HonorFlight_logo_r

The Patriot Guard Riders have been asked to assist with the Honor Flight bus trip, sponsored by the Denver Foundation in Princeton, WV. We did this mission for the first time last year, and though we were few in number, the veterans were thrilled to have us there for their send-off, partial escort, and subsequent return the next night. This is a very late-night (or very early morning) mission, depending on your particular frame of reference. It involves a flag line as the veterans are boarding the bus for the departure, and a partial escort as they begin their overnight journey to Washington, DC. We meet again the next night when they return and do another flag line. This was a great mission last year, and I hope this year’s is just as fun…everyone on the bus got a kick out the bikes “riding formation” with it along the highway (the minimal traffic at that time of night provided a lot of opportunity for us to have the bus as our “wingman”)

  If you plan to participate in this very different kind of mission, please ensure you are well-rested and physically capable of safely traveling late at night. Bikes or cages are welcome, and I would discourage anyone from flying large flags…it will be totally dark, and we will be running interstate speeds.

   The staging location has gas, food and restrooms; arrive there when you like. For those traveling down from the Charleston area, I will be departing the One-Stop/Exxon station adjacent to the state capitol no later than 2215 (exit 99, Greenbrier St). If you wish to travel down with me, please be there fueled up and ready to roll by that time. Approx travel time from Charleston to Princeton is 90 minutes.

Mission staging time in Princeton, WV: no later than midnight on Tuesday the 17th

KSU: 0015, 18 May; it’s a 2 minute ride to the Wal-Mart departure point

Flag line: will be in place approx 0030-0045, but this may vary

Escort departure time: 0100

RCs: Pat Hanifin (patnpath@frontier.com) and Buddy Palla (deaconbiker@yahoo.com).

Staging for the return will be in the Wal-mart parking lot around 2330-2400 hrs on Wed the 18th. This is a “best-guess”; the actual bus arrival time may shift a little either way, depending on traffic, weather, or other issues. Monitor this thread for return updates on Wed the 18th.

Buddy Palla

WVPG ASC-south