The DoD Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program (YRRP) and the United States Air Force Reserves have asked the Patriot Guard Riders to Honor the Airmen and Airwomen who are faithfully serving their country and are getting ready to deploy on yet another Combat Tour. The YRRP is a national veteran reintegration program to provide National Guard and Reserve Component members and their families a managed PTSD program.
The Reserves are serving longer and more frequent Combat Tours then our Active Duty Forces and have since the beginning of the war. Each tour averages 9 months to a year. The Yellow Ribbon Committee has been tasked to provide for the Departing and Returning Heroes classes and seminars that help them and their families cope with the extended tours and frequent reassignments. The immense effects of PTSD on these Heroes is reflected in the funding. The Department of Defense recognizes their extraordinary sacrifices and provides them full funding.
Last year, the PGR attended this same event in San Diego and were provided with a room of refreshments and free parking. The Riders met with a Medal Of Honor Recipient, a POW of 5 years from the Hanoi Hilton and the Forward Area Controllers, Combat Controllers, ParaRescuemen, SERE Instructors, and of course the Pilots and Aircrewmen and women and support personnel. At that meeting we "saluted" 150 Returning and Redeploying Reserve Heroes and over 400 family members.
We have been invited to once again participate. We will be staging at a separate location then in a side by side parade riding to the location where free parking is provided, cages are welcomed but may have to find their own parking. Additionally, we will then form in a informal column of twos then walk into the Convention Center and when directed we will enter the Meeting Room where our Heroes and Family are just finishing up. They may have already watched a video about us. We will line up across the front of the stage and the R/C will go on the stage to give a short speech about the PGR. At the end of that speech he will call the PGR to Attention and we will give our Heroes a Salute. We will then exit and form a flagline just outside the doors and shake hands with the participants as they exit.
NOTE: Do not travel directly to the Location, they will not open the gate for your free parking. Normal parking at the hotel is $10.00 every hour.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring these USAFR Heroes. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be riding a short distance in side by side formation. Please see the time table below if you would like to participate. For those who would rather go directly to UVMMA Fight Gear, we will meet you there.
Time Table for Sunday, 18 AUG 13:(San Diego Area Group)0800 - Stage at Denny's Oceanside, 487 Harbor Drive, Oceanside, CA 92054.
http://goo.gl/maps/pwuGc0815 - KSU for UVMMA Fight Gear, 3033 Bristol Street Costa Mesa, CA 92626.
http://goo.gl/maps/9U2L4(Orange County Group)0930 - Stage at UVMMA Fight Gear, 3033 Bristol Street Costa Mesa, CA 92626.
http://goo.gl/maps/9U2L41000 - (Both Groups) Mission Briefing.
1015 - KSU for the Convention Center.
R/C Charles Johnson
760-271-2544
chuckj661@hotmail.com
You do not have to be a Veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. Everyone is welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the R/C (Ride Captain). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car).
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