Mrs. Dreama Denver, of The Denver Foundation, has requested the presence of the Patriot Guard Riders as they embark on their sixth Always Free Honor Flight trip on May 20th. The name “Dreama Denver” may not be familiar to many, but I’m sure the name “Bob Denver” is (remember Gilligan on the TV show “Gilligan’s Island?); Dreama is “Mrs. Gilligan”!
Unlike all of the Honor Flight missions we’ve had in the past that depart from airports, this one is actually a bus trip which creates an unusual mission time for us. Because its a bus trip, the vets leave and return during hours of darkness; they get to sleep on the way to Washington DC, and sleep on the way back home after a busy day.
As you will see below, the staging times are highly unusual, and will likely impact the availability of those who are still employed. However, I am hoping we have some hardy souls who will do their best to participate in this mission…Dreama told me her vets are really looking forward to the trip, and will be so excited to see us there. This will be a flag line and escort mission. The bus will leave the Princeton area and we will escort as far as Beckley.
The bus returns to Princeton approx 24 hours after its initial departure, and we will plan to be there for a welcome home for these heroes…again, the hour will be late. Watch this thread for details regarding a potential escort back from Beckley to Princeton…I will try to post details by 1700 hrs, the afternoon of the 20th.
Staging time (both days): 2330-2400, KSU will be shortly after midnight. Please be fueled, fed, and ready to roll by midnight. The bus will be departing from the Princeton Wal-Mart parking lot…we will travel there as a group.
Staging location: BP gas station just off Exit 9 of I-77, 1000 Oakvale Dr, Princeton WV
Mission: Flag line as the veterans board the bus; departure at 0100 with PGR escort
RCICs: Pat Hanifin and Buddy Palla (contact Buddy at 304-610-1324 with questions…Pat is working other issues with the WVSP and Turnpike Authority)
Return: The welcome home mission will take place at the Wal-Mart…we will need to be there around midnight on the 20th…again, monitor this thread for updates before you leave home.
Delores Minear
dminear310@comcast.net
WV HOTH Director
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