cricketskids 
Posts: 2098
Suwanee, GA
Forum Moderator
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| 28 Feb 2009 7:27 PM |
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Welcome Home
SGT Kevin Schafer., Batavia IL March 9, 2009
SGT Kevin Schafer – USA - is returning home from his second 15 month tour of duty in Iraq . Kevin is a 2004 graduate of Batavia High School and enlisted in April of 2005. He was recently injured in an encounter with a concussion grenade that affected his left hand and hearing. Mom says he seems to be mending well and is expected to make a full recovery.
Kevin has been in some of the most dangerous areas of Iraq , and was personally responsible for capturing the #2 Al-Qaeda.
Staging: Monday, 3/9, at 1530 hours.
In the parking lot of the Batavia Apartment Homes in the northwest quadrant of Wilson and Kirk roads in Batavia . Actual address for GPS purposes is 1279 E. Wilson . Use the first entrance you come to as you go west on Wilson from Kirk and park in the area closest to Wilson so as not to disturb the residents.
Briefing: 1600 hours
Following Kevin’s surprise greeting, we’ll escort him from the staging area to the family home in Batavia .
Kevin’s neighbors are in on this and have done quite a bit of work behind the scenes to insure that Kevin is appropriately honored. Please participate if at all possible so we can make this youngster's socks roll up and down.
Since Kevin is arriving much earlier in the afternoon, I don’t anticipate a lot of “5 more minute” waits. But please subscribe to this thread just in case something changes.
Escort will be at speeds no greater than 35 mph. But for your own safety and the safety of others in the escort, please make sure your flag hardware is secure.
Light a candle for good weather. I’m jonesin’ for a ride….
Ride Captain: Al Conradt (Backroad) – 630.215.5989 – alconradt@comcast.net
Supporting RC: Ro Fordley (Corndog) – 847.204.1965 – ridenfever@yahoo.com
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Cricket
GA HOTH Coordinator
Georgia Ride Captain
Forum Moderator
678-908-9932
GA PGR...PART OF IT....PROUD OF IT!!
"He used to tell us that integrity was the checks and balances in life. You don’t ever give up. You don’t ever stop. As long as you believe that you are doing the right thing, you won’t be wrong.”
1Sgt. John Blair
Remember, no one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Eleanor Roosevelt
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mailman
Posts: 24548
West Branch, MI - Michigan Regional Ride Captain Zephyrhills, FL - Florida Senior Ride Captain
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| 28 Feb 2009 7:43 PM |
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| WELCOME HOME!! Thank you SGT Kevin Shafer for your service to our Nation. God Bless You, Job Well Done!!!!!! |
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"Eyes on the olive branch, but arrows at the ready."
Jim
"mailman"
US Army 1970 - 1972 |
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LEELLYN
Posts: 4
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| 28 Feb 2009 10:06 PM |
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THANK YOU SGT SHAFER FOR YOUR SERVICE, DEDICATION, AND SACRIFICES. WELCOME HOME AND I HOPE TO MEET YOU PERSONALLY TO GIVE YOU A HUG AND SAY THANK YOU.
Le Ellyn
Marine Mom |
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banditbob
Posts: 3893
Virginia Beach. District 5 Hampton Roads Ride Captain
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| 01 Mar 2009 6:29 AM |
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| Welcome Home from the sandbox Sgt Shafer. Thank you and God Bless you for your service to this great Nation of ours. |
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banditbob
Robert K. Reynolds
District 5 Hampton Roads
Ride Captin Virginia Beach Va.
US Army, Armor
3AD 1/32 Armor "Bandits" 1972 to 1976
(the original Bandits)
Indian Cove RV Resort, Secretary Board of Directors.
Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 20 Chaplain and Service Officer Virginia Beach.
Association United States Army (AUSA)
Honor and Remember, Military Liason Officer
1st Cav. Div. 2/5 Black Knights, Armor
Our debt to the Heroic men and Valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid . They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices
(President Harry S. Truman)
During these days of many trials and tribulations that our land of the free are facing, let us remember to hold our heads up high in remembrance for those who gave their life for our freedom and those that are still in harms way for this cause. Pray for the brokenhearted and proclaim victory for those who are held captive. Lord, You are the light of the world and we declare You to be Lord over every nation. We know your light shines in darkness and the darkness does not always comprehend, but we also know You light will always prevail. Amen.
Chaplin, Lorraine Richmond.
OLD BANDITS NEVER DIE, THEY JUST FADE AWAY
In Memory of my Dad,
Frank Reynolds Sr.
Window/Tail Gunner B-17 USAAF, WWII |
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Rgrindel
Posts: 44
Elmhurst, IL
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| 01 Mar 2009 6:33 AM |
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Welcome home SGT Shafer and thank you for your dedication to serve for our freedom.
May God Bless you and be with you as you recover from your injuries.
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"Tough times never last, tough people do."
Rich & Leanet |
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Uffda
Posts: 13978
Wonder Lake, IL
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| 01 Mar 2009 7:52 AM |
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Welcome Home - SGT Kevin Shafer! On behalf of a grateful Nation, "Thank You" for defending our freedoms. Sending Big (((HUGS))) from N. IL.
God Bless |
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Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you: 1. Jesus Christ. 2. The American G.I. One died for your soul, the other for your Freedom.
In Memory of Jon Dreymann 08-13-09 WWR NRC Who left us way too soon. Farvel min venn. |
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mpleasant
Posts: 658
Lake County, IL
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| 01 Mar 2009 8:23 AM |
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| Sgt. Shafer, welcome home and thank you for your dedicated service to our Nation...I wish you all the best ! |
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ranger rick
Posts: 438
Des Plaines, Illinois.
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| 01 Mar 2009 9:53 AM |
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Welcome Home Kevin, Thank You for your service.
Work will keep me from thanking you in person, but I'll keep you in my thoughts through the day. |
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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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Billboy
Posts: 5839
Webster, Fl.
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| 01 Mar 2009 10:04 AM |
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WELCOME HOME - US Army, SGT. Kevin Shafer, Thank you for your Service to our Great Nation, God Bless you.
Bill Snelson (Billboy)
US Army, Vietnam Veteran
PGR Senior Ride Captain
Webster, Fl. |
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Backroad
Posts: 225
Aurora, IL
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| 01 Mar 2009 6:57 PM |
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| Kevin -
It'll be an honor to see you home- hopefully for good. Congratulations on a job well done and my sincerest thanks for your service on behalf of our country.
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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jalger
Posts: 721
Crystal Lake, IL.
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| 01 Mar 2009 8:00 PM |
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Welcome home Sergeant.
Thank you for your sacrifice and service to our country.
God Bless you and your family for the sleepless nights they endured during your long dangerous months.
Thank you for being willing to continue the tradition of fighting for the freedoms that so many Americans take for granted and that we never will.
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Big Joe
Crystal Lake, IL.
Ride Captain Warrior's Watch
www.warriorswatch.org
All gave some.
Some gave all.
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ddimeler
Posts: 56
Bensenville, Il.
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| 02 Mar 2009 1:08 AM |
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| Welcome home , thank you for your service ! |
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ARMY 74 -77 |
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sdoise
Posts: 9112
Duson, La.
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| 02 Mar 2009 8:03 AM |
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| Welcome home Sgt. Shafer. Thank you for your service to preserve our way of life. |
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Schelly "Toro"
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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Tatonka69
Posts: 152
Green Oaks, Illinois (Chicago area)
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| 02 Mar 2009 9:03 AM |
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To Sgt. Kevin Shafer:
There are no words that can properly thank you for your service to our great country, still we must try. I appreciate that you have put yourself on the front line in this war on terror. Thank you for your role in capturing the Al-Qaeda #2. By doing so, you have made our world a safer place, and you have protected our American way of life! I look forward to thanking you in person!
Sincerely,
Oscar C. Blomgren, III
RC-Warriors Watch Riders |
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Riding in memory of all the Soldiers we have ridden for, all our Veterans, all the Soldiers on active duty here and abroad and my buddy JonD. |
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Duane Wirick
Posts: 138
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| 02 Mar 2009 9:51 AM |
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Welcome home SGT Shafer, thank you for your service to our country.
Dink & Rhonda Wirick
Burr Ridgr IL.
USMC 77-80 |
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KevHead
Posts: 417
Geneva, Illinois
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| 02 Mar 2009 2:40 PM |
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Welcome Home SGT Kevin Shafer.
Thank you for your great service to our country and for protecting our family.
May God grant you a safe trip home. |
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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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northern
Posts: 42
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| 04 Mar 2009 4:57 PM |
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I am happy to say I should be able to attend this joyous event and see some friendly faces again. I'm working, but the boss gave me the blessing to show up in the company car. Welcome home Sgt. Shafer.
Don Landbo-Northern |
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Heurist
Posts: 7
St. Charles, IL
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| 06 Mar 2009 5:17 PM |
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| Welcome home, Sgt Shafer, and thanks for everything you've done for us and our country. It will be a pleasure to meet you on Monday and escort you home. According to the news reports, it sounds like your family has quite a show cooked up for you. Looking forward to it! |
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Riding for our modern-day heroes and two past heroes: Cpl. George Lander, 15th NY Engineers, U.S. Civil War; and Richard W. Lander, Sr., USAAF. Veteran of 186 air combat missions; winner AM, DFC, SS. A Top Gun before the term was coined, the AMT/Ertl Curtiss P-40F (avatar) displays the markings of his aircraft. |
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VTX Glen
Posts: 186
Elmhurst, IL
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| 06 Mar 2009 7:14 PM |
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| Welcome Home SGT Shafer. Thank you for protecting our freedom. |
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Our Soldiers protect us with courage and pride.
We support them with honor and respect.
Respectfully,
Glen & Sue |
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Backroad
Posts: 225
Aurora, IL
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| 08 Mar 2009 9:33 AM |
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| SGT Schafer's mom called me Saturday just to make sure the PGR knew we were invited to stick around for "cookies and milk" at the house afterwards.
Since I didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, I didn't ask what we were having :) but the offer's out there.
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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Backroad
Posts: 225
Aurora, IL
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| 10 Mar 2009 8:45 AM |
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| MISSION REPORT
My sincere thanks to all of you who showed up late on a workday for this mission. I think we truly made the SGT’s socks roll up and down! What a great young man!
My guess is that we had about 25 bikes, assorted “civilians” and numerous kids from the area holding flags to welcome Kevin home – not to mention all the neighbors from his “hood.” Add to that almost every TV news channel in the Chicago area, at least 2 or 3 helicopters and numerous newspaper reporters.
Batavia PD and FD were all over it and their participation was greatly appreciated.
I’ve only seen TV coverage from ABC7, WGN9 and CBS2 thus far. Not sure what happened to NBC5 and FOX32. The emails that I sent to FOX kept bouncing.
I think what really did it for me were all the neighborhood kids, gathering around Kevin to get his autograph – including some teenagers!! No time like the present to get them off on the right foot concerning our military – no matter what their thoughts are on the “conflict du jour”.
Special thanks to Ro for schlepping flags and for picking up all the “presentation hardware” to give to Kevin as a remembrance. I know she would rather have ridden.
And thanks to the Big Kahuna for giving us a great day – between rains.
Yours in the bond,
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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Backroad
Posts: 225
Aurora, IL
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| 24 Mar 2009 5:21 PM |
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| A thank you arrived in today's mail from Kevin and his mom. It was a card with some really great pictures inside from Kevin's Welcome Home.
Verbiage on the card is:
"SOLDIER - Because of your bravery, courage, and sacrifice, liberty and freedom are still ours. We are deeply grateful."
And inside: "We do not remember days, we remember moments."
And from Kathy Schafer: "Al & Crew - Your love of America is truly one of the things that make our country the best place to live. Thank you for everything."
And fron Kevin: "Thank you so much for coming to my parade. It really made a difference. Everybody loved the motorcycles and it wouldn't have been as grand without you guys. It was amazing the number of people that showed up and the amount of support that I received. It will be something I will remember for the rest of my life."
And THAT was our intent....
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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