Homes For Our Troops (HFOT), a non-profit organization, has invited the Patriot Guard Riders to attend an Honoring Ceremony for LCpl Erik Galvan, a combat wounded warrior, in Bonsall, CA. We are honored to do so.
HFOT will be constructing a custom home for our Hero in this community that will be adapted to his needs and will be mortgage-free. HFOT has done this for many wounded warriors across the country.
Unsure of his plans after high school, Erik Galvan felt the military was a good opportunity to see the world. Inspired by his Marine brother, he joined the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines as an Infantryman.
In March 2011, Lance Corporal Galvan, then 19-years-old, set out on his first deployment to Afghanistan. On June 15, 2011, LCpl Galvan was on a patrol when he lost both legs and his right hand in an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion. All LCpl Galvan remembers from the incident is his body going numb, rolling over and feeling like going to sleep.
Erik had most of his surgeries at Walter Reed Medical Center before transferring to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where he remained for two years.
After retiring in 2013, Erik moved to California where he now lives with his wife Kaitlyn and young son Logan. He earned his master’s in social work at the University of Southern California in 2019. He is also involved with Wishes for Warriors, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping combat-injured Veterans experience therapeutic outdoor activities. Erik believes a specially adapted custom Homes For Our Troops home will give him the ability to focus on these endeavors and his education.
The PGR will meet and brief at the initial staging area for the procession. Departure time will be given at staging. We will have a police escort and fire department assistance during the accompaniment to the community church where our Hero will be honored for his service and sacrifice. The general public have been notified and may line the streets to welcome him.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this American Hero. For those interested, and all PGR members are welcome, we will be accompanying the Hero and his family to the event location. Please see the time table if you would like to participate.
TIMETABLE FOR SATURDAY, 20 MAY 20230815: Parking lot of Bonsall Elementary School, 31555 Old River Rd, Bonsall, CA.
https://goo.gl/maps/QZf93SERynECAwDe90845: Mission briefing.
0900-0915: KSU Riverview Evangelical Free Church, 4980 Sweetgrass Ln, Bonsall, CA
https://goo.gl/maps/LPzyKisvyREgJ6Vt5Accompaniment will be under five minutes.
We will do a flag line for our Hero as he enters the church.
RC: Chuck "Machine" Johnson
USAF SERE Master Instructor, MSgt Ret
US Army Sgt SEA 67-70SoCal PGR Ride Captain
American Legion Riders Post 416
760-271-2544
chuckj661@hotmail.com
“Heroes rarely get happy endings. They give them to other people.”You do not have to be a veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. All PGR members are 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 Ride Captain (RC). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
