Patriot Guard Riders

Please note that due to ongoing OPSEC concerns, mission details are not shown in this posting. All specific details and updates have been sent to members directly via their e-mail address on file.

The newly formed Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight is proud to announce that their first flight will be taking some 40+ World War II veterans down to Washington D.C. to see the WWII Memorials as well as other national war memorials.

The Patriot Guard Riders and other motorcycle organizations are being requested to participate like never before. These World War II heroes will have a motorcycle escort send-off to the Buffalo International Airport.

WHEN / WHERE:
Saturday, June 11th
Buffalo, NY

Directions will be provided for short time parking at the Airport near the “Arrivals” area.

Patriot Guard Riders will dismount and enter Airport “Arrival/Baggage” entrance and set up a flag line around podium for Send-off ceremonies. Once ceremonies are completed, flag line to be re-established at the escalator going upstairs. At this point a flag holding PGR member will escort the WWII veteran and his guardian up the escalator to the Security. Morning mission completed.

WELCOME HOME MISSION:
Saturday, June 11th
Buffalo International Airport.

Flag line present to welcome these heroes home as they move thru Airport to their waiting buses.
Motorcycles will be directed to park at the “Departure” areas of the airport. Details to follow.

Lead Ride Captain for the Day – DON HIGGINS

ABOUT THE MISSION:
Honor Flight Buffalo began flying World War II veterans to their Washington D.C. memorials in 2009. Over the years hundreds of veterans were treated to a day unlike any other. Treated like the heroes they are – treated like “Rock Stars” everywhere they went. Smiles and memories to last them the rest of their lives. Sadly in early 2016 it was announced that Honor Flight Buffalo wouldn’t be in a position to continue these flights.

Leatherstocking Honor Flight – Albany, NY area – has run very successful Honor Flights and it’s leadership and volunteers reached out to the former organizers of Honor Flight Buffalo to see what could be done to make sure the great city of Buffalo would not be without an Honor Flight Hub. LHF was given their blessing to carry on the tradition of Honor Flights out of Buffalo. To that end, under the mentor-ship of Leatherstocking Honor Flight, a new organization in Buffalo was established to continue this wonderful experience for our area veterans.

Under the oversight and direction of Leatherstocking Honor Flight, Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight was just recently established and already 40+ passionate and enthusiastic volunteers are actively engaged in breathing new life into this honor flight program. Once the necessary experience has been gained by BNHF volunteers, LHF personnel will no longer be involved – mentor-ship will cease. By this Fall, Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight will have organized and funded their own honor flight trip.

This June 11th flight will be the first of many for the new Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight and we want to make sure that these veteran heroes have the “Send-Off” and “Welcome Home” they have so richly deserved. As PGR Missions go – this is one that always puts smiles on our faces and feeds our souls.

See you there on June 11th.