Well, I was given the honor of providing the M1 Garand rifles for the Honor Guard for the reunion of the survivors of the Lost Battalion. I will also place a military cross for those who can no longer attend. (The military cross is a rifle with bayonet stuck in the ground with a helmet on top, a pair of boots in front and dog tags hanging.) The Lost Battalion were those men who labored in Burma and other places to build railroads through the jungles. Don't know how any survived but they did. Best example would be the movie Bridge over the river Kwai, that was the Lost Battalion, called so because they were moved around so much no one knew they were even alive. Their efforts were called the Death Railroad because so many died to build them. It will be my honor to honor these brave men who gave so much for this nation. Their numbers have dwindled but they still stand tall. Thank you gentlemen, for your sacrifices.
Windy
Friday, August 13, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Hot enough for ya'?
Yep, it was another scorcher yesterday and I took the Harley out to a funeral. Man, there just was no shade to hide under...wouldn't have mattered, it was hot in the shade too! Made it as far as the National Cemetery and then the heat took over and I got a instant headache and the black spots started appearing in front of my eyes...not good to say the least. Decided it was a lot better out on that motorcycle so I left. There was a breeze on the back of that Hog at 70mph. That helped, so I decided to stop and check in with Philip Ray and the hospital. I got a little shaky on the walk in so I stopped and grabbed a bite to eat at the hospital cafeteria. Diabetes and the heat don't mix too well! He had had a third surgery on his elbow that morning and was not really feeling up to visitors so I stepped next door and met a gentleman he had worked with at Lockheed who had gone done on his bike by the name of Dick Freeman. He told me he had over 750000 miles on motorcycles and never been down. Only takes one! He said the white lines all came together and he blacked out at 60mph. Ain't good! The lady behind him told him later that he crossed the median and barely missed the front end of an 18 wheeler. He ended up in the ditch straddling a metal pipe fence. It didn't move an inch. Well, I guess all us riders have realized that these things could be dangerous but I could slip on a bar of soap in the bathtub and be just as dead! Beside, the bugs taste better at midnight, or so I've heard. Just be careful out there...cages will get you killed too!
Windy
Windy
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Patriot Guard Rider down.
North Texas Rider Down. Philip Ray of Burleson was involved in a single vehicle accident this Thursday morning while traveling to a PGR mission in Waxahachie, Texas. Philip was exiting 287 onto I-35E and his bike lost traction when taking the exit in Waxahachie. Philip was following a fellow PGR (me) who was not involved in the accident but was able to summon emergency services and stayed with Philip until he was taken by Care Flight to Harris-Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth. (Would like to commend here those kind folks who stopped to render aide, thanks to all.) It appears neither speed nor weather were a factor in the accident; he was wearing his helmet (which took heavy damage) but not his gloves or jacket. Philip sustained the following injuries: Fractured right Clavicle, fractured right elbow, fractured ribs, collapsed right lung, possible fractured right hand and right foot. He also sustained numerous cuts, contusions and abrasions on his hands, face, arms, knees and upper torso. He will be undergoing surgery in the morning at Harris-Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth. Philip’s spirits are high and he has not lost his smile or his sense of humor. He was laughing and joking with the trauma team as they worked on him. Please keep Philip and his family in your prayers.
Its never good to see a fellow rider go down. (I really mean that, I saw him and the bike not make the curve and both slide across the road and into the grass on 35.) He doesn't remember exactly what happened. He told the medics the rear end tried to swap places with the front end. It can happen quick sometimes. Always heard it said that it was not if you were going to go down but rather when! Quick recovery Philip.
Windy
Its never good to see a fellow rider go down. (I really mean that, I saw him and the bike not make the curve and both slide across the road and into the grass on 35.) He doesn't remember exactly what happened. He told the medics the rear end tried to swap places with the front end. It can happen quick sometimes. Always heard it said that it was not if you were going to go down but rather when! Quick recovery Philip.
Windy
Friday, July 23, 2010
Who are the Patriot Guard Riders?
Who are the Patriot Guard Riders?
There were zero PGR 5 years ago. As of now, there are over 190,000. This growth has not come easy, and it is not perfect. And in case anybody misunderstands, I thought I should make it clear who the PGR are to me.
The PGR is the Hell's Angel that has held a flag for three hours in honor of a fallen solider.
The PGR is the Christian Motorcyclist Association rider that is standing next to him.
The PGR is the elderly lady with a flag draped over her walker that is standing next to him.
The PGR is the biker that will rider over 300 miles, praying to God to give him strength, so he can make it in time to have the honor of standing the flag line for the wake of a hero…Alone.
The PGR is having 250 bikes show up the next day in a town of 3500 people: Some riding hundreds of miles, staring at 0400…In the rain.
The PGR will be humbled when the color guard comes out to shake his hand for standing there alone, and tell them with confidence there will be more tomorrow.
The PGR is spending hours in a flag line in 90 degree heat, only later to find out the son of the guy standing next to you had committed suicide 6 months after returning from Iraq.
The PGR are the couple that served lunch to 286 bikers, refusing all donations. They are the grandparents of the solider that killed himself.
The PGR is “freebird57” from IL who drives around in his van, loaded with 135 flags and coolers of water and supplies for those standing the line along with him.
The PGR is the Viet Nam vet that was spit on when he returned, or the lady next to him whose brother was in the Battle of Bulge. Or it is 12 year old Taylor Batten, who had her first heart surgery at the age of 6 months. Taylor has had many surgeries in her past and will have many more in her future, which may not be that long. She is now a PFC USMC, and an honorary MI PGR Ride Captain.
The PGR is not a service group, we are not lobbyists. There are many fine organizations that do this work, and we heartily encourage your support.
The PGR is the biker that will ride over 200 miles in rain so bad he can barely see, and rides only by the taillights of those ahead of him, because the protestors will be at the funeral of PO1 Jerry Tharp in Galesburg IL. And he will not only consider it a privilege to have protestors scream in his face, shielding them form the family, but will consider it one of the proudest days of his life. And there are 329 people standing next to him feeling exactly the same way.
The PGR is the rider who could not think of any place he would rather be at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, than to stand at the gravesite of a friend’s father, on the anniversary of his passing. A father who earned the Silver Star in Korea for gallantry above and beyond the call of duty: A father whose family had no ideal what he had done and the award he had won, until they went through his belongings after his death.
If you do not fit in anywhere in the above, or you have another agenda, you might reconsider if you are in the right place. If you do, it will be my honor to stand with you anytime, anywhere.
And when the organizers of this parade ask how many PGR will be there, I will tell them there might be 100, but I will only guarantee one.
And if there is an Honor Mission for a fallen hero that I should attend, I will not be there either.
Being a PGR is not fun. It may well be one of the hardest things you will ever do.
You may have the mother of a fallen solider cry on your shoulder, thanking you for being there.
You may have a Marine, who has escorted his buddy from Afghanistan, stand at attention and salute you, with tears streaming down his f ace.
Being a PGR may not be fun, but you will never stand with better people. It may be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do, and without a doubt, it will change your life forever.
There were zero PGR 5 years ago. As of now, there are over 190,000. This growth has not come easy, and it is not perfect. And in case anybody misunderstands, I thought I should make it clear who the PGR are to me.
The PGR is the Hell's Angel that has held a flag for three hours in honor of a fallen solider.
The PGR is the Christian Motorcyclist Association rider that is standing next to him.
The PGR is the elderly lady with a flag draped over her walker that is standing next to him.
The PGR is the biker that will rider over 300 miles, praying to God to give him strength, so he can make it in time to have the honor of standing the flag line for the wake of a hero…Alone.
The PGR is having 250 bikes show up the next day in a town of 3500 people: Some riding hundreds of miles, staring at 0400…In the rain.
The PGR will be humbled when the color guard comes out to shake his hand for standing there alone, and tell them with confidence there will be more tomorrow.
The PGR is spending hours in a flag line in 90 degree heat, only later to find out the son of the guy standing next to you had committed suicide 6 months after returning from Iraq.
The PGR are the couple that served lunch to 286 bikers, refusing all donations. They are the grandparents of the solider that killed himself.
The PGR is “freebird57” from IL who drives around in his van, loaded with 135 flags and coolers of water and supplies for those standing the line along with him.
The PGR is the Viet Nam vet that was spit on when he returned, or the lady next to him whose brother was in the Battle of Bulge. Or it is 12 year old Taylor Batten, who had her first heart surgery at the age of 6 months. Taylor has had many surgeries in her past and will have many more in her future, which may not be that long. She is now a PFC USMC, and an honorary MI PGR Ride Captain.
The PGR is not a service group, we are not lobbyists. There are many fine organizations that do this work, and we heartily encourage your support.
The PGR is the biker that will ride over 200 miles in rain so bad he can barely see, and rides only by the taillights of those ahead of him, because the protestors will be at the funeral of PO1 Jerry Tharp in Galesburg IL. And he will not only consider it a privilege to have protestors scream in his face, shielding them form the family, but will consider it one of the proudest days of his life. And there are 329 people standing next to him feeling exactly the same way.
The PGR is the rider who could not think of any place he would rather be at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, than to stand at the gravesite of a friend’s father, on the anniversary of his passing. A father who earned the Silver Star in Korea for gallantry above and beyond the call of duty: A father whose family had no ideal what he had done and the award he had won, until they went through his belongings after his death.
If you do not fit in anywhere in the above, or you have another agenda, you might reconsider if you are in the right place. If you do, it will be my honor to stand with you anytime, anywhere.
And when the organizers of this parade ask how many PGR will be there, I will tell them there might be 100, but I will only guarantee one.
And if there is an Honor Mission for a fallen hero that I should attend, I will not be there either.
Being a PGR is not fun. It may well be one of the hardest things you will ever do.
You may have the mother of a fallen solider cry on your shoulder, thanking you for being there.
You may have a Marine, who has escorted his buddy from Afghanistan, stand at attention and salute you, with tears streaming down his f ace.
Being a PGR may not be fun, but you will never stand with better people. It may be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do, and without a doubt, it will change your life forever.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Another thought
He is a cute little rascal, guess we'll keep him.
Everett Archer Wilkins...try that 3 times real fast!
Quick thought
Thought I might share some pics...
Don't know what they did but he didn't like it much!
Life goes on!
Well, got a new roof this week and they did it for no out of pocket expense for me! Even absorded the insurance deductable and threw in a new chimney (wood was pressed wood and it had started to rot). While they were up there I had them install a power roof vent. It had a thermostat on it and I had them set it on 90 degrees. Can already tell a difference. Hope it stays that way when I get my next electric bill! Will also get some gutter for the front porch/garage...sounds good anyway! Daughter brought home the latest addition to the clan this week also. And we now have a name...Everett Archer. Sounds kinda highbrow to me but maybe he'll grow into it. Well it must be lunch time so I'll give a break and take a break. Thanks for listening.
Windy
Windy
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