thedrifter
12-17-07, 03:21 AM
Riders invite all to soldiers' return
By Rebecca Coudret
Monday, December 17, 2007
The Patriot Guard Riders want you to postpone some Christmas shopping, tape your soaps or simply put a couple of hours of your life on hold Wednesday afternoon.
"It's for a good cause — a great cause," said Rick Williams, a spokesman for the local Patriot Guard Riders.
That's the day Cpls. Nick Meeks and Jared Wagner, both Reitz High School graduates, and Cpl. Derek French of Uniontown, Ky., arrive at Evansville Regional Airport for post-deployment leave after returning from duty in Iraq.
The three are members of the First Battalion, Third Marine Division that arrived at home base in Kanoeha Bay, Hawaii, in October.
"They were in Iraq from March through October," said Salli Rackley, Meeks' mother. "They were the first deployment of Marines where they all came home. All of them!"
Williams said the riders will meet at 12:15 p.m. in the parking lot of the Marriott on US 41. From there, they'll ride to the airport to meet the plane, which Rackley said is scheduled to arrive at 1:15 p.m.
"We want to get everyone assembled and ready by 1 o'clock, so we'll get to the airport a little before the flight arrives. The folks at the airport have been great in supporting this effort and helping us pull off the welcomes," Williams said.
"We think they're all special all the time, but we wanted this homecoming to be extra-special, so we asked the Patriot Guard if they would be there," Rackley said.
"We want people to join us — everyone is invited to help welcome these three soldiers home," Williams said.
Rackley said that means anyone and everyone — and especially family and friends, church friends, former classmates and football teammates of the three young men.
The Patriot Guard Riders is a national group of motorcyclists who perform a kind of unofficial honor guard to welcome home military personnel or make their send-offs more memorable. The group also is a presence at military funerals and funerals for law enforcement officials killed in the line of duty.
"The main thing for people to know is that the Patriot Guard Riders never, ever go anywhere without being asked," Williams said.
"This time, with three (Marines) coming home together, and at Christmas, we want it to be extra nice, so anyone who would like to help in the welcome is invited."
Rackley said that from the airport, the group will go to a restaurant on the West Side for a welcome home party.
Ellie
By Rebecca Coudret
Monday, December 17, 2007
The Patriot Guard Riders want you to postpone some Christmas shopping, tape your soaps or simply put a couple of hours of your life on hold Wednesday afternoon.
"It's for a good cause — a great cause," said Rick Williams, a spokesman for the local Patriot Guard Riders.
That's the day Cpls. Nick Meeks and Jared Wagner, both Reitz High School graduates, and Cpl. Derek French of Uniontown, Ky., arrive at Evansville Regional Airport for post-deployment leave after returning from duty in Iraq.
The three are members of the First Battalion, Third Marine Division that arrived at home base in Kanoeha Bay, Hawaii, in October.
"They were in Iraq from March through October," said Salli Rackley, Meeks' mother. "They were the first deployment of Marines where they all came home. All of them!"
Williams said the riders will meet at 12:15 p.m. in the parking lot of the Marriott on US 41. From there, they'll ride to the airport to meet the plane, which Rackley said is scheduled to arrive at 1:15 p.m.
"We want to get everyone assembled and ready by 1 o'clock, so we'll get to the airport a little before the flight arrives. The folks at the airport have been great in supporting this effort and helping us pull off the welcomes," Williams said.
"We think they're all special all the time, but we wanted this homecoming to be extra-special, so we asked the Patriot Guard if they would be there," Rackley said.
"We want people to join us — everyone is invited to help welcome these three soldiers home," Williams said.
Rackley said that means anyone and everyone — and especially family and friends, church friends, former classmates and football teammates of the three young men.
The Patriot Guard Riders is a national group of motorcyclists who perform a kind of unofficial honor guard to welcome home military personnel or make their send-offs more memorable. The group also is a presence at military funerals and funerals for law enforcement officials killed in the line of duty.
"The main thing for people to know is that the Patriot Guard Riders never, ever go anywhere without being asked," Williams said.
"This time, with three (Marines) coming home together, and at Christmas, we want it to be extra nice, so anyone who would like to help in the welcome is invited."
Rackley said that from the airport, the group will go to a restaurant on the West Side for a welcome home party.
Ellie