| Did my first ride with Patriot Guard last night |
Subject: Did my first ride with Patriot Guard last night by astock165 on 2010/8/16 11:57:59 I recently commited to donating some of my time to the Patriot Guard Riders. The first "mission" (their term not mine) I went on was last night to help escort New England's only Gold Star Mothers Memorial to my (new) home town, Manchester NH. Only six of these monuments will be made and only one will be in New Englad. Our group picked up the caravan that was coming from Gettysburg PA @ the state line and the dozen or so bikes we had joined the 3 dozen or so already escorting the caravan to ride up Route 93 into downtown Manchester with a State Police escort. In the caravan were various members of the committee working to put the memorial in place as well as some of the Gold Star Moms. If you're unfamiliar with the term, loved ones of military personnel serving in areas of conflict may display a blue star for each loved one serving. If that service man or woman dies during their service, the star can and should be changed to a Gold one. Lynn & I currently have a blue star in our front window as her son is deployed in Iraq with the USAF. I have to tell you, riding in that caravan, and eventually standing in front of 6 women who have lost children in combat is a humbling experience. You realize that no matter how over worked you may be, how under appreciated you feel, or how worried you are that the budget will balance at the end the end of the month, it pales in comparison to what some have given so we can have the precious ability to do just that no matter who we are or where we come from. No matter what your political or idealogic leanings are, support the troops that are serving their, and your country by donating or volunteering to one of the hundreds of great organizations that do so. |
