Ride Report for Ride Captain Spike

This would be our 5th and final Day of Missions for our Fallen Hero Lcpl. Joshua ” Chachi ” Corral. I went to a meeting with the Family and CAO at the church prior to the mission, The meeting was to set-up the days events for Final Honors for Chachi. So , with the plans all done , The riders role was to go to the Funeral Home ,we would pick-up Chachi and Escort him to the Church. The Family would leave their home and go straight to the Church as well as the Marine Honor Guard. So, we staged up and headed over to the Funeral Home. We picked out 6 Marine volunteers to Pallbear, and we placed Chachi into his coach. We then Escorted him up to the church , there was at least several hundred Family & Friends waiting , including his family. The church was packed , including all the overflow rooms. Folks were even standing outside in the lobby. The Church service lasted approx. 2 Hrs. Then as we waited for all the guests to file outside , we helped carry all the flowers out to the Van, which then headed to the cemetery about 15 miles away. The Marines then carried Chachi to his coach . We then mounted up and escorted Our Hero and the family to the Cemetery. At the Cemetery, we set up a Flag Line around the Family , Songs were sang , words were read . Doves were released and flowers were placed atop our hero. Once services were concluded , we Escorted the Family back to their home, we stoodbye. Then We escorted the Family down to the High School for the Reception. It was a long 5 Days & 8 Escorts. Arnie had us come in and eat , we found a table in the back. I could not count how many folks came to us ,they hugged us and said thanks . I’ve done many KIA’s , But this was the most high profiled I had ever done and the most exhausting, both physically and emotionally. Chach was a fine young man , a very proud Marine and a True American Hero. Throughout this entire evolution , many riders from many groups attended and stood the line for the Corral Family. Goddspeed Chachi.

SPIKE

Ride Report for Ride Captain HowardK

On Friday evening January 20th  Cpl. Anthony (TJ) Procaccio USMC returned to Broomall from a 9 month deployment to Afghanistan. The weather was chilly and snow was on the way, but that could not stop the Procaccio family and friends from turning out en masse at Philadelphia International Airport for this long awaited welcome home.

TJ had attended vocational school for carpentry and attended college for an electrical education but left a good job to join the United States Marines. He, along with his friend Josh Murray, joined the USMC to do something better with their lives and to serve their country. After completing boot camp TJ was stationed in San Diego for a little more than a year. He was then assigned to New River Air Station, NC. TJ’s squad 269 was deployed to Afghanistan in May 2011 and he returned January 15th.

Warriors Watch Riders were invited to celebrate TJ’s return and to recognize his service to our country by his mother Christine. WWR and A Hero’s Welcome rallied at Fire Base 69 at 6:15PM and were met there by his dad and mom Anthony and Christine Procaccio as well as by his sister Amanda and his brother Andrew. TJ’s grandmother along with 4 cars filled by aunts, nieces and many other relatives and friends also arrived for the celebration. After a ride briefing inside Fire Base 69 we were led to PHL Terminal A by a line of WWR motorcycles followed by the family and many more WWR and AHW vehicles.

After a warm and loud greeting by his parents, family, friends and AHW at the terminal gate, TJ arrived at the escalator to see WWR, flags in hand, lining the steps from top to bottom. He exchanged handshakes and smiles with each and every one.

Outside Terminal A, the procession lined up where we were met by Pennsylvania State Police who led our escort from PHL and up the Blue Route to exit 9. At the exit Chief Murray of the Marple Township, Police along with the Broomall Fire Department took over from the State Police and led the way back to Broomall. We turned onto Lewis Road in our usual quiet, low-key manner (well maybe we did make a little noise) and pulled up in front of the Procaccio home where many more friends and neighbors, flags in hand, awaited TJ’s return.

WWR thanked TJ for his service, sacrifice and dedication to our nation and presented him with our Warrior’s Watch Honor coin. He then received a certificate recognizing his service to our country presented by Maria from A Hero’s Welcome.

We then presented a second Warriors Watch Honor coin to TJ’s friend Kevin Murray, a veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan, who returned from his service to our country six months ago. Maria presented Kevin a certificate from A Hero’s Welcome and thanked him, on behalf of a grateful nation, for his service. After mugging and hugging we departed to allow TJ and his family and friends to enjoy and celebrate his long awaited return.

We extend our sincere thanks to The Pennsylvania State Police, The Marple Township Police, The Broomall Fire Department and to PHL airport security for their assistance in providing TJ and his family a safe welcome home and escort. Warriors Watch Riders would also like to thank Anthony Sr, Christine, Amanda, Andrew and the entire Procaccio family for the honor of participating in this very well deserved welcome home celebration.

Semper Fi

Respectfully submitted by RC HowardK

Pictures courtesy of Jeff Story

Ride Report for Ride Captain Lee Weinstein

It was a brisk January day, a bit colder than we’ve been accustomed to lately, but the cold didn’t keep Warriors Watch from having a strong showing of motorcycles.

It didnt stop AHW, or the folks in Conshohocken from giving a warm welcome to Lt Craig Bald either.

Conshy has a couple of Firehouses and did they ever turn out to show our Hero that his service is appreciated. Chief Phipps had his “Washies” out in force and bought the Antique firetruck out to escort Lt Bald to his home a few blocks away.

Conshy PD did a great job of traffic control and other local  FDs had their trucks along the route in a showing of support for our Hero.

Craigs wife Jackie had  family and friends at the rally point and at home to make him feel welcomed.

Upon his arrival at home, Lt Bald was quickly coined and then Mary Jo from A Heros Welcome added the cherry on top to the event with her presentation, and lastly, I presented our coin to Jackies Grandfather for his prior service  privately because he humbly preferred to remain out of the spotlight .

As always we rounded out the festivities with a group shot.

Pics show the happy hero with his wife, our infamous group shot, and Jackies Mom watching for Lt Balds vehicle to arrive.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lee Weinstein

Ride Report for Ride Captain HowardK

On Saturday January 7th Charles M. Savinon, Intelligence Specialist First Class celebrated his long military career and retirement from the US Navy (reserves). He was also celebrating his 60th birthday. Chucks wife Mary decided to throw a party, and you know how we like a good party!!

Chuck’s military career began when he joined the Navy Reserves in 1984. He served on active duty throughout the world including deployments to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Bahrain Manama; Butmir,Sarajevo; and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. His domestic assignments included North Island CA, Coronado CA, Willow Grove, PA and Fort Dix, NJ.

Warriors Watch Riders were invited to celebrate Chuck’s birthday and to recognize and honor his long military service by Vince(Vinman) and Margaret Mazzatenta, Chuck’s neighbors and WWR members. We met in the Chick-Fil-A parking lot at the Oxford Valley Mall (owner Chuck Heffernan is a big military and WWR supporter) and proceeded to the Savinon home in Trevose led by Ed and Laura riding Ed’s police Harley and followed by about 50 WWR motorcycles and cars.

We entered in our usual quiet, low-key, un-noticeable manner (well maybe we did make a little noise), circled the block and parked in front of house. There we met Chuck, his family and a gathering of neighbors and friends. WWR thanked Chuck for his service, sacrifice and dedication to our nation and presented him with our Warrior’s Watch Honor coin. He then received a coin from The Combat Veterans Association and a certificate of recognition and appreciation from A Hero’s Welcome.

We then mugged for a few birthday/retirement photo’s with Chuck and his family.

After mugging and hugging we departed to allow Chuck and his family to enjoy and celebrate his birthday and military retirement in peace.

Warriors Watch Riders would like to thank Mary, Amy, Matthew and the entire Savinon family for the honor of participating in this very well deserved military retirement and birthday celebration.

Fair Winds and Following Seas

Respectfully submitted by RC HowardK

Pictures courtesy of Margaret and Tamale