!!!UPDATE!!!Part 2 TIME TABLE BELOW!!!UPDATE!!!NOTE: THIS MISSION IS FOR A WEEK FROM TUES, 01 JULY 2014From Jack Morris, Asst State Captain, Nor Cal:
Retired USN PO 1 Ken Johnson's spouse called me last week with a special request. Her husband Ken's last wishes were to take a final ride on a motorcycle ( he rode with PGR in So. CA) and have his ashes committed to the sea off San Diego where his father was committed years ago. This created a special circumstance that required the cooperation of 5 PGR Regions in CA. As expected, we received tremendous support.
On June 27th we will take Ken from Lawncrest Memorial here in Redding.
We will carry him to NCVC and meet with family and friends for honors in the Committal Shelter at 11 AM.
I will again take Ken to my home for an escort beginning Monday, 30 JUN 14, from Cottonwood to San Diego where he will be released to a personal friend of the family that is also a Veteran's Service Representative for San Diego County.
Committal to the sea will occur on 15 JUL 2014 by a US Navy ship off San Diego.
Ken proudly served from 1968 to 1989 and retired as a PO 1 Aviation Tech.
He was a Vietnam Vet and served on the USS Hancock which was decommissioned in 1976.
He greatly enjoyed being a professional Santa for 40 years and was voted number one Santa in San Diego.
His license plate was rudyrd.
He served on the Board of Northern California Veterans Cemetery and worked hard on raising awareness and funds for the proposed Vietnam Memorial to be placed there.
The Statewide escort will begin on Monday the 30th with a night stop in the Bakersfield area.
It will resume on July 1st in the AM and end that same day in San Diego.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero from Frazier Park to San Diego. Please see the time table if you would like to participate.
So Calif Portion and Final Phase Time table for Tuesday, 01 JUL 14: Part 1 1030 - Stage Flying J Travel Plaza, 42810 Frazier Mountain Park Rd., Frazier Park, CA
http://goo.gl/maps/VBVzk 1045 - Mission briefing
1100 - Flag Line as Bakersfield group pulls in
1130 - Est KSU to IHOP, 18542 MacArthur Blvd., Irvine, CA
http://goo.gl/maps/1hGiQ 1300 - Est arrival at IHOP
R/C Craig 'Gunny' Donor
So Calif State Captainpgrgunny-001@yahoo.com
909-208-7703 cell
Part 2 UPDATED TO INCLUDE A STOP IN OCEANSIDE1215 - Stage at IHOP, 18542 MacArthur Blvd., Irvine, CA
http://goo.gl/maps/1hGiQ 1230 - Mission briefing
1245 - Prepare for Flag Line for arrival of Gunny's group
1300 - Flag Line and receiving of PO1 Ken Johnson's urn from Gunny
1315 - KSU for last leg of the Hero's journey
1415 – Stop at Denny’s 487 Harbor Drive, Oceanside, CA to pick up San Diego PGR riders that want to join. (Riders please arrive 15 minutes early if you want to join)
http://goo.gl/maps/8KePd1430 – KSU depart for final portion of the Mission
1520 - Est arrival at final destination in San Diego, home of family friend who is receiving.
1525 - Est Flag Line for dignified transfer
R/C Lorenzo Lizarraga
SoCal PGR Ride Captainllizarraga@yahoo.com
619-971-2236 cell
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). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
Please remember to post your condolences and thanks at this link:
https://www.patriotguard.org/showthread.php?391864
