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<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,<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'>Final Amy Rubin update…<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 to all who went above and beyond to help Amy on her ride
through Texas. The spirit of the PGR certainly showed through in your
excellent work and we all congratulate and thank you for everything you have
done.<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 just received a report that the spirit of helping others without
thought of reward even rubbed off on the good folks at the BMW dealership who
refused to take any money from Amy for the repairs they did on her bike and
they also modified how she tied down her travel bags, all at no cost to
her. They wanted her to consider it their contribution to her cause.
(We also heard that her husband had been released from his training early and
was going to be able to ride out and meet her for part of her ride into
Shreveport. Good news all around.)<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 think that this is not only a tribute to Amy and her mission but
also a tribute to each of you, the Patriot Guard Riders and what you do every
day. Each of you is an ambassador for the PGR every time you get on your
bike, put on your vest or talk to someone about our proud organization.
Each and every day more and more people know of the PGR and what the
organization does and stands for thanks to our visibility and your good work.
More and more, you notice people stopping and paying attention when they see a
PGR formation coming down the road because they recognize that a member of the
armed forces – past or present – is being taken to their final
resting place and our presence is a notice for the public to stop what they are
doing and pay their respects as that patriot passes by.<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'>Agencies such as police departments and fire departments don’t
just freely associate and work in conjunction with groups as they do with the
PGR without being completely comfortable with them and what they’re
about. And YOU are the PGR. It’s not just any group of
citizens who can call the Dallas Police Department motorcycle unit, the
Mesquite Police Department, Deputy Constable King, etc., let them know that a
soldier has been killed in action, and then watch them drop whatever they are
doing to not only honor that soldier/sailor/marine, but to work so closely with
us to obtain for them the details they need to make their mission a success.
That working relationship is thanks to you – the riders of the PGR.<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 demonstrate a commitment that is second to none. You
provide a service that no other group in the entire country provides and you do
it so well that no other group has even thought to try to duplicate it.
You can, and should, be very proud of the organization you have built, and
continue to build. Here in the North Texas area, we cover a lot of
ground. We have excellent leadership in the form of our ride captains in
every area. In addition to our metroplex ride captains we have Ted
Beauchamp in Breckenridge, Cathy Cannon in Weatherford, Mike and Barbara
Johnson leading the way in Wichita Falls, Gene and Sharon Faulk in Gainesville
and Sparky Cox holding the reins in the Texoma area of Sherman/Denison. Each
with very capable Captains working with them and dedicated riders in those
areas.<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'>It takes each and every person pulling in the same direction to
make the PGR function at its best. All of you do that beautifully.
No matter what the circumstance, no matter what the weather, the time of day,
the hardship, you make it happen. I’ve witnessed it with my own
eyes time and time again. The families we serve have been universally
grateful. Their grief often overcomes them when we see them and they are
unable to thank everyone as they would like to, but we hear from the majority
of them at some point later and you have had a positive effect on them all.
Your kind and caring spirit touches their hearts. The flags on the
motorcycles and in the flag lines makes them proud of our country and proud of
their loved one. Many have commented at how touched they are as they see
you pray with them and how impressive it is to see you, someone they don’t
know and who didn’t know their loved one, standing so respectfully and
with true and genuine 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'>You see, the members of the public and the family and guests at
these services don’t miss too much. They are sizing us up all the
time and we are continuing to pass muster at every test…thanks to
you. Without YOU there is no PGR. Without YOU America has not done
its best to honor its military. And sometimes, without YOU, there would
be hardly anyone at all to send a veteran on his final journey. It is
true that everything we do is about the service person and their family, but
without YOU to be there in the first place, our services wouldn’t be
available in the first place…because the PGR is the only one who does
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'>Thank you all. I am honored and humbled that you allow me to
ride and stand beside you.<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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