Marines

 

WELCOME HOME

SGT. DOUG VITALE

USMC

WEST MIFFLIN, PA.

03 AUGUST 2013

 

The Patriot Guard Riders have been invited to welcome home and escort USMC Sgt. Doug Vitale to his Welcome Home Ceremony at the VFW Post 764.

Sgt. Doug Vitale is a 2005 graduate of Kiski Area High School and native of Vandergrift, Pa., where he was a member of the football and wrestling teams.  Doug joined the Marine Corps in October 2007, and being in the infantry was the only thing he wanted to do.  On September 25, 2011, while leading his squad on patrol in Sangrin, Afghanistan, Sgt. Vitale stepped on a IED pressure plate and lost both of his legs above the knee and suffered strokes on both sides of his brain.  He would have never made it home to his family if it was not for the valiant effort of his Marines in the field, who put their lives second in order to get Doug to safety.

After spending nearly 2 years attending the Polytrauma Rehabilitation program for brain injury at the James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa, Florida, Doug and his wife, Alexis, will be returning home to Pittsburgh.

On Friday August 9th, Gary Sinise & The Lt. Dan Band will be holding a benefit concert at Stage AE in Pittsburgh.  All proceeds will go to build Sgt. Vitale a new “Smart Home”

 

Let’s all join together and give Sgt. Vitale the Welcome Home he deserves! 

 

 

 

STAGING:  3 AUGUST 2013  11:00 AM

McDonalds

2090 Lebanon Church Road

West Mifflin, PA 15122

https://goo.gl/maps/mdXHL

BRIEFING:  11:45AM

KSU:  12:00PM

FLAG LINE / ESCORT:  12:15PM

Allegheny County Airport

Lebanon Church Rd. & Camp Hollow Rd.

West Mifflin, PA 15122

https://goo.gl/maps/fHY8x

 

Immediately following our Flag Line, we will escort Sgt. Vitale and his family to the VFW Post 764 in McMurray, PA.  (Approximately 13 miles)

Please keep an eye on the weather forecasts and dress accordingly.

 

RCIC:  Howard Jankey

hjankey2@verizon.net

412-389-2834

Assisted By:  Jules Shubuck

shubuck@comcast.net

724-972-1166

Respectfully,

Isabelle Jankey

HOTH Director

PGR-PA WEST

West Mifflin, PA 15122