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The Patriot Guard Riders have been invited to stand a flag line for the return of E. Bruce Heilman returning from a cross country motorcycle ride honoring WWII Veterans, Gold star Families and the Spirit of 45.
Dr. Heilman himself is an 89 year old WWII Marine veteran who was involved with the landing on Okinawa. “The one thing I can say, and I’m not embarrassed to say it, we’re all proud of our service in the military to our country, and we don’t give a hang what anybody else thinks about it, it’s the best place ever,” Dr. Heilman said.
This is one of many rides that Dr. Heilman has done honoring his fellow brothers and sisters of the “Greatest Generation” along with the Gold Star Families. On these cross-country trip(s) he tries to meet fellow World War II veterans along the way.
Heilman was born in 1926 in Smithfield, KY. He received his Bachelor, Masters, and Ph.D from Peabody College which is now a part of Vanderbilt University. He also attended four other Colleges / University throughout his educational years.
In his early career, Heilman held teaching positions at Belmount University, Kentucky Wesleyan College and Peabody College. He held administrative positions at Kentucky Wesleyan College, Georgetown College, Peabody College, and Kentucky Southern College (now a part of the University of Louisville). He served as president of Meredith College from 1966 to 1971. In 1971, he assumed the presidency of the University of Richmond, and remained in that position until 1986. He returned to the position on an interim basis in 1987-1988.
In addition to his experiences and travels as a Marine in World War II in the South Pacific and Japan, Dr. Heilman has covered more than 140 countries as he has escorted travel groups abroad annually for more than 30 years, and is a member of the Leathernecks Motorcycle Club.
Wednesday, 25 May 2016. No escort for this mission flag line only.
Stage: 0800, Virginia War Memorial 621 S Belvidere St, Richmond, VA 23220
Brief: 0845 / set flag line after brief.
Ride Captain: Jim “DaBears” McGinley, jbmcginley48@msn.com (757) 768-2437