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<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=left><B><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Other MOH Events the Riders May Find of
Interest</SPAN></U></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><B><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"></SPAN></SPAN></U></B> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed; CURSOR: hand" id=lw_1266551574_0
class=yshortcuts>On <B>Thursday, April 8, 2010</B></SPAN> there will be a
Bar-B-Que supper and social at the North Central Texas College field house
starting at 6:30 PM.<SPAN> </SPAN>This event is open to the public and is
a big meet-and-greet for the public and the recipients.<SPAN> </SPAN>This
catered event is $10 per plate and Medal of Honor Host City merchandise will be
available to purchase there.<SPAN> </SPAN>This is a wonderful opportunity
for anyone who was unable to participate in the escort to meet the recipients,
chat with them and eat some Bar-B-Que.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed; CURSOR: hand" id=lw_1266551574_1
class=yshortcuts>On <B>Friday, April 9, 2010</B>, at 2:00 PM</SPAN> a tree
planting will be held in Gainesville to honor the recipients.<SPAN>
</SPAN>Each time a recipient visits Gainesville for the first time, a tree is
planted by the city in their name.<SPAN> </SPAN>Three recipients will be
coming to Gainesville for the first time this year and red oak trees will be
planted and dedicated in their honor by placement of an engraved granite plaque
at Gainesville’s Homegrown Hero Walking Trail.<SPAN> </SPAN>This event is
open to the public.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Also <SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed; CURSOR: hand" id=lw_1266551574_2
class=yshortcuts>on <B>Friday, April 9, 2010</B></SPAN> is the annual banquet to
honor the recipients.<SPAN> </SPAN>This is held at the Gainesville Civic
Center at 6:30 PM.<SPAN> </SPAN>Individual tickets are $25
each.<SPAN> </SPAN>A table for 10 people can be purchased for $250 and a
recipient table for 8 people can be purchased for $500.<SPAN> </SPAN>The
city of Gainesville can be contacted for further information.<SPAN>
</SPAN>Tickets are expected to go on sale mid-February.<SPAN>
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: red; FONT-SIZE: 18pt">SOLD OUT!!!</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The parade is already a PGR
mission and scheduled for <SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed; CURSOR: hand" id=lw_1266551574_3
class=yshortcuts>Saturday morning, April 10</SPAN>.<SPAN> </SPAN>Details
on that will be forthcoming soon.<SPAN> </SPAN>From <B><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed; CURSOR: hand" id=lw_1266551574_4
class=yshortcuts>1:30 – 3:30 PM on Saturday</SPAN></B> a book signing will be
held at the Gainesville Civic Center.<SPAN> </SPAN>The book signing is
open to the public and Medal of Honor Host City merchandise will be for
sale.<SPAN> </SPAN>In previous years the number of items the recipients
will sign has been limited and restricted to one “outside” item and one item
purchased from the Medal of Honor Host City committee – such as the Medal of
Honor book.<SPAN> </SPAN>Information about that is not available at this
time but please anticipate that something along those lines will be the case
this year also.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">As you can see there are many
opportunities to meet, escort, shake hands with, have your photo taken with, and
obtain autographs from some of our nation’s greatest heroes.<SPAN>
</SPAN>With the exception of their annual reunion or a Presidential
inauguration, this is probably one of the largest (if not THE largest)
gatherings of Medal of Honor recipients you will ever find.<SPAN>
</SPAN>To read what these men have accomplished and then to meet them in person
is a treat.<SPAN> </SPAN>And I can assure you that they are looking
forward to seeing you.<SPAN> </SPAN>Last year they could not stop talking
about the escort from the airport and the great friends they had made with the
riders.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">And as we suffered a tragedy
last year with the death of fellow rider Gary Maddux while on his way home after
the escort to Gainesville, they also suffered.<SPAN> </SPAN>When the
recipients learned of Gary’s death they each signed a Medal of Honor book with a
personal inscription to Gary’s family.<SPAN> </SPAN>At their banquet,
there is a time set aside where they solemnly honor the recipients who have
passed in the prior 12 months and they included Gary in that ceremony, just as
they do one of their own.<SPAN> </SPAN>One of the recipients, Col. Don
“Doc” Ballard delayed his departure so that he could attend Gary’s interment and
represent the recipients by personally presenting that signed book during the
ceremony to Gary’s widow.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">These are men that you will
want to meet.<SPAN> </SPAN>When you have read their stories and met them
face to face you will walk away very glad that you did.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Respectfully
submitted,</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Randy “Coach “
Roberts</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Bill “Rotorhead”
Holcomb</SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>