Yesterday was a fantastic day. The Patriot Guard Riders were invited by the Jacksonville Jauguars (a professional football team - American style) to participate in pre-game and half time activities to honor veterans and wounded warriors. Gold Star families were also honored. I had never been to a pro football game and with free tickets, I decided to avail myself of this opportunity.
Mae Lyne and I set out for Jacksonville at 10:30, a distance of 140 miles (225.3 K). It was a clear day with the temp about 65 F (18.3 C); however a cold front had moved in that temps would drop after sundown. The wind was kicking up at 14 - 22 mph (22.5 - 35.4 kph) and it was a head wind all the way. Fuel mileage wasn't too great riding two up into the head wind; but the ride was pleasant. We met three other riders and a cage in Ormond Beach and set out for Jacksonville with the cage protection our six arriving shortly after 13:00.
At 14:45, 28 Patriot Guard Riders stood a flag line at gate #2 to honor a group of WWII and Korean War vets brought in by bus for the game. They also received free tickets courtesy of the Jaguars and USO. At 15:00, we stood a flag line for the arrival of the Gold Star families in the Jacksonville area. We got to meet them and share hugs and tears. From there we went into the bowels of the stadium and went out on the field for the pre-game ceremonies through the tunnel the Jaguar team uses. We escorted the Gold Star families to the center of the field and formed a flag line behind them as each was introduced and their lost son's were displayed on the stadium's giant screens. It was very emotional. Following that we left the field and went to our seats just in time for a flyover by a stealth bomber at 1000 feet (304.8 meters). That was really cool! Kickoff was at 16:15.
Prior to half time, we left our seats and returned to the bowls of the stadium, this time to the tunnel used by the Tennessee Titans, to enter the field for half time ceremonies. We were in the tunnel as the half ended at the Titans entered to tunnel for their locker room. Formed two flag lines on each 45 yard line as the WWII vets, Korean War vets, and wounded warriors from Viet Nam through the current conflicts were escorted on to the field by the Jaguar cheer leading squad. Some mighty fine looking young ladies!!!!!! The vets and the escorts passed between our to flag lines and they lined up along the length of the field. We reformed our flag line behind them. Already in place were about 100 young people poised to take their oath of enlistment into the United States Army. As a packed stadium looked on, a two star general administered the oath of enlistment as the future of America raised their right hands and collectively took the oath. They received a long and loud standing ovation. We quickly reformed our flag lines on the 45 yard lines as the veterans were escorted off of the field and followed them to the Jaguars' tunnel. The Jaguars were already on their sideline and they shook hands with each veteran and PGR member expressing their thanks as we passed down their line toward the tunnel. We got to spend some time with the vets. Among them was a Pearl Harbor survivor, POW of the Germans, and a POW of the North Koreans - and these guys thanked us, the PGR! They are the ones to whom we owe a debt we can never repay.
Four of us who had traveled from the south decided to depart following the half time ceremonies. It was dark and the temp had already dropped to the upper 40's F (8 -9 C). We wanted to get on the road before the temps dropped further. Fortunately the wind had let up and was only blowing about 10 mph (16 kph). We bundled up, fired up the bikes and hit I-95 heading south. We stopped in St Augustine for dinner at a Cracker Barrel. We unbundled taking our gear inside and placed it on the hearth of the fireplace in which a nice, warm fire was burning. We wanted warm gloves, coats and helmets when we resumed our ride. The four of us were about half way through our meal when our waitress came up and introduced us to a man, his wife and their daughter. The man informed us that he was active duty Navy serving at Jacksonville Naval Air Station. He had witnessed the PGR escorting KIAs from the the aircraft to the funeral homes. He had also attended a couple of funeral services at which the PGR was there. He thanked us for what we did to honor military members, support their families and protect them from the demented WBC protesters. He then told us that he had paid the dinner bill for all four of us. I was dumbfounded! Wow!
Following the dinner, we again bundled up and set out on the cold ride home. Mae Lyne and I got home around 22:20 and the temp here was 51 F (10.6 C). We had a low this morning of 45 F (7.2 C). The cold ride was well worth the experince and the emotions.
Mae Lyne and I set out for Jacksonville at 10:30, a distance of 140 miles (225.3 K). It was a clear day with the temp about 65 F (18.3 C); however a cold front had moved in that temps would drop after sundown. The wind was kicking up at 14 - 22 mph (22.5 - 35.4 kph) and it was a head wind all the way. Fuel mileage wasn't too great riding two up into the head wind; but the ride was pleasant. We met three other riders and a cage in Ormond Beach and set out for Jacksonville with the cage protection our six arriving shortly after 13:00.
At 14:45, 28 Patriot Guard Riders stood a flag line at gate #2 to honor a group of WWII and Korean War vets brought in by bus for the game. They also received free tickets courtesy of the Jaguars and USO. At 15:00, we stood a flag line for the arrival of the Gold Star families in the Jacksonville area. We got to meet them and share hugs and tears. From there we went into the bowels of the stadium and went out on the field for the pre-game ceremonies through the tunnel the Jaguar team uses. We escorted the Gold Star families to the center of the field and formed a flag line behind them as each was introduced and their lost son's were displayed on the stadium's giant screens. It was very emotional. Following that we left the field and went to our seats just in time for a flyover by a stealth bomber at 1000 feet (304.8 meters). That was really cool! Kickoff was at 16:15.
Prior to half time, we left our seats and returned to the bowls of the stadium, this time to the tunnel used by the Tennessee Titans, to enter the field for half time ceremonies. We were in the tunnel as the half ended at the Titans entered to tunnel for their locker room. Formed two flag lines on each 45 yard line as the WWII vets, Korean War vets, and wounded warriors from Viet Nam through the current conflicts were escorted on to the field by the Jaguar cheer leading squad. Some mighty fine looking young ladies!!!!!! The vets and the escorts passed between our to flag lines and they lined up along the length of the field. We reformed our flag line behind them. Already in place were about 100 young people poised to take their oath of enlistment into the United States Army. As a packed stadium looked on, a two star general administered the oath of enlistment as the future of America raised their right hands and collectively took the oath. They received a long and loud standing ovation. We quickly reformed our flag lines on the 45 yard lines as the veterans were escorted off of the field and followed them to the Jaguars' tunnel. The Jaguars were already on their sideline and they shook hands with each veteran and PGR member expressing their thanks as we passed down their line toward the tunnel. We got to spend some time with the vets. Among them was a Pearl Harbor survivor, POW of the Germans, and a POW of the North Koreans - and these guys thanked us, the PGR! They are the ones to whom we owe a debt we can never repay.
Four of us who had traveled from the south decided to depart following the half time ceremonies. It was dark and the temp had already dropped to the upper 40's F (8 -9 C). We wanted to get on the road before the temps dropped further. Fortunately the wind had let up and was only blowing about 10 mph (16 kph). We bundled up, fired up the bikes and hit I-95 heading south. We stopped in St Augustine for dinner at a Cracker Barrel. We unbundled taking our gear inside and placed it on the hearth of the fireplace in which a nice, warm fire was burning. We wanted warm gloves, coats and helmets when we resumed our ride. The four of us were about half way through our meal when our waitress came up and introduced us to a man, his wife and their daughter. The man informed us that he was active duty Navy serving at Jacksonville Naval Air Station. He had witnessed the PGR escorting KIAs from the the aircraft to the funeral homes. He had also attended a couple of funeral services at which the PGR was there. He thanked us for what we did to honor military members, support their families and protect them from the demented WBC protesters. He then told us that he had paid the dinner bill for all four of us. I was dumbfounded! Wow!
Following the dinner, we again bundled up and set out on the cold ride home. Mae Lyne and I got home around 22:20 and the temp here was 51 F (10.6 C). We had a low this morning of 45 F (7.2 C). The cold ride was well worth the experince and the emotions.
, thanks for that!!! :y18:
