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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'>Our esteemed webmaster, Harold Tranter, was diligently pursuing his
duties in researching where the visitors to our web site come from and
otherwise going through the daily/weekly web statistics and came across a web site
forum that mentioned the North Texas PGR quite favorably. It’s a
professional soldiers web site, entitled “Home of the Quiet Professionals”
and displays the logo/motto of the Green Beret. Mentioned in one of their
forum discussions is our recent mission for SSG Jeremy Bessa. One of the
quotes from that discussion is as follows (I removed the names of the posting
parties since I don’t have permission to use any of this):<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>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:#C1C1C7'>Originally Posted by </span><a
href="http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=253979#post253979"><span
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:blue;
text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=6 height=9 id="Picture_x0020_1"
src="cid:image001.gif@01C9A437.B2EC31B0" alt="View Post"></span></a><span
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#C1C1C7'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:#C1C1C7'>A friend of mine rode the escort from Addison Airport to the
Funeral Home today. He said that it was the LARGEST turnout for an initial
escort that he has seen!! 70+ Bikes.<br>
<br>
I'll be riding with the procession tomorrow, but also plan on mixing with our
Brothers.<br>
<br>
Will take some pics and report tomorrow evening.<br>
<br>
Later.<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>I
made the Ride today. There were 80-100 Bikes, and it was unreal. This was my
first run with The Patriot Guard, and they are a CLASS ACT!!! I spent some time
with the SF guys that were there, the SF guys sorta collected/gathered in one
area. BG Repass, his Command and the 3rd Group folks, came over to the
"Collection" of FOGs that were present from Chapter 31 here, along
with some AD folks that attended, and were most hospitable......I felt like I
knew them all!! <br>
<br>
So, until I see'ya on that FINAL DZ,..........Jeremy...Hang Tough and we'll
see'ya on the other side!!!!! <span style='color:#C1C1C7'><br>
<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>I want to share this with you in order to continue to demonstrate
as best I can that each and every time you put on your Patriot Guard vest or
gear, and every time you get on your bike or in your cage and it’s marked
with a PGR banner, flag or other identifying insignia, you are being
identified. You are well known and getting better known by the public
every day. You have a reputation with this organization as a – in capital
letters with 3 exclamation marks - “CLASS ACT!!!”<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 compliment you all. This kind of praise is not just thrown
around, it’s earned. It’s earned through hard work and
dedication. Once a reputation like this is earned, it’s even harder
to maintain and improve upon.<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'>You can all stand tall and be very proud of what you do for these
patriots and heroes and their families. When units such as the Green
Beret, the 82<sup>nd</sup> Airborne, Marine Honor Detachments and others are
proud to mix and mingle with you and impressed with what you do for their
brothers and sisters in arms, you must be doing something right. When the
families, as far as I know without exception, take extra time on the saddest
day of their lives to go to the ride captains and express their thanks and
admiration for what a difference the Patriot Guard has made to them, you have
done a very good thing. No matter whether the mission is for a KIA or an
elderly veteran, it makes no difference. To that family, it’s
likely their first and maybe their only experience with the Patriot
Guard. The mission you’re about to start may be your 500<sup>th</sup>,
but it’s their very first and maybe their very last, and there is
absolutely incredibly important to them and something they will remember for
the rest of their lives. The riders in North Texas do a wonderful job in
making that day special for them and for their guests.<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'>There are days, and have been recently, where we have done several
in a row at DFW National, and have done several in different locations in one
day. And you have stepped up like the heroes each of you are, without
complaint, and been there for every family. I have heard your leaders
marvel at your dedication, your steadfastness, and your stamina. I have
heard military officers and enlisted alike say the same things. “We
see y’all everywhere. Do you ever sleep?” I’m not
kidding! We’ve gotten to know some of these military people pretty
well from seeing them so many times. I think there are many among us who
could easily fill in for the personnel at DFW National Cemetery and who among
us could not do a very good impression of Al saying – “I would like
you now to prepare yourselves for 3 volleys of rifle fire.” Am I
right?<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'>My point is, you are noticed. Not just on a mission, but
everywhere you go. People know who the PGR is in North Texas and it’s
because of your wonderful work. This is demonstrated by the snippet from
the discussion forum I pasted above.<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'>Have we “arrived” yet? Is it OK to get the big
head? Not by a long shot. There is still much we all have to learn
and much we all can improve on. But as the Deputy State Captain for North
Texas I am very proud of all of you. And I’m not leaving out our brothers
and sisters in the Sherman area, the Gainesville area, the Wichita Falls area,
the Breckenridge area, the Mineral Wells area, the Waxahachie area, and
everywhere else where missions occur on a regular basis outside of the metroplex.
Believe it or not, I hear things from folks all over the place, and we can be
proud of everyone in the whole region.<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'>The PGR is the only organization who does what we do. I think
that’s because it’s very difficult. It’s physically
demanding to do this year round. It’s hard to see all that
grief. Your ride captains have to be magicians to make all the
connections with families, funeral homes, escort companies, flag people, water
people, cemetery people, etc., and do it all extremely fast – and then
have it all change 3 or 4 times – and make it come out looking like it
was a piece of cake…and do it for every mission. Yes, what the PGR
does is very difficult…on everyone involved. It’s not easy
standing in that flag line and anybody who says it is hasn’t stood in
one.<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’m very honored you allow me to serve you and to serve with
you. You are the PGR and you make a difference. I’ve tried to
show you just one small example of that in this message. OK, it was a
long message – so shoot me…no, wait. I know how many of you
carry weapons. I don’t get to shake everyone’s hand at every
mission, and not everyone can attend every mission. So to everyone this
message reaches, and who had the patience to read this far, please consider your
hand shaken, a hug given, and allow me to express my personal thanks for your
service to the patriots and heroes, their families, and your fellow PGR
members.<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'>Be safe, everyone.<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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