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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'>As you can see from the itineraries posted this evening, the
weather forecast is calling for some high temperatures this week and we have
been experiencing some high humidity to go along with them lately. I’d
like everyone to please be aware of this when preparing for a mission.<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'>Unless you were born and raised on the surface of the sun, you need
to take precautions for activity in the summer months in North Texas. It’s
just a fact of life. It might be one thing to be able to go to a mission at
DFW National Cemetery in an air conditioned vehicle, leave the vehicle a minute
or two before the service starts, stand in the shade of the shelter for 20
minutes and then return to the air conditioned vehicle and leave – but that’s
not what we’re faced with.<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'>We’ve usually gotten on motorcycles and ridden in the sun,
including the heat of the bike and the reflected heat off of the pavement for a
pretty good while in order to get there, even for an interment only
mission. We then stood around in the sun waiting for the opportunity to
go and unwrap the flags and put them in the ground, followed by standing tall
and silent…in the sun…as the service occurs, then standing some
more as the family departs, followed by rolling the flags, chatting for a few
minutes, getting back on the motorcycles and repeating that ride in the heat
all over again to get to our next destination. It gets more taxing if we
add a procession and a funeral into the day, sometimes putting us outside all
day long unless we happen to go into the church or funeral home to use the rest
room or have the chance to go into a fast food place for a few minutes to grab a
bite and cool off for a minute. We also have on boots, long pants, a
helmet for most while we’re riding, a vest, etc.<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 where I’m going with this. When you think about
it, the cumulative amount of time we’re outside and exposed to the heat
and sun can really add up. We must take care of ourselves and each other.
We must take our hydration and our time in the sun very seriously. This
includes deciding whether or not we even ride our bikes when it’s excessively
hot. Being out in the heat may be OK for short periods but maybe we need
to get back in the A/C after the mission rather than riding that additional
hour or more back home. Only you can make that decision but I ask that
you please consider all the options when thinking about coming to a mission.<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'>Do all the things you’re supposed to do. Hydrate the
night before and don’t forget about the electrolyte enhanced drinks.
Water is great and absolutely necessary but sometimes it’s not
enough. Water not only in you, but on you, is helpful. Use all the
tricks you know. It is not a disgrace to have to step out of a flag line
and get in the shade or even go somewhere to get inside. You are not
shaming the family or the military person we are honoring. I can assure you
that they would want you to do this. I have had to do it myself. I
felt bad about it but I had to do it and I’m glad my PGR friends made me
do it. Take that vest off. Do what you have to do and ask for
help. If you’re thirsty, you already are behind in your water
intake. That is a fact, not a theory. As much as we may hate to
admit it, especially to ourselves, they older we get the harder it is on us…another
fact.<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'>Here is a test to see if anybody read down this far…especially
the ride captains.<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'>As of now, I would ask that the Ride Captains not stand in the flag
lines. I would like the “extra” ride captains at missions to
be constantly circulating and checking on people. Please be handing out
water. Be talking to the riders. Riders – one reason they do
this is the check and see if you are disoriented or sluggish in any way, a sign
of dehydration. All of this can be done quietly and discretely during a
mission. Ride Captains, learn your first aid for someone getting too hot,
be it a rider or a mourner.<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'>Flag truck drivers or others responsible for providing water:
As of now, please start bringing too much. Bring too much iced down water
and too much ice. If you’ve ever seen heat exhaustion or an actual
heat stroke, you’ll know why. If you need extra water, including the
areas outside of the metroplex are such as Wichita Falls, Sherman, etc., let me
know and we will arrange to get you some. If funds to purchase ice are a
problem, let Mike or Sparky or Ted Beauchamp or Gene and Sharon know and they
can contact me.<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'>Riders – you have to help out, too. Take a bottle of
water with you to the flag line. If you need to come out of your vest, do
it. If you want to pour the water over your head, do it. If you
want to wear a pair of riding pants over a pair of shorts and stand in the line
in a pair of shorts, do it. If you want to carry a misting bottle with
you or wear a camel back and constantly drink water that way, do it. If
you need to sit down, do it.<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'>Let’s not have any heat related casualties. I think we
can probably prevent most of them if we are alert and we try.<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'>Please, please take care of yourselves and be safe. You are
the only one of you that there is and there will never be another. We
need you and the families we serve need 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'>Thank you all.<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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