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Patriot Guard Riders Forum
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Susan Sturgis 
Posts: 4888
Bear, DE
In Memory of Ed "Old Iron" Barrett
FORUM MODERATOR
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| 24 Jun 2008 4:41 PM |
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IL PGR – Welcome Home – SPC Patrick O’Connor, Palatine, IL, 30 June 08
SPC Patrick O’Connor, USA, is coming home on leave. Patrick graduated from Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake where he was an accomplished hockey player. Coming from a family of soldiers, he enlisted in September of 2005 and was deployed to Iraq in fall of 2006. He spent 15 months as a Combat Engineer with a primary MOS as a Bradley driver and gunner. Patrick was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received when his Bradley ran across an IED.
He was back in Palatine on leave in February, but the weather was so crappy, his dad (also a rider and PGR member) thought he would save the Welcome Home for later. This is the "later".
Patrick’s girlfriend, Sandra de Gracia, a student in Texas and a native of Panama, will be accompanying Patrick home. Michael, Patrick’s dad, has planned a little backyard feed, so if you’d like a burger, sausage and potato salad, you’re invited to stick around.
MISSION DETAILS
DATE:
Monday, 6/30/08
STAGING LOCATION:
Westbound DesPlaines Oasis on I-90.
STAGING TIME
12:30p
BRIEFING
12:55p
Some of this escort will take place at highway speeds. For your own safety and the safety of others in the escort, please make sure your flags and mounting hardware are secure. Our destination is the O’Connor home, about 2 miles west of Rte 53 off of Palatine Road.
RC: Al “Backroad” Conradt – 630-215-5989 – alconradt@comcast.net
RC and Support: TBD
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BootLady
#34204
TOU Enforcement Agent
"In God We Still Trust" Diamond Rio - Diamond Rio's Greatest Hits II
"You may die with nothing, but if you have brought a rainbow into somebody else's life, your mission is complete." |
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Jasper54
Posts: 7046
Columbus, Ohio
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| 24 Jun 2008 5:12 PM |
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| Welcome home on leave Spc Patrick O'Connor. Thank you for your service and the personal sacrafices you have made while fighting for our nations freedom in the Global War on Terrorism in Iraq. God Bless you. |
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For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth , nor any other created thing , shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:38-39.
Visit me at: www.MySpace.com/ChaplainRoger
GySgt. Roger Casto, U.S.M.C. Ret. 1972-1992
Iran/Iraq War Veteran 1988 (Op Earnest Will)
Veteran of Foriegn Wars, Life Member
Double Blue Star Dad
Riding in honor of:
Sgt. Millard Archy, USA, WWI, France; Sgt. John Meyer, USA WWI, France; Sgt. Alva Pete Osborn, USA, WWII, KIA - France; Seaman Bob Schneider, USN, WWII, Purple Heart; Battle of Leyte Gulf; T/Sgt. Russell Casto, USAF Congo Revolution, Viet Nam; Sgt. Ron Casto, USMC C.A.P. Viet Nam; Sgt. Sean Casto, TennANG. Iraq War;
In Honor and Memory of Ten HMLA-267, MAG-39 Marines who Answered the call and made the ULTIMATE SACRAFICE while ensuring the safety and security of our nation:
Lt. Col. Knott, Capt. Dillon, Capt. Dolvin, Capt. Hurley, Capt. Cronin, Sgt. Kilkus, Sgt. Keller, Cpl. Romei, LCpl. Adams, Cpl. Monahan,
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gumijagr
Posts: 2024
Covina, California
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| 24 Jun 2008 5:36 PM |
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| Welcome Home on Leave- SPC Patrick O'Connor, US Army Thank You for defending this great nation.
Job Well Done.
Be Safe while here and abroad!
PGR CA. |
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Riding in Honor of my Brother John: 2nd Marine Division, 24th Marine Amphibious Unit out of Camp LeJune, North Carolina over a year in Beruit Lebanon during the October 23rd, 1983 attack. Also in Memory of my Father: WWll Veteran Navy Phillipines |
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Banditsdad
Posts: 180
Des Plaines Illinois
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| 24 Jun 2008 7:47 PM |
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Welcome Home Patrick. Time for some well deserved R&R. Thank You for serving and protecting our freedom. I will be there in spirit though because I doubt that I'd be back in town in time for my work shift.
Dan
US Army 71-77 |
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bratkiv
Posts: 68
Rolling Meadows, IL
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| 24 Jun 2008 8:20 PM |
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| Welcome home SPC Patrick O’Connor! It will be an honor to shake your hand and welcome you home. |
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Mark Bratkiv |
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Jeff & Susana
Posts: 88
Northern Illinois
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| 24 Jun 2008 9:23 PM |
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Welcome home on leave Spc Patrick O'Connor.
Thanks for what all of you are doing for us back here.
We're proud of you.
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Jeff, Susana & RENO!
Warrior's Watch Riders
www.warriorswatch.org
PGR members for more than 2 years! |
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ranger rick
Posts: 251
Des Plaines, Illinois.
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| 24 Jun 2008 10:18 PM |
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| Welcome Home - SPC Patrick O'Connor. Thank You for defending this Country's freedom. I really wish I could be there to welcome you home in person. I'll keep this mission in my thoughts on monday. |
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Richard J. Gandy------ PGR#66935.......
Support Our Troops ~~~Remember Our Veterans.
In Memory of Dad,WWII /Korea/Purple Heart. USMC. 2/1927-----------10/2005 |
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twodownzero
Posts: 26
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| 24 Jun 2008 11:10 PM |
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| I'll see you guys there. |
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Go Army
Posts: 314
Rolling Meadows, Ill.
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| 25 Jun 2008 4:01 AM |
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| Welcome home Pat. Thank you for serving our country. Your Dad Michael isn't the only one that is proud of you. "WE ALL ARE !!!!!" |
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Bob Smith
Sgt. Army 63-69
VietNam Vet
"The moon gives you light,
And the bugles and the drums give you music;
And my heart, O my soldiers, my veterans,
My heart gives you love."
Walt Whitman-Drum Taps
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Backroad
Posts: 197
Aurora, IL
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| 25 Jun 2008 7:53 AM |
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SPC O'Connor -
Looking forward to meeting you. We're all proud of your willingness to serve the cause of freedom. God bless you and grant you and Sandra a safe trip home.
al |
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"God grants liberty only to those who love it and are always ready to defend it." Daniel Webster |
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sdoise
Posts: 4551
Kinder, La.
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| 25 Jun 2008 10:51 AM |
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Welcome home Spc O'Conner. Thank you for your service to preserve our way of life.
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Schelly
Ride Captain for Lake Charles, La. and surrounding area
American Legion Post 318, Elton, La.
DEFINITION OF A VETERAN
A Veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life."
Author Unknown |
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mpleasant
Posts: 564
Lake County, IL
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| 25 Jun 2008 6:33 PM |
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| Welcome home, Spc. O'Connor, and thank you for your service to the United States of America ! |
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mailman
Posts: 14768
West Branch, MI - Michigan Regional Ride Captain Zephyrhills, FL - Florida Senior Ride Captain
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| 26 Jun 2008 11:38 PM |
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| Welcome Home Soldier. Thank You Specialist O'Commor for your service to our Nation. Enjoy you time with family and friends Patrick, you deserve it. |
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"Eyes on the olive branch, but arrows at the ready."
Jim
"mailman"
US Army 1970 - 1972 |
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EHobbs
Posts: 8
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| 27 Jun 2008 9:37 AM |
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Welcome home and Thank You for keeping us all safe. We do appreciate what you have done. I hope to see you on Monday to make this a special event for you and your dad who deserves support.
Earl Hobbs |
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O IRISH
Posts: 33
N/E. IL
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| 27 Jun 2008 1:20 PM |
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| Welcome Home Patrick I Will See Ya On Monday & Thanks For Your Service To Are Country. |
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Backroad
Posts: 197
Aurora, IL
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| 29 Jun 2008 6:18 PM |
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Weather forecast for Monday is absolutely beautiful! For those of you who might have to work Monday, I know there's alot of that respiratory stuff going around.
Hope to see as many of you as possible at the Oasis. It's our opportunity to show Sandra how proud we are of our troops.
al |
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"God grants liberty only to those who love it and are always ready to defend it." Daniel Webster |
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vukf
Posts: 392
Asst Sr Ride Capt Illinois BSS
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| 29 Jun 2008 7:16 PM |
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| Thank you for your service. See you at the oasis. |
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We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother; (William Shakespeare Henry V);
And to paraphrase......he who stands with me this day shall be my brother
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Lawman747
Posts: 119
Streamwood
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| 30 Jun 2008 7:19 AM |
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| Welcome home. see you all there soon.
Dobson |
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Grayson
Posts: 2
Elmhurst, IL
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| 30 Jun 2008 7:23 AM |
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Welcome Home Patrick and thanks for all you have gone through for us here at home. I am looking forward to seeing you this afternoon.
Grayson |
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O IRISH
Posts: 33
N/E. IL
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| 30 Jun 2008 5:48 PM |
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| WOW What A Good Time Welcome Home Patrick & Sharp Lookin Girl Friend Dad You 2 WE Had A Good Time & Thanks 1 More Time God Bless You All / IRISH |
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Backroad
Posts: 197
Aurora, IL
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| 30 Jun 2008 6:54 PM |
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MISSION REPORT
Let me first thank the 30+ bikers plus cages that showed up for this Welcome Home, plus a couple of other folks that showed up but couldn't stay due to appointments later in the afternoon. And I'll add to that thanks, a big thank you to everyone who managed to stick around when Patrick had to catch a later flight. Fortunately, it was a beautiful day to spend with friends.
The Palatine PD and FD were all over this like stink on a monkey - another assist that was greatly appreciated as we got closer to rush hour.
The Mayor's Proclamation presentation and Michael O'Connor's backyard barbeque were the icing on the cake.
As I pulled into the driveway about 1800+, my wife had just finished watching Patrick (and me) on CBS 2. She was really worried that I might have been cloned.
My thanks to Vuk for bearing the flags and providing assistance when necessary, particularly in getting us ready to roll down the ramp in some semblance of order.
And finally, thanks to whoever left the IL Patriot Guard Challenge Coins on the seat of my bike and the seat of Fred's truck. Neither of us could figure out who did that. And had we thought of it, we should have given one to Patrick.
No accidents, no close calls, and no embarassing incidents.
Repectfully,
al |
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"God grants liberty only to those who love it and are always ready to defend it." Daniel Webster |
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Go Army
Posts: 314
Rolling Meadows, Ill.
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| 01 Jul 2008 9:58 AM |
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I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT WE AS RIDERS OF THE PGR GET TOGETHER SOMEHOW AND TRY AND FIND A WAY TO SAY, "THANK YOU" TO ALL OF OUR RIDE CAPTAIN'S AND THE PEOPLE WHO PUT THESE RIDES TOGETHER.
SOMETIMES WE FORGET ABOUT ALL THE HARD WORK IT TAKES TO PULL THESE RUNS OFF.
SO, UNTILL WE CAN FIND A BETTER WAY TO SHOW YOU HOW MUCH WE APPRICATE WHAT YOU DO, THIS WILL HAVE TO BE IT: THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU !!!!!
ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US. |
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Bob Smith
Sgt. Army 63-69
VietNam Vet
"The moon gives you light,
And the bugles and the drums give you music;
And my heart, O my soldiers, my veterans,
My heart gives you love."
Walt Whitman-Drum Taps
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KevHead
Posts: 392
Geneva, Illinois
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| 02 Jul 2008 10:18 AM |
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| Here are some pictures and a video from this mission.
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Kevin "KevHead" & Kim
Geneva IL
May God Bless and Protect all who serve this great country.
Riding in Honor of:
My Dad Gerald J. Keenon U.S. Navy, WWII.
My Brother's Charles and Paul Keenon U.S. Navy, Vietnam War.
My Brother in Law Ronald Carlson U.S. Navy.
My Nephew Adam Keenon, Charles Keenon's son, whose is currently serving in the U.S. Navy.
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
Pictures and Video of Missions we have been on:
http://community.webshots.com/user/KevHeadPGR?vhost=community
A Prayer for Our Soldiers' Families
Heavenly Father, we pray for the safe return home of our soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan. We ask that you give our military commanders and political leaders wisdom and courage to fulfill their daunting responsibility. Lord, we implore you to please remember the families of these brave men and women. Bless the wives, parents, children and siblings of our fighting forces and give them solace and comfort. If it be your will, bring their loved ones home swiftly, sound in mind and body.
We pray these things in the name of the Son, the Father and the Holy Ghost,
Amen |
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Backroad
Posts: 197
Aurora, IL
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| 02 Jul 2008 4:59 PM |
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Kevin -
Thanks for posting the pics - and the video. Could have done without my briefing  , but the rest was super!
Thank you letters were sent Tuesday to the Police Chief, the Fire Chief, and I emailed the Mayor this morning. We may be back. As a matter of fact, we were already back - I did the Francis Welcome Home to Palatine last October.
Thanks again, everyone, for spending your afternoon in honor of Patrick.
al |
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"God grants liberty only to those who love it and are always ready to defend it." Daniel Webster |
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