Corporal Jason Ratledge arrived in Knoxville on September 25, 2007 with a surprising welcome. Fourteen (14) PGR members were present to welcome him home, and we did so in grand style. With the help of Bill Koprince, the father of fallen Marine Billy Koprince, we were allowed to park in the Staff Parking lot and then we waited for his arrival, and actually got to witness him coming off the plane. And in usual Marine style, he had not one, but two back-packs loaded up with items he would need immediately. One on his back, and one placed backwards on his chest. He looked like he was still fighting the war, with the exception of his shorts and civilian shirt he had on.
When Jason came through the doors, we called the PGR members to attention, and held those flags up high, for him to walk through as we cheered him. He then went down the line and thanked each and every one of us, of course, the women present needed the proverbial hug from him. When he got to Smitty (aka Flagman), Smitty announced his arrival in the full voice that he knows how to do, and other individuals getting off the same flight apparently did not know he was a Marine (civilian clothes, remember), and they stopped in their tracks and applauded Jason and cheered him just as loudly as the PGR members were cheering him.
Jason grew up with Billy Koprince. Whether they joined the Marine Corps together is not known, but I am sure that Jason misses Billy terribly. Jason is also now a Civilian, as he served four years in the U.S. Marines, and chose not to re-enlist. He is married. His wife was to arrive as well, however, due to computer glitches, flights were delayed as much as six hours, and it just so happens that Jason's wife had to endure the computer issue. After a brief visit with his family here in the Knoxville area, Jason and his wife will return to Austin, Texas where they have made their home in that area.
Many thanks to Jason for his service to our country, many thanks to his wife for enduring the separations, thanks go to his parents who live in the Knoxville area, and thanks go to Bill Koprince for the awesome treatment and special treatment that the PGR family receives when we go to McGhee-Tyson Airport to welcome our military home.
Respectfully submitted,
Duane Romine, Ride Captain
Deb McKay, Ride Captain
Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need.
Amen. |