Welcome to The West Virginia Patriot Guard site
Welcome to the website for the
West Virginia Patriot Guard
Riding With Honor and Respect
The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join us.
You may find out more about the PGR on our “About Us” page HERE, or at the National site at www.patriotguard.org.
Posted in SHORT NOTICE – Charles Shaffer, USA VN Veteran – Charleston – 16 May
We have just received an invitation from the family of Charles D. Shaffer, to stand up a mission of honor for his final services this Wednesday, 16 May; Charles was a US Army veteran who did two tours in Vietnam. Please join with us as we honor this hero who is returning from out-of-state, to be laid to his final rest in West Virginia.
We will have a flag line in place for two hours prior to the start of the service, and will provide escort from the funeral home to the cemetery upon completion of the service. The weather forecast for Wednesday is partly sunny skies with temperatures in the upper 70s. If your bike/cage is set up to safely fly flags, please come prepared to do so; procession speeds will be 40 mph, or below.
Staging location: Cunningham-Parker-Johnson Funeral Home, 1325 Washington Street West, Charleston, WV http://tinyurl.com/bvfg6of Bikes/cages will be parked in front of the funeral home, RCIC will direct you upon arrival.
Staging time: 1130-1150, Mission brief @ 1150, flag line in place by 1200. The flag line will be maintained until the start of the service @ 1400.
Interment: Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens near Cross Lanes, WV
RCIC: Ken Helmbright, please direct all questions to him @ 304-993-5718.
Buddy Palla
WVPG ASC-South
Sgt Gene Vance Memorial Tribute – Morgantown – 19 May
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Welcome Home – 811th OC – Huntington to Rainelle – 22 May
After serving a tour in the “sandbox” members of the 811th Ordinance Company are returning to the armory in Rainelle, WV. The Patriot Guard will be honored to escort them home to their waiting families and loved ones as they arrive back in Wild Wonderful West Virginia.
As always, bikes and cages are welcome to participate in this “happy” mission. For rider safety anyone planning to fly a 3 x 5 flag should test fly it at interstate speeds for rider safety before the mission. We anticipate a police escort to the Rainelle area.
The current weather forecast is for temperatures in the upper 70’s and a 10% chance of showers. Please check your weather forecast before leaving home.
Mission Staging:
Dual staging locations provide the opportunity for riders to join at one of two locations.
Assistant State Captain Buddy Palla, deaconbiker@yahoo.com, will be at the I-64 eastbound Welcome Center # 10 in Huntington.
District Ride Captain Pat Hanifin, Sr, patnpath@frontier.com, will be at the Beckley Travel Plaza Exit 45 off I-77/I-64 below Tamarack.
Staging times will be updated when we have an estimate of arrival time at the welcome center. We anticipate a mid-morning arrival at this time.
Kick Stands Up: TBA with staging time information
Please follow the thread for updates to staging information as it becomes available.
Pat Hanifin, Sr.
WVPG DRC
Dedication – Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veteran’s Cemetery – Charleston – 28 May
The presence of the Patriot Guard at the dedication ceremony of the Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery, has been requested by the WV Governor’s Office, and Senator Jay Rockefeller’s office; we are honored to accept this invitation. The cemetery is located just off the Institute exit of I-64, and is adjacent to the WV State Police Academy. The dedication ceremony is scheduled to begin at 1500 hrs on Memorial Day, 28 May 2012, and we are hoping many of our members/guest riders will come join with us for this very special event.
On 21 January 1970, Chief Hospital Corpsman Donel Kinnard led an assault that saved his men from being overrun by the VC. He killed an enemy officer in hand-to-hand combat and was awarded the Navy Cross. The link below contains his citation.
http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=4017
RCIC: Keith Mitchell, 304-541-6154
Staging location: The WV State Police Academy, 3, WV http://tinyurl.com/73uobl6 You can exit I-64 at either the Dunbar or Institute exits, follow the signs to Rt 25. Academy Drive is on the opposite side of the road from WV State University, and goes back under I-64; follow the signs to the WV State Police facility. As you come into the WVSP facility, look for the first parking lot on the right…this is where we will stage. The cemetery is located just past the WVSP facility, on the left.
Staging time: 1300-1330, with KSU at 1330. If you are late, you can come directly to the cemetery, but you will have to identify yourself as being with the PGR. Cages are welcome, but will have to park at the cemetery maintenance building. BIKES ONLY will be permitted at the flag line/dedication site, due to limited parking space. The general public will be parking off-site and riding shuttle buses to the event…PGR, dignitaries, and invited media are the only ones allowed to park at the cemetery.
Flag line: The line needs to be in place no-later-than 1345, and we will maintain the flag line as family, dignitaries, and public arrive. The dedication begins at 1500 hrs; we will likely break down the line 5 minutes before it starts, and we are invited to stay for the ceremony. Once the ceremony begins, NO BIKES WILL BE PERMITTED TO START UP AND LEAVE. We will not disturb any portion of the ceremony; the director anticipates it will last about one hour. Water and restrooms will be available at the dedication site.
This cemetery is a beautiful facility, and all who see it will be very impressed. I hope you will be able to join with us for this very special dedication. Please remember to bring your 3×5 flag, and bring extras if you have them. The ride from the WVSP to the event site is only about 1 mile, so if you are able to fly a flag from your bike at low speed, please come prepared to do so.
Buddy Palla
WVPG ASC-South
304-610-1324
Escort – VN Traveling Wall/Quilt of Tears – Princeton to Rainelle – 23 May
STAGING: Little General Store / BP Gas Station, 1000 Oakvale Road, Princeton, WV
STAGING TIME: 11:00 a.m.
MISSION BRIEFING: 11:15 a.m.
KSU: 11:30 a.m.
As always, cages and/or bikes are welcome. If you plan to fly a 3 x 5 flag please be sure to test it at interstate speeds for safety before the mission. The current weather forecast is for temperatures in the mid 70’s, but should be confirmed closer to the actual date. Please follow the thread for additional updates.
Pat Hanifin, Sr.
WVPG DRC
I’m pleased to announce that our state patch design is now available in a 16″ and 4″ magnet for those who wish to display their membership and support of the West Virginia Patriot Guard.
The 16″ version is shown here on the door of a member’s vehicle. As soon as Mark is able, these will be added to our store page. An order has been placed with the vendor for 10 each of these and will be available next week (14 May).
The price for these will $15.00, plus shipping, for the 16″ and $6.00, plus shipping, for the 4″. If anyone would like to pre-order one of these, drop an e-mail to Mrs. Patricia Hanifin at pixieh@frontier.com and she will provide you with order information.
Escort – VN Traveling Wall – Huntington to Charleston – 23 May
The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall is coming to South Charleston, WV for the Memorial Day weekend. We have been asked to escort it from Huntington, WV to South Charleston on 23 May; we have escorted this wall for the last several years through WV, and we are honored to do it again this year. Last year, we had close to 200 bikes and a Blackhawk helicopter participating in the escort, with many different clubs and groups represented…there are “no borders” for this escort…all are welcome. This escort ride is dedicated to our veterans, and the mission details are annotated below:
Staging location: The WV Welcome Center/Rest Area near milepost 10 on I-64 eastbound. This is in the Huntington, WV area, between exits 8 and 11. It is the rest area directly across the interstate from the Amazon Customer Service Center located on the westbound side of I-64. If coming from the east on I-64, i.e., the Charleston area, you will need get off at Exit 8, turn left & go back over top I-64, then get back on headed eastbound in order to get to the rest area. If coming from the west, i.e., Kentucky area, just stay on I-64 and exit at the first rest area you come to at milepost 10.
Date/time: 23 May 2012 / 1430-1500 (2:30-3:00 pm) with the ride brief beginning no later than 1500. I am planning on arriving at the rest area around 1400, in order to coordinate the parking as bikes arrive. It will make things easier if you plan your arrival at the rest area, for some time after 1400.
Kickstands Up (KSU): 1515 (3:15 pm) We are scheduled to arrive in South Charleston at 1600 (4:00 pm)
Additional Info: We will have law enforcement escort for the entire trip, from Huntington to Oakes Field in South Charleston. If your bike is capable of SAFELY flying a flag at sustained highway speeds, you are invited to do so; NOTE: duct tape, zip-ties, and baling wire will not be accepted as suitable mounts for large flags involved in a 40-mile ride at interstate speeds. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
Buddy Palla
WV Patriot Guard, Ass’t State Captain-south
HOTH/Welcome Home – PVT Stephen Boyer, USA, OEF Veteran, Clarksburg, WV, 14 May 12
Welcome Home
PVT Stephen Charles Boyer
Clarksburg, WV
The family of PVT Boyer has requested the Patriot Guard services as PVT Boyer returns from a one year tour in Afghanistan. Listed below is the updated information.
MISSION DATE: May 14, 2012, Monday, 9:28 a.m. (This is the arrival time of the flight)
STAGING AREA: McDonalds at 1021 West Main Street, Bridgeport, WV, 26330 (From the North, take I-79 South to Highway 50. Go east on Highway 50. Resturant is short distance after two lights on right.) (From South, take I-79 North to Highway 50. Go East on Highway 50. Resturant is short distance after one light on right.)
STAGING TIME: 8:00-8:15 AM
KSU: Promptly at 8:30 AM
The North Central West Virginia Airport/Harrison-Marion Regional Airport is a short distance from the staging area. If you are late or can not make the staging location, please meet at the Airport. Address is 2000 Aviation Way, Bridgeport, WV 26330.
RCIC for this will be Doug Geary (dougandjanegeary@yahoo.com)
Home 304-291-0088 or cell 304-276-5238
Bring your 3X5 flag, a smile and a thank you. PVT Boyer is returning for R&R as he remains on active duty and will continue to do what is asked to defend our freedom.
This will be a short mission and we will stand a flag line inside the terminal during his arrival. If the weather is not cooperative, bring your cage.
WV-PGR Flyer
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First Responder Fair, May 5th, Morgantown, WV
