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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>Ladies and Gentlemen,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>I know things are hectic right now, mission wise, but I wanted to
send a reminder about our mission on April 1 and April 4, 2009 to honor at
least a dozen recipients of the Medal of Honor who are coming to Gainesville,
TX for their annual 4 days of events in that fair city. The PGR will
participate in escorting these gentlemen from DFW Airport to Gainesville on
April 1, 2009, most likely late in the afternoon. We will be met in
Gainesville by a flag line set up by our Gainesville PGR contingent to receive
these heroes in true Texas PGR style. Outside of the annual national
reunion of MOH recipients or a special event like a Presidential inauguration,
this is likely the largest gathering of Medal of Honor recipients in one
location that exists, and I know you don’t want to miss it.
Included in the recipient list of attendees, and scheduled to be in the escort
on April first is John Finn. Mr. Finn will be 100 years old this year, the
oldest living recipient, who received his award for action in the face of the
enemy on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor. Please remember, there are
only 98 living recipients of the Medal of Honor remaining.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>On Saturday, April 4, 2009 there will be a parade in Gainesville
honoring the recipients. The PGR is participating in this parade. I
have been attending the meetings of the board of directors planning all of the
events for the recipients for the week of this celebration and recently the
board told the police department that this year’s parade may take over an
hour. I politely reminded the police department that it might take an
hour just for the PGR!! If we have enough big flag bikes on hand who are
interested I have advised the board that we would like to have a big flag bike
on each front fender of each recipient vehicle as it goes through the
parade. So far, 12 recipients have confirmed. That’s…wait…24
big flag bikes at least if we have the interest. More recipients, more
big flag bikes needed. More big flag bikes who want to participate, we
may even put one at point of each recipient, making 3 bikes for each recipient
vehicle. That’s…wait…math…lots of flag bikes, and
that’s just with the recipients. Not counting the PGR parade entry
itself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>Following the parade, the PGR and the active duty military will be
sharing duty as page turners during a 2 hour book signing. Members of the
community will be able to purchase books, etc., and have the recipients sign
them as they meet the recipients. Somebody will need to be at the tables
with the recipients to turn the book pages to the pages that highlight that
particular recipient so their recipient can sign and to help keep things moving…plus
get to hang out with a Medal of Honor recipient for a while. An Air Force
Major told me last week we may have to wrestle with them for this privilege.
My comment back was, “No problem, Major.” I think we may have
to share this duty in shifts depending on how many PGR members may want to hang
out with a Medal of Honor recipient for a while. How about that for a
photo op, Bobby??<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>Ladies and Gentlemen, I know that we consider all of our military
veterans and current military personnel great patriots and heroes. The
men we will see during this weekend, though, have done something –
perhaps more than once – that has distinguished them from the rest.
Their action not only had to be reported through a chain of command but it also
had to withstand a rigorous investigation to see if it stood up to the highest
standards of conduct. Only then, and sometimes years after the actual
event, were they recommended for the highest award for valor in the face of the
enemy that this country can bestow – the Medal of Honor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>These men and others who have now passed have been coming to
Gainesville for the past 7 years. This is the first year that the Patriot
Guard has been invited to honor them. John Finn may not be able to come
back for another. Others may not, either. Their ranks are dwindling
and this is our first chance to show them what the PGR in North Texas and the
surrounding area thinks of them and how we honor our heroes around here.
To a man, these recipients will tell you that they aren’t heroes, and
they mean it. They will tell you that the heroes are the ones who are
forever young…the ones who didn’t return. They will tell you
that they wear the medal for them and those like them through all wars, and for
those fighting for our country today. To hear them speak will inspire
you. Their actions were put under a microscope and they came out with
flying colors. Now it’s our turn in the PGR to thank them as only
we can. By doing what we do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>Additional details will be coming out very soon as to the
particulars of the times and locations. Please start making your plans to
be in the escort, the parade and at the book signing. That’s
Wednesday, April 1 for the escort and Saturday April 4 for the parade and book
signing. Be on the lookout for more information soon. It’s
only a few weeks until the event. Let’s show them a huge turnout.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>Thank you all for everything you continue to do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>Steve Lucas<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>Deputy State Captain<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>North Texas PGR<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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