PGR_NTX Patriot Guard Confirmed Mission - Welcome Home & Escort - August 25, 2009

[Mission Information For North Texas PGR]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

This Tuesday, August 25, 2009, the 3rd Squadron, 124th Cavalry (RSTA), 36th
Infantry Division is coming home after almost a year in Iraq.  Home is the
National Guard Armory in Wylie.  Their Captain called.  'Nuff said - we're
there.

 

This will be a big event.  They are coming about 150 men and women strong
(that's 100% of them) by bus from El Paso.  Law Enforcement is going to
escort them pretty much from El Paso all the way home.  We will pick them up
along the way at a point yet to be determined and a law enforcement escort
will be provided.  The final part of the trip to the armory will include a
parade through Wylie that will include dignitaries, Police and Fire
departments, an arc of water from water cannon over the buses (we might get
a bit damp, if you've never been doused by a fire truck), etc.  We will also
have flags in place at the armory and there is a small black-op that is
going on as a surprise for the troops that we are helping out with.  You'll
be briefed on that at staging.

 

Bottom line is we will be staging in at least 2 locations.  One for the
escort and at the armory.

 

At the request of the ride captain(s), and something I happen to agree with,
I've been asked to comment on safety.  Some words about the escort of the
buses.  This troop movement will be going through the entire metroplex
during afternoon rush hour (most likely) on a weekday.  If you made the
mission from NAS-JRB (Carswell) for the Sgt. Gregory Owens mission you had a
taste of what it's like to cross the metroplex.  We had DPS as escort, as
you recall, and they control the highway pretty well.  The ride was long, it
was hot and it was tiring.  Quite a few vehicles even challenged the DPS,
head-to-head, as if the DPS was going to just stop what they were doing so
someone could text uninterrupted and cut off the hearse.  Fortunately, the
skill of the DPS troopers and their determination to not let the procession
be put in danger helped ensure our safety.

 

That being said, participating in this escort will not be a Sunday stroll
through the park.  The chances are essentially none that the roads will be
closed for the procession of buses on a weekday at that time of day.  Law
enforcement resources are strained that time of day on a normal day and they
will be more strained by the presence of the buses and us.  We must remember
that we are not the focus of this mission.  If we cause the buses to be
delayed or if we have an accident, then the focus shifts to us and I know
that's the last thing any of us wants.  I can promise you that I have nobody
in mind, nobody is being singled out and no additional rules or regulations
of any kind will be imposed for riding in this escort but this is liable to
be a pretty intense ride and if that kind of close formation riding is not
your thing you might think a few extra seconds before jumping into this one.

 

We will have a Ride Captain in charge of the ride and a Ride Captain in
charge at the armory.  There will be stagings, briefings, etc., at each
location.  We will have a need for people at both.  We want to be good
friends and help out where we can at the armory and help make this a great
welcome home for these wonderful men and women.  They've earned it.  They
are ALL coming home!  Not all are coming home in one piece, physically, but
they are all coming home.  God bless them, every one.

 

Details are being worked on non-stop and you will get details and a final
itinerary as soon as possible.  Anticipated arrival time in Wylie is between
5:00 and 7:00 PM.  That means any time between noon and November.  We know
that they'll be there as soon as they can.  Nobody wants to get there faster
than the troops and nobody wants them there faster than their families.

 

Stay tuned, everybody.  It's going to be great.

 

Steve Lucas

Deputy State Captain

North Texas PGR
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