UPDATE.....UPDATE.....UPDATE

Well, the wife and I were able to do some exploring today. We found both the funeral home as well as the Cathedral where the memorial ceremony will be held.

I am still waiting to speak with the gentlman who will allow me to tie up some loose ends, but here are the mission plans as they stand as of 1630 (4:30pm) June 20, 2006.

We will stage in Portland, Maine at a Hannaford Supermarket parking lot. Food, facilities, and fuel are readily available. You may arrive at the staging area anytime between 9:00am and 11:00am. I'll be arriving sometime around 10:30. Pre-ride briefing will take place at 11:10. We will depart (kick stands up) at 11:30.

Directions to staging area are:

Coming from the North on 295

Take exit 7, Take first right onto Marginal Way, Take next right onto Preble Street Extension, travel under 295, take left into Hannaford parking lot. We will be in a parking lot on the right farthest from the store entrances.

Coming from the South on 295

Take exit 7, take right onto 1A, take next right onto Marginal Way, Take next right onto Preble Street Extension, travel under 295, take left into Hannaford parking lot. We will be in a parking lot on the right farthest from the store entrances.

We will form up and leave the Hannaford parking lot approximately 1 hour before the family is scheduled to arrive at the funeral home. The family is tentatively scheduled to arrive at the funeral home around 12:30. This will give us time to park and organize our banners and set up the walk of honor. That's the walk where we have all our flags flying and the family walks through the corridor of red, white and blue.

When the procession leaves the funeral home, it will be escorted by the Portland Police Dept. who are aware that we are coming. The procession is tentatively scheduled to leave the funeral home at 1345 (1:45pm).

We will travel, by escort, to the Church (Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 309 Congress Street. Services are scheduled for 1400 (2:00pm). Christine will be at the church watching over our designated parking area. Because parking at the church is quite limited, and because they expect a large gathering, my suggestion to those of you coming via four-wheeled transportation is to carpool with other members and take the smaller vehicles to the church. You can secure your vehicle at the Hannaford parking lot.

No escort has been requested from the family home to the funeral home as of yet. If that changes, I will post the notice here and solicit volunteers for that part of the mission.  Escort has been requested from Cathedral to cemetery.

It was brought to my attention today that this mission could very well be one of our largest in that many of you are will be joining us for this mission. Everyone is of course welcome and I'm honored to be riding with you. It was also mentioned that a good number of friends and associates will be attending. The Governor and his staff as well as a number of legislative members will probably be there as well. With all of these folks come the obligatory members of the media. This will be another opportunity to show our true colors people.

Keep checkin here for updates, but don't hesitate to drop me a line if you must.

Cruizer