24 SEP 06 – NAVY PIER – CHICAGO, IL – ILLINOIS’ GOLD STAR MOTHERS RECOGNITION DAY MISSION

Patriot Guard Riders, the day is almost upon us and I have the details.  On 24 September 2006, the State of Illinois will honor the “Gold Star Mothers” of Illinois. 

Shortly after World War I the Gold Star Mothers Club was formed in the United States to provide support for mothers that lost sons or daughters in the war. The name came from the custom of families of servicemen hanging a banner called a Service Flag in the window of their homes. The Service Flag had a star for each family member in the military. Living servicemen were represented by a Blue Star, and those who had lost their lives were represented by a gold star. 

Today, membership in the Gold Star Mothers is open to any American woman whose child has died in the line of duty of the United States Armed Forces. Stepmothers and adoptive mothers are eligible for membership under certain circumstances.

Just as when it was founded, the Gold Star Mothers continues to concentrate on providing emotional support to its members, doing volunteer work with veterans in general and veteran's hospitals in particular, and generally fostering a sense of patriotism and respect for members of the Armed Forces.

The Patriot Guard Riders have been requested to provide escort services for these families during their Recognition Day. 

As such, the Patriot Guard Riders will ride into Chicago, IL on 24 September 2006 and honor these families.  It is requested that each PGR member be dresses as usual for a mission however, we will be standing in the presence of the families that have given so much to this country.  Be looking your best.  Wash your bikes and cars.  Make sure your flags are clean and in proper order.  There will never be a better opportunity for us to pay our respects.

The Sergeant Majors of the Army and Marine Corp will also be present.  

Location:  Navy Pier

                  600 East Grand Ave.

                  Chicago, IL 60611

Map: See Below

Link: http://www.navypier.com/

Rally Point:  North end of Navy Pier – on E. Grand Ave.

Rally Point Time:  Be at the pier, ready to go at 11:30 - 12:00 pm. 

Details:  We will have 2 flag lines formed prior to 12:30 pm, which will provide an “Honor Wall” as the Gold Star Mothers step off the busses.  Riders that arrive the earliest will be given a nametag, which has the name of one of our fallen heroes (there will be a limited number of honor tags). 

Additional notes:  If you would like to pay your respects to Illinois' 139 fallen heroes and their families, I invite you to sign a book of condolence that will be available in the first-floor rotunda of the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago from Monday, Sept. 11 through Friday, Sept. 22. The condolence book, along with portraits of those who have lost their lives, will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

TRANSPORTATION:  We have gained permission to park on Navy Pier (not the norm).  All Patriot Guard Riders should have their best appearance on this day.  Flags and messages of Patriotism, Honor and Respect.  This is open to ALL PGR members.  There are no state boundaries or vehicle requirements.

Other Transportation:

BY CAR…

·        From the north, take Lake Shore Drive (US 41) to the Grand Avenue exit.

·        From the northwest, take the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) to the Ohio Street Exit, south on Orleans to Illinois Street and proceed east.

·        From the west, take the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) to Columbus Drive, north to Illinois Street and proceed east.

·        From the southwest, take the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) to Lake Shore Drive (US 41), north to Illinois Street and proceed east.

·        From the south, take the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) east to the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) to Lake Shore Drive (US 41), north to Illinois Street and proceed east.

·        From the southeast, take Lake Shore Drive (US 41) north to the Illinois Street exit.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

METRA: METRA commuter rail is a convenient travel alternative. On weekends, up to 3 children (ages 6 and under) travel free of charge when accompanied by a fare-paying adult (18 years and older). And, direct service to Navy Pier is provided by CTA buses from the Madison Street (formerly Northwestern) Station. For details, call (312) 322-6777.

City Bus: The CTA has six bus lines with more than 200 buses that serve Navy Pier's front entrance daily. These include the #29 (State Street), the #65 (Grand Avenue), the #56 (Milwaukee Avenue) and the #66 (Chicago Avenue). During weekday rush hours, the #120 (Northwestern/Wacker Express) and #121 (Union/Wacker Express) serve Navy Pier and their respective METRA train terminals.

Special Notice: Introducing the CTA's #124 Navy Pier Express. Buses run ever 15 minutes from Union Station and Ogilvie Transportation Center on Friday nights from 6:30 pm until midnight; Saturday's from 10 am until midnight and Sundays 10 am until 9:30 pm. Buses run every 15 minutes from Navy Pier on Friday nights from 7 pm until midnight; Saturdays from 10:30 am until midnight and Sundays from 10:30 am until 10 pm, For more information, call the CTA at (312) 836-7000 or click on www.transitchicago.com.

Navy Pier Free Trolley Service: The Illinois-Grand Corridor Transportation Management Association (TMA) offers FREE daily trolley service between Navy Pier and State Street along Grand Avenue and Illinois Street. Current trolley hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sundays 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. Trolleys typically run every 20 minutes and pick-up points are indicated by 'Navy Pier Trolley Stop' signs along the route. For more information on the TMA, please visit www.tylin.com/chicago/tma.

Taxi: Navy Pier has three convenient taxi drop-off and pick-up points. Depending on what you're coming to see, you can find taxis at the front entrance (serving Dock Street and the Family Pavilion); Entrance 1 (serving the mid-section of the Pier, the west end of Festival Hall and Riva Restaurant) and Entrance 2 (close to the east end of Festival Hall and the Grand Ballroom). Taxi phones can be found at each location.

Boat: In the summer months, Shoreline Sightseeing operates 42-seat water taxis between the Pier and the nearby Shedd Aquarium. In addition, a Shoreline Shuttle water taxi service operates between Navy Pier and the Loop (near Sears Tower) via the Chicago River. Daily shuttle service operates from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. through the summer. For more information, call (312) 222-9328.