KIA Mission Support Indiana Patriot Guard Riders

[indy4x4fab]

The south western crew has been doing poviding support for the fallen troops for a while now, and I am not trying to copy what they have been doing but I have felt compled and moved to do the same up in our neck of the woods.

This is a copy of a email I just received,


Dear Nick,


Indiana has been struck hard recently with the deaths of three young men, all giving the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom while serving in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. We had the honor of attending U.S. Army Sgt. Jabraun S. Knox's services in Auburn, IN. last week.
This week we have missions set up for Spc. Arron Fields, US Army, in Brazil, IN. and Lcpl. Joshua Witsman, USMC, of Covington, IN. Their mission information is below. Please attend what you can, when you can, for however long you can. It doesn't matter how you get there, in a car, on a motorcycle, bicycle, etc, as long as you get there and can hold a flag in honor and respect of our fallen heroes and their families. Everyone is welcome. Please arrive safely.
Additional mission info or details will be given out during the scheduled on-site Ride Briefings prior to each mission. Please remember that there could be last minute changes or updates, so PLEASE check our Mission Calendar frequently for all official updates and mission-related info. The Calendar can be found here: CalendarWiz Welcome or can be linked from our website at: Indiana Patriot Guard Riders, Inc :: Home .
As of right now, there is no Mission posting on National's site for Lcpl. Joshua Witsman, USMC, of Covington, IN. no official DOD Release has been received yet on this Marine. As some of you may not be aware, National PGR at : Patriot Guard Riders requires a DOD Release before posting a mission, first listed as 'Pending', then updating it to 'Confirmed' once we receive the invitation from the appropriate next of kin. Ron Coleman, State Captain for Indiana, has talked with the family and personally received the invitation for the Patriot Guard Rider's presence. Indiana and Illinois have proceeded with mission planning and will update everything as we gather additional information.
Again, thank all of you for being a part of the most honorable organization around. We look forward to serving beside you. God Bless. ~ Chief (Ron Coleman)


SPC. ARRONN FIELDS - BRAZIL, IN. MON. 06-04-12, Mission: VISITATION
Event Details
Monday, June 4, 2012
We will stand a flag line for Spc. Fields and his Family. Visitation is at 2:00 pm. We will have members stand and also stake flags. Park in the North end of the parking lot across from the funeral home.
After the visitation they will move Spc. Fields to the Nazarene Church for the funeral on Tuesday. We will have a small group ecsort them to the church.

Staging time : 1:30 pm EST

Where : Moore Funeral Home,
142 N. Washington St.
Brazil, In. 47834

Ride Captain: Andy Shirley, ASC, 'Maverick' andysh5430@aol.com


SPC. ARRONN FIELDS - BRAZIL, IN. TUE. 06-05-12, Mission: FUNERAL
Event Details
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
We will stand a flag line for Spc. Fields and his Family at the Nazarene Church. Services are at 11:00 am. After the service we will escort Spc Fields to his final resting place at Clearview Cementery.

Parking at the church. We will park on the street on N. Davis St. and around the corner on E. Olive St. Just fall in line as you get there.

The cementery has gravel drives. Please allow enough room for each other.

Staging Time : 9:30 am EST

Where : Nazarene Church,
1002 E. National Ave.
Brazil, In.
( N Davis St. runs between the School and the church. E. Olive St. runs behind the school. )

Escort to Clearview Cementery on 340 just past Northview High School.

Ride Captain: Andy Shirley, ASC, 'Maverick' andysh5430@aol.com




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LCPL. JOSHUA WITSMAN - COVINGTON, IN. THU. 06-07-12, Mission: AIRPORT ESCORT
A Joint Mission between our great friends in Illinois and Indiana. Thank you Illinois for your professionalism and unselfish dedication shown in arranging this portion of the mission for Lcpl. Witsman.

We have been invited to escort LCPL Joshua Eli Witsman and his family from the Vermilion Regional Airport in Danville, Illinois to Sunset funeral home 420 3rd Street Covington, IN 47932 ... approx. 14 miles.

The airport is located at 22633 North Bowman Ave Danville, Illinois (about 4 miles north east of the city).

From Interstate 74 go 6 miles north on Bowman Ave, the airport is on the right.

Thursday, June 7, 2012
Staging: 4:30 pm EDT Indiana or (3:30PM CDT / Illinois Time)

Briefing: 5:30 pm EDT Indiana or (4:30PM CDT / Illinois Time)

Plane is due to arrive approx. 6:00 pm EDT Indiana or (5:00PM CDT / Illinois Time)


LCPL. JOSHUA WITSMAN - COVINGTON, IN. FRI. 06-08-12, Mission: VISITATION

TBA - Tentative Information ONLY: No Time or Details
Date/Times Subject To Change

Covington High School
1017 6th Street Covington, IN 47932

Ride Captain; Bill Gooden 765-418-2870 wildbillpurdue@comcast.net
Ride Captain; Gene Fisher genefisher1@yahoo.com


LCPL. JOSHUA WITSMAN - COVINGTON, IN. SUN. 06-10-12, Mission: FUNERAL

TBA - Tentative Information ONLY: No Time or Details
Date/Times Subject To Change

Covington High School
1017 6th Street Covington, IN 47932

Ride Captain; Bill Gooden 765-418-2870 wildbillpurdue@comcast.net
Ride Captain; Gene Fisher genefisher1@yahoo.com


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Mission Calendar: CalendarWiz Welcome
IN PGR Web Site: Indiana Patriot Guard Riders, Inc :: Home
National PGR : Patriot Guard Riders


Much Respect Always,

'Chief'
Ron Coleman
IN State Captain
Patriot Guard Riders
chief@patriotguard.org
INStateCaptain@comcast.net


I hope that a couple of us will be able to help with the LCPL. JOSHUA WITSMAN - COVINGTON, IN. THU. 06-07-12, Mission: AIRPORT ESCORT. I'm not looking to turn this in to a rally or something along that lines, I'm just wanting to show my support for our fallen hero's in our own neck of the woods.

Thank you for reading this post.

 

[indy4x4fab]

I'll more then likely keep bumping this post once a day till the dates pass.

 

[MASH 4077]

Thanks for posting this Indy. I haven't checked the INPGR site (being a memeber of the INPGR). I usually hear about these from one of the asst. ride captains. Do you guys take your MV's? If so that is great!

 

[indy4x4fab]

Thanks for posting this Indy. I haven't checked the INPGR site (being a memeber of the INPGR). I usually hear about these from one of the asst. ride captains. Do you guys take your MV's? If so that is great!

Yes, I'm not much for the two wheels deal but the INPGR have welcomed us with open arms with the m818 if we want to follow along behind them. Which is fine by me. It's an honor to just talk with the many that have served and lissen to there stories.

 

[MASH 4077]

I do have a bike and I think its great that they let us MV guys participate. But I was thinking about taking the M38A1 to some of these PGR missions if they are close. But if I can get the time off work I may show up. Its hard to do on such short notice.

 

[indy4x4fab]

I do have a bike and I think its great that they let us MV guys participate. But I was thinking about taking the M38A1 to some of these PGR missions if they are close. But if I can get the time off work I may show up. Its hard to do on such short notice.

That's My problem, too. But, I'm thinking that this is a must for me and the wife, having some small connection threw my parents both being USMC (mom and dad both). I'm thinking that I could drive the truck to work on Thursday and leave strait from work about 1500 and still be there by 1730 for Briefing.

 

[indy4x4fab]

Just finished getting and repling to two emails from the Illinois Patriot Guard, and Indiana Patriot Guard.

I thought I would post this up on here as a hay I learned something.

From 'Chief' Ron Coleman, IN State Captain, Patriot Guard Riders

That's ok with me as long as your vehicle is properly registered, and certified to be on the highways. One misconception people have is that you must have a MC to join us, so I'm glad you asked. We want everyone there no matter how you show up. I'm also FWD'ing this on to the Sr. Ride Captain in Illinois so his guys will know where to place you whenever you arrive. Also Cc'ing our Sr. Ride Captain and RC Bill Gooden, one of the Captains in charge of the Covington, IN. portion of the mission. Thank you, your wife, and your buddies for planning to be there.

So I'm cleared by the boss to be there. I hope to see a couple other members there, but I understand if this is just to short notice, too.

 

[indy4x4fab]

Bump for the day.

 

[indy4x4fab]

bump

 

[indy4x4fab]

We are a go the boss cleared me to leave early.

 

[802dot1q]

Good job Nick. A little out of range for us but I'll start watching for something in our area. We took two trucks out for the Run for the Wall stop here local and got a lot of positive comments from the guys there.

I was (several years ago) on base at the check point when about 200 PGR guys picked up the escort. The check point was shut down for about 45 minutes so there were at least an additional 100 people in line to get on base. We were all out of our vehicles along the exit lane when they passed. Not one complaint even though it was 115 degrees. It was an amazing display of respect and one of those things that really stick with you. I later found out that there were quite a few protesters there. I didn't even know they were there and I'm sure the family didn't either.

 

[indy4x4fab]

Just washed the truck getting ready to get cleaned up. baby sitter backed out on the wife and i so its just going to be me and anny going say a prey for a safe trip as well as for the family of LCPL. JOSHUA WITSMAN.

 

[Tweeter166]

Indy {Nick} went on an escort to the Danville ILL Airport to bring a fallen soldier back to the funeral home in Covington IN and unknowingly while driveing the M818 to the escort the fuel drain on the bottom of his tank was leaking and now he is stuck somewhere between Danville ILL and Covington IN with his little girl out of fuel.. Bad thing is he has no Credit Card or Cash on him and as of right now his only option is to wait until midnight so a local Wal-Mart will cash his paycheck thats dated for tomorrow for him..
Can anyone in there area help Nick out with some fuel?

If so his cell number is 317-522-6608

 

[wsucougarx]

Yikes! Hopefully he gets help real soon. Is his other tank empty as well? No jerry can on board either?

 

[doghead]

Tweeter, DO NOT CROSSPOST.

 

[Tweeter166]

its really a XM818 and i has 1 useable tank.. Nick changed something and added something else to the 2nd tank and the hand pump wont pump now that he needs it or something like that.. and the 2nd tank is full.. go figure..
and no jerry cans on board

 

[Tweeter166]

"singing" on the road again.. nothing like being on the road again and makeing music with my friends. i just want to be on the road again.. how ever willie sang it.. nick is rollen home with fuel..
thanks

 

[indy4x4fab]

Made it home safe and sound, we where the only MV there, we weren't aloud to join the rest of the PGR because we where to big and the crown was over wellming the road to them so we hung out near the back of the pack with the fire trucks. Still glad we went.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvDTdW-qIrE

At 9:55 in the video you see me go by.

I'm also in this one at 11:50.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwvrWue1mRc