PGR_NTX Patriot Guard Just a reminder

[Mission Information For North Texas PGR]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Just a reminder.

 

Today on the escort of Sgt. Jasso from DFW Airport to Homestead Funeral Home
in Grand Prairie we lost 4 (it is my understanding) flag bikes from the
formation due to broken/bent, etc. flag poles.  As a general rule we ask our
escort vehicles to try and keep their speed to 50 mph when we have big flags
in the procession.  I was riding directly behind the police cars and,
believe it or not, we were sitting right on 55 mph or a little less the
whole way.  We were going into a breeze which added to the pressure on the
flags.  Also, if we have the "accordion" effect from our spacing being a
little inconsistent and we speed up and slow down within our formation, that
can also cause stress on the flags and poles.

 

Please double check your pole, flag and mounting system prior to every
mission to make sure all is in good order and please make sure you have good
equipment in the first place.  A lighter weight flag, such as polyester, may
not look quite as good as a cotton flag but it puts less stress on the pole
and is considerably lighter than a heavy cotton flag.  A flexible pole, such
as fiberglass is also a consideration.  Even though the Ride Captains speak
to the escort personnel about road speed prior to leaving a location once we
hit the street it's not really in our hands any more.  If your flag
equipment won't handle the stress, please pull out of the formation, roll up
your flag and then come back to the rear of the formation.  Many riders have
had the trial and error method of finding what works and what doesn't on
mounting flags and all are happy to share their knowledge.  Most have found
that if you plan to ride inside of a tornado, you ought to be OK.
Seriously, though.if you plan on riding 70 mph with a 25 mph head wind, your
flag and pole should hold up to whatever we do.

 

I'm in no way trying to be critical of anybody's set up or of anyone who may
have lost a flag today.  Sometimes things just happen.  Even our most
experienced riders have reached back all of a sudden and found a handful of
air where their flag should be.  Sometimes the metal or the weld has even
failed in a perfectly good piece of steel and that failure couldn't have
been anticipated under any circumstances.  I'm just trying to remind
everyone who flies one or more big flags, or is thinking about mounting the
big flags, to check your equipment regularly and to take every precaution to
be safe.  We do an awful lot of riding here in North Texas and it's
important that everybody be safe, happy and healthy at the end of every
mission.

 

Thanks to all of you for being "always there."

 

Steve Lucas

Deputy State Captain

North Texas PGR
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