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<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>Ladies and Gentlemen,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>Before you read the article below from the Wise
County Messenger, that looks like it’s going to be published tomorrow, I’d
like you to know that the PGR has been involved in this struggle since we first
heard of it a couple of weeks ago. A number of Veteran’s groups
have been involved in this also, hoping that the organizer(s) would allow a
motorcycle escort for the wall. It was not to be. Jim Donovan was
unrelenting. It is my understanding that Mr. Donovan also will not allow
David Hall to bring the Liberty Bell.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>Many of you may know our very good friend, Gold
Star Mom, and a dear lady, Dorothy Schafernocker – self styled as “Momma
nocker.” She lost her son in combat in Vietnam and drove the truck
pulling this wall for a year. She is quoted in this article. She is
a firebrand of the finest kind and even she was not able to convince the powers
that be to allow the escort.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>I can assure you that I am as angry and upset over
this situation as any of you are, or will be, after this series of
events. I might also remind you that the PGR is not a group of civil
disobedience. That is not our mission. This is in no way intended to
imply in any way that you are not free to voice your opinion as you desire, but
the N. TX PGR will not be involved in bringing disrespectful activity anywhere
near a symbol that stands for something so meaningful as the wall. We
will participate in nothing that will prove Mr. Donovan’s predictions to
be correct (as you will read below) or anything that he can point to that may
bring discredit to the PGR. That is not our stated mission. That is
not what we’re about. We have the utmost respect for the wall, the
names on the wall, and the men, women, children and veterans of Wise County.
I do not say this because I think anyone will act in a less than honorable
manner. I say this because I am well aware of your passion and your pride
in your country. Sometimes such an overwhelming pride and passion will
take over our emotions for a brief period and my intent is to help us get back
on track if some of us (me included) happen to stray in our thoughts for a
moment. I mean no insult and hope none took it that way.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>The article below is provided for your
information.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>As a side note, the Wise County Veterans Park is a
site where the Wreaths Across America nationwide event will be celebrated on
December 13, 2008. We will have missions there, as well as at DFW National
Cemetery and at the City of Cleburne Cemetery. Please stand by next week
for details on those.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>Thanks for your wonderful work.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>Steve Lucas<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>Deputy State Captain<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>North Texas PGR<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><b><span
style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>Moving
Wall opens Thursday <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><i><span
style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>Some
upset motorcycle escort won't be allowed <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#666666'>By
Mandy Bourgeois | Published Sunday, December 7, 2008<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:windowtext'>A
replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial will be on display in Decatur Dec.
11-14, and organizers are expecting large crowds while "The Moving
Wall" is on here. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:windowtext'>"We
may have more, but 10,000 visitors is a good estimate," said Jim
Donovan, a Vietnam veteran and a member of the veterans group bringing the
wall to Decatur. "We've been getting a lot of calls. We get at least
five a day at my house from Fort Worth or Dallas because word has gotten out
at the VA Clinics. I consider it probably the biggest thing ever to hit Wise
County."<br>
<br>
The 250-foot replica memorial will be located at the Decatur Middle School
campus between the tennis courts and the school. The wall will arrive
Wednesday morning, and Donovan invites volunteers to help put the wall
together.<br>
<br>
"The more the merrier. We could use anybody," he said. "They
can also volunteer to work during the week."<br>
<br>
The group will begin working at 9 a.m.<br>
<br>
With the wall comes a traveling museum and information center, as well as a
computer database that allows people to quickly find the location of a name
on the wall. <br>
<br>
The wall will open to the public for viewing Thursday morning and a ceremony
honoring Vietnam veterans will be held at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at the
middle school's multi-purpose building.<br>
<br>
Donovan has spent the last few weeks talking to students in Wise County
schools and said that several schools have arranged for students to view the
wall. <br>
<br>
"We've talked to just about everybody in the county. Chico has promised
to bring nine buses on Friday loaded with students. Bridgeport is going to be
shuttling students back and forth," he said. "It's really taking
off. I'm really happy."<br>
<br>
As the day the wall is scheduled to arrive gets closer, Donovan has been
overwhelmed by the support and interest of the county and surrounding areas. <br>
<br>
"I really envisioned a local interest. I didn't really realize that just
because we'd put up a sign at the VA clinics and hospitals that it would get
so much attention," Donovan said. "The school kids have been very
receptive. I can't get over how well-behaved and receptive they were to
something like this."<br>
<br>
Donovan praised the Decatur school district for their support of the program.<br>
<br>
"Dr. Gary Gindt has just been wonderful in getting help from the
maintenance men, the custodial staff and the principals - they have worked
hard," Donovan said. "Everybody has been very, very nice."<br>
<br>
The organizers have worked for months to raise money to fund the event, and
Donovan said they are still raising money. However, he said that any money
raised before the wall opens stays in Wise County, with extra funds going to
needy veterans and scholarships for veterans' children. Any money raised
Thursday and after will be given to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.<br>
<br>
While much of the response to the event has been positive, the decision to
not allow an escort into town has ruffled a few feathers. Veteran
motorcyclists groups expecting to provide an escort were saddened when
organizers opted not to have an escort. <br>
<br>
"Bobby (Harris) and I feel that it's solemn and hallowed ground, and
it's a memorial to our brothers who died so I don't want bikes making
noise," Donovan said. <br>
<br>
Kathleen Renfro of Newark said that the move "is like a slap in the
face."<br>
<br>
"This is a hot topic for me. What would it hurt to let the other vets
ride in with the wall?" she asked. <br>
<br>
Renfro is a good friend of Dorothy "Mamma" Schafernocker of Newark,
a mother of a Vietnam soldier killed in action. Schafernocker holds picnics
twice annually at her land near Eagle Mountain Lake for veterans, which
attracts many motorcyclist groups. <br>
<br>
"I have met them and I have talked to them. It just seems cruel,"
Renfro said. "Mom puts great care into these picnics. I've met them over
the last eight years. Our Mamma Schafernocker, she is a very sweet person.
She lost her son in that war. For them not to let the bikers come - I don't
get it."<br>
<br>
Renfro feels that allowing the veterans to provide an escort would be another
therapeutic outlet. <br>
<br>
"They would get comfort from being able to escort it into town. These
men and women have feelings, you know? In a perfect world, they would all
just get along and be able to ride in with it," she said. <br>
<br>
Renfro said that Schafernocker was in Rogers at another wall ceremony this
week but said she will be home in time to attend the Decatur event.<br>
<br>
"Just in case somebody shows up that might need her, she'll be
there," Renfro said. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#666666'>Copyright
2008 Wise County Messenger<br>
PO Box 149, 115 South Trinity, Decatur, Texas 76234 | 940-627-5987 | FAX
940-627-1004 | www.wcmessenger.com | webmaster@wcmessenger.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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