 and an ALR District 13 member.  Slick is ALR Dist 13 also.

And more on the other side.  The rider on the left had on full heated gear, we all were jealous!  It was very cold this morning!

More scoots in the rear parking lot.  I believe I counted 13 scoots and Sgtmaj in a cage.

Ready for the service to end and our hero to come out.   Fellow ALR Dist 13 rider, on the right,  and I were flag bikes and led the procession to Oak Hill.

Scoots lined up after the procession, our ARC Mark Z in his ever colorful lime green vest in front.  He has a beautiful Gold Wing in front, with many flashing lights, very effective during escorts.

Post 564 Commander Shirley B assisted in the service and all was done very well.  Post 564 Honor Guard performed the 21 gun salute, taps and flag folding.

Thank you all for attending this service for one of Americas finest generation.  God Bless Natalia Mead and RIP.   Comforting Prayers for family and friends.