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Patriot Guard Riders Forum
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LesUSA7178 
Posts: 905
Sciota, Pa.
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| 14 Dec 2006 6:19 AM |
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Duh, my cell- 570-269-8130.
Leaving home right now.
Les |
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LesUSA7178
Posts: 905
Sciota, Pa.
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| 30 Dec 2006 1:05 PM |
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Mission report.
Thursday December 14 dawned overcast and foggy, unseasonably warm for the time of the year. I arrived at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery at 1005. Upon arrival I went into the office, where I introduced myself. The folks in the office weren’t sure they had heard of the PGR. I gave them our website and said check us out, I would return about 1130 to meet up with Peggy Reider, the local coordinator for the wreaths ceremony. I left the office with the statement that we could not stand a flag line.
I went over to Funck’s Restaurant, as I had initially listed it as a staging area. A thank you to Matt at the restaurant for giving us permission to use the rear parking lot area, I wasn’t sure how many folks were showing up for this mission. There I met up with 4 more PGR, we whiled away the time talking about different things, had a bite, and got ready to go to the cemetery. At 1120 we moved to the cemetery, where we were joined by 7 more riders/cagers, now there were twelve of us. I briefed the group with what info I had, it didn’t seem like there had been a lot of coordination amongst the main parties.
While briefing, Peggy came over and introduced herself, she was accompanied by the cemetery supervisor, who now gave permission to stand a flag line. They had checked us out, and knew exactly what we stood for. After some discussion with all parties, the basic program was set and the participants moved to their locations.
Indiantown Gap National Cemetery is located near the intersection of I-78 and I-81, a bit east of the state capital, Harrisburg, Pa. The entrance road winds up the hill, and splits near the top, where the cemetery flagpole stands in an area about 20’ across. The installation flagpole was the location for the wreath presentation. On national holidays, the road is lined with American flags, each one donated back to the installation by the families of the veterans whose caskets they covered. It is truly an impressive sight. I positioned our flag line in a semi-circle around the base of the flagpole, on the upside, about 8-10’ distant, since the wreaths were to be placed in a circle around the base of the flagpole.
At 1200 hours the ceremony began with a full minute of silence in tribute to those we were here to honor. The main program text was read by Nevin Miller, assisted by Floyd Turner, Revolutionary War re-enactors in full period dress. Chaplain Col. (R) Al Clark, Civil Air Patrol then presided over the actual wreath placement.
The first wreath placed was for the United States Army. Pam Adams, stepmother of SFC Brent Adams, KIA Fallujah, Iraq, December 1, 2005, presented this wreath. Brent’s family members were present this day. The other wreaths, one for each branch, were placed by uniformed service members of that branch, if possible. The last wreath, for POW/MIA’s, was placed by a U.S. Army soldier. As each wreath was brought forward, the honor guard, provided by AMVETS Post 293, Jonestown, Pa., came to attention and present arms, then order arms. I mirrored their actions with our group. After the wreaths were placed, we stood at attention; the honor guard gave the 21 gun salute, returned to present arms, as did the PGR, and the 3 note song we all know so well began to play. I ordered arms, the program concluded, and I had the group stand at ease. We then moved back to where our bikes/cages were parked so that I could get a list of names.
Kevin, Bob, George, Steve, Russ, Terry, Rick, Don, Joyce and Dan, thank you all for your support and participation that day. A special “thank you” and salute goes to Stan C; his daughter Lesley, USCG veteran, is interred at Indiantown Gap. Stan escorted the main wreath truck thru Massachusetts, and then rode to IGNC to support this mission.
An honor to have him there.
Thanks to Dave (ShipAhoy) for the vote of confidence.
Les Sharp
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ShipAhoy
Posts: 485
Pittsburgh, Pa
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| 30 Dec 2006 1:15 PM |
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No need to thank me Les, you did all the work to make that mission a success. Job well done sir!
Thanks for stepping up!
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US Navy
ET1 1975-1984
Dave in a cage.
"Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts"
Sir Winston Churchill
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LesUSA7178
Posts: 905
Sciota, Pa.
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| 30 Dec 2006 1:17 PM |
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| Finally got it in, sorry it wasn't sooner. Got some help from other members in the website forum, so next time it should be easier. |
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AintNoLeg
Posts: 39
Lebanon, PA
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| 30 Dec 2006 5:13 PM |
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Well done Les. Great job all around.
I plan on making this one with you guys next year too...
I read somewhere that "we" covered 89% of ALL of the National Cemetaries.
Not too shabby for a first run...
Next year "we" can visit all of them.
Thanks again to Wreaths Across America for their inspiration...
And thanks to all the Veterans - for their service and for their sacrifice.
Wishing for a Happy New Year - for everyone!
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~Kevin~
"The older I get - the better I was"...
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salty13e
Posts: 0
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| 02 Jan 2007 11:34 AM |
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Les,
Great job and I hope we plan on doing this again next year. A pleasure to meet all who attended. As one of the rider's at the restaurant I am hoping the husband and wife team who were also there would contact me. I would be honored if I could purchase one of the awesome backpatches that they had on. Contact me via email or on this thread. Thanks. |
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