Patriot Guard Riders

Collier County Honor Flight invites the Patriot Guard Riders to Send-Off our WWII / Korea War Veterans to see their Memorial in Washington, DC and then Welcome them back to SW Florida on Saturday, 21 MAY 16.

The Veterans that are going on this Honor Flight will have the distinct honor to be the representatives for one of the 83,000 Servicemen who are currently still MIA on the “We Have Not Forgotten” POW/MIA Recognition Flight. Our Veterans will be the eyes and ears for the man whose name is on the wrist of his Guardian’s POW/MIA Remembrance bracelet … a man who made the Ultimate Sacrifice for our Freedom, and who will never have the chance to experience Honor Flight for himself. Among those that will be Honored are Cpl Laurence O’Dea who has been missing in action from the Korean War since 1950 and has yet to be recovered along with WWII Veteran SSgt Clarence S. Bishop who passed away while on the CCHF waiting list in their “Flags of Our Heroes” ceremony. They will both be recognized by uniformed personnel in Washington, DC and upon the return of the Honor Flight to SW Florida. The family members will have a pass to go back to the gate for a private flag presentation ceremony immediately upon disembarking the airplane. This will more than likely be the ONLY “ceremony/recognition” Cpl Laurence O’Dea will ever receive publicly as he’s been MIA for 66 years…his 96 year old brother and 93 year old sister will get a small measure of closure. The bagpipes and color guard will then lead the family members out in the front of the Welcome Home line up the Concourse.

Part 1
Staging: 0400 hrs
10431 Radar Court/Airport Crossing Rd (Map below)
Ft. Myers, FL
Which is one block south of Terminal Access Road
(If you are traveling via I-75 and are coming from the South then you will need to exit at Alico Road to Ben Hill Griffin Parkway & head north. If you are coming from the North you will need to exit at Daniels Parkway to Treeline & head south.)

Briefing: 0415 hrs

KSU: immediately following Briefing
RSW Airport
Ft. Myers, FL

Flag line: 0430 hrs

Part 2
Staging: 2045 hrs
10431 Radar Court/Airport Crossing Rd (Map below)
Ft. Myers, FL
Which is one block south of Terminal Access Road
(If you are traveling via I-75 and are coming from the South then you will need to exit at Alico Road to Ben Hill Griffin Parkway & head north. If you are coming from the North you will need to exit at Daniels Parkway to Treeline & head south.)

Briefing: 2100 hrs

KSU: 2115
RSW Airport
Ft. Myers, FL

Flag line: 2130 hrs

Please be prompt as we need to get through the ticket gate, park (parking will be on the TOP level of the short term parking garage…please no bypassing any gates at the top level…entering or exiting) and set the flagline immediately down to the entrance of the concourse for both parts of this mission.

Please bring your 3’ x 5’ American flag to both parts of this mission to let these Veterans know how much we appreciate their service to our great nation.

Ride Captain:
Joan “PGRLabLuvr” Colosimo
PGRLabLuvr@patriotguard.org

(right click on image below, select “open in new tab”)

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