I have done many PGR "missions" since joining (member #850).
Depending on where you live you may want to contact more then one state captain.
Living in New Jersey I watch for missions (PGR name for rides) in Jersey, New York, PA, Delaware and Maryland. Sometimes the out of state rides are fairly easy to get to. Plus my work schedule allows me the time to do them.
4 most memorable missions.
19 yoa Marine, KIA in Iraq: Gold Star Mom, 85 (son, Viet Nam) was driven to our staging area, helped out of the car, used her walker to come over to our group, left the walker and walked down our line and thanked each and every one of us with a handshake. This particular funeral also had a general and admiral along with a lot of other brass that went out of their way to make us welcome. The soldier was not an officer.
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Another young man, KIA. After the funeral the entire PGR was invited - requested back to the house for a private re-past. We have been invited to the homes many times, but this was the first and really stands out.
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On a brighter side. Soldier comes home, we meet at the airport, escort him through his home town to a park where there is a radio sponsored musical event already scheduled. The event was adapted to a welcome home for this young man.
The soldier (also a medic) was being lauded as a hero. While in Iraq the Hummer in front of his hit an IED and his came under attack. one of the marines in the first Hummer was severely injured, losing both legs along with other injuries. His life was no doubt saved by the actions of our welcome come guy while under attack.
Want to talk about tears. While the medic was on stage in front of thousands of well wishers, his former patient walked out on stage with his "new legs" and surprised him.
After the public welcome home we again escorted these two heroes through the home town of medic to his family home. The entire town lined the streets from babies to grand parents - flags everywhere. It brings tears to your eyes, but you have to fight them back so you can see where you are going.
The outpouring of support when we got to soldier's street was just unbelievable, fire trucks, police cars, ambulances, hundreds of people.
By this time (it was a long day and in the high 90's) we were down to about 20-30 bikes. Again the family insisted that we join in the BBQ - party. We stayed, eat and when we thought it was time to go they would not let us. We all were treated like family.
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I find out there is a mission in Maryland, another kid, KIA. I leave work (I work 24 hours shifts 8am to 8am) and start heading south. It is a 200 mile ride for me, but it is a beautiful day. Hit some traffic along the way and by the time I got there the service had already started. Most of the 100+ bikes were staged a few blocks away but when I pulled in and was directed to the end of the line, one of the organizers saw my plate and realized I had road some distance to be there had me move right up to the church to be with the family escort.
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Sign up, make a mission and you will be honored and humbled. Many of the parents of these kids are not old enough to remember how our country treated soldiers back in the 70's. But the the grand parents do, and trust me, they appreciate it.
There is no such thing as a football hero, baseball hero, NASCAR hero etc.
These are our heroes and we need to let the world know that.
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Topic: Patriot Guards (Read 1700 times)