It was a breezy day in Shorewood, IL and our flags were rippling. As we gathered in the parking lot of Troy Hoeffer Elementary School, we were encircled by a convoy of police and emergency vehicles arriving to lend support to our mission and LCpl Niko Bulin. Bulin, with the 2/4 Marines is a IED sweeper back from his 1st deployment to Afghanistan and, with the help of his mother, Helena we were going to rock his world, just as he protects ours.
From the school we followed LEO to Trinity Church in Plainfield, IL, where our police motorcycle escort was waiting along with what appeared to be a packed congregation. Outside the church, where we stood our flag line parishioners gathered around a podium and sang “America the Beautiful”. Strong stuff, but then it was time to mount up and head for our final destination, a rally held at Wesmere Elementary School.
Flags waved and crowds cheered as made our way through subdivisions. At our destination we presented LCpl Bulin with our coin, our beads and the website thread, then had him sign our banner. We left Niko Bulin in front of that school surrounded by family and friends and hopefully, a memory that he will carry with him until our next meeting.
The first Honor Flight of Northwestern Ohio fly out to Washington D.C. with 75 WWII Veterans today. These Veterans were scheduled to see their WWII Memorial, the Korean,Vietnam, Air Force, and Iwo Jima Memorials, and then they visited Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The weather was great all day, and then its started to rain as they left the Washington Airport for Toledo, Ohio. Several WWR Members were on hand to send them off in the morning and welcome them home when they returned at night. Honor Flight has announced that as of the June 2012 Flight, Korean War Veteran will be granted the opportunity to see their Korean War Memorial. Please sign up at http://www.honorflight.org (use your local area) Kruse
On July 14, 2010 while serving Our Country in the War on Terror in Afghanistan, Army Specialist Adam Keys along with four other Army Airborne Soldiers’ RJ31 Armored Vehicle hit an IED. The attack left Adam critically injured and the other four soldiers’ fatally wounded, including Specialist Jesse Reed, who also grew up in Whitehall Township, Pa. and was Adam’s best friend since the age of 13.
Adam, now a Sergeant, spent the last 21 months recovering and rehabilitating from his injuries in Walter Reed, Brook Army Center, Shock Trauma Maryland and Bethesda Hospitals. During his hospitalization, Adam received countless visitors’ including family, friends, hometown dignitaries, military brass, U.S. Congressman Charlie Dent and The President of The United States.
Adam was also visited by a hometown visitor Mike Burritt. During this visit Mike assured Adam and his mother Julie that when he recovered and was ready he was going to receive the Hero’s Welcome Home he deserved. On Saturday April 21, 2012 Adam was finally ready to come home, and Mike Burritt, State Coordinator for East Central Pa.’s Chapter of Warriors’ Watch Rider’s was true to his word.
ECPA Warriors’ Watch Rider’s spent countless hours promoting this event to Local Media, Local and State Politician’s, Statewide Law Enforcement Agencies and Fire Departments, countless motor cycle clubs and The Community of Whitehall Township. They also teamed up with the Township to put on a reception and party in Adam’s honor at Cementon Park in Whitehall.
On Friday night Adam and his family stayed at Sands Casino in Bethlehem. The Hotel allocated two large sections of its parking lot for our rally location. Luckily, the sections allocate were REALLY BIG, because the participation in this event was incomprehensible.
For about an hour there was a steady stream of motorcycles, cars, antique vehicles, Police Cars and Fire Apparatus’.
We held a ride brief to let everyone know Adam’s story and discuss our plans for showing Adam the Welcome Home he deserved. I’m known to have a big mouth, but not big enough and luckily Danielle came ready with a mega phone, because the crowd was so big they never would have heard a thing.
After the ride brief about thirty bikes went over to the Hotel to pick up Adam and his family to escort them to the Flag Line that we had assembled with the remaining three or four hundred people that came out for Adam.
Adam arrived along with his mother Julie and Sister Courtney and drove through the flag line that went on for several hundred feet. When they came to a stop Adam could not wait to get out of his van to greet everyone. He had a beaming smile that was priceless, and he wanted to meet and thank everyone there.
After about twenty minutes we mounted up for the 14 mile ride to Cementon Park. We were led by Bethlehem PD, Whitehall Township Vehicles along countless other municipalities Fire and Law Enforcement vehicles. Following these vehicles were a couple dozen bikes with 3×5 flags, Adams Van followed by Mike Burritt’s bike which was symbolically placed behind Adam’s van to carry out his promise that he had Adam’s back! Bringing up the rear were another 275 bikes, and countess cages.
The streets of Bethlehem were packed with hundreds of people and the entire town came to a standstill to watch and wave and cheer for the breathtaking spectacle that our escort was.
Pa. State Police reported our motorcade stretched out over a three mile span. The entire route was spattered with small and large groups of people waving American Flags and children holding signs of “Welcome Home Sgt. Adam Keys!”, and FD and LEO personnel saluting. Four times during the escort we road under Fire Ladder arches holding the Red, White and Blue of Our Flag!
We arrived at Cementon Park greeted by a couple hundred people and entered the park where we passed under A Huge American Flag suspended by ladder arches of fire trucks.
A canopy containing a microphone had been set up by Hammer for our presentations to Adam. As soon as Adam took his position under the canopy the Mother of Adam’s best friend Jesse Reed, KIA in the attack, smothered Adam with hugs and kisses and called him “A Miracle”.
Joining us in honoring Adam were Colonel Allen Dodd – Adam’s Battalion Commander, Whitehall Mayor Ed Hozza, Pa. State Rep. Julie Harhart, a representative from State Senator Boscola’s office Robert J. DeSousa from Senator Toomey’s office and Congressman Charlie Dent. Sgt. Keys was also presented with a certificate from Maria Hyland of A Hero’s Welcome, An honor coin from JD of The Combat Vets Association and Our Warriors’ Watch Honor Coin.
A very special presentation was given to Adam by Frank Siller, Chairman of The Tunnels to Tower’s Foundation and The Gary Sinise Foundation. Frank announced to Adam, “When you’re ready and where you decide, we’re going to build a house for you!” promising to build a Smart House, to accommodate Adam who as a result of his injuries is a triple amputee.
Adam’s mom Julie addressed the crowd and shared her appreciation for all the support they had received. Finally, we got to hear from Our Hero. Adam, overcome by emotion, graciously thanked everyone for their support and assured everyone how he had found the strength to recover through their support. Adam was truly touched. His last comments were “ I’m not going to let anyone down, I will never quit, I will never accept defeat”.
Words don’t do justice to what took place yesterday.
Videos of this event can be seen through the following links;
United States Army Corporal Rusty Carter finally came home on Saturday after many, many months of medial treatment and rehabilitation for severe injuries suffered while serving his nation in Afghanistan. Here is the story of his Welcome Home:
We were initially contacted by family friend Tony about the homecoming for Rusty Carter. Rusty had suffered very severe injuries while serving in Afghanistan, injuries that have left him paralyzed from the chest down and with0out the use of his hands.
Rusty’s family – his parents, his friends, his step-father, his community, as I quickly learned, were amazingly supportive and of course excited about Rusty coming home. The family had already built an extension onto the home that was needed for Rusty to live at home, a series of home modifications that are needed to accommodate his disabilities.
The family had also contacted the Police Chief of their hometown in Springfield Township in Delaware County, Chief Daly, for help in planning his homecoming. Chief Daly pulled out all of the stops, contacting many local politicians, municipal police and fire departments, and through friend Tony the Warriors’ Watch Riders.
Since the founding of the WWR in 2008 I have personally attended hundreds upon hundreds of welcome homes. I can honestly say that in terms of sheer numbers of people participating and/or attending, this one was the biggest, and rightly so.
Rusty was at the Penn Medicine hospital on South Street in Philadelphia. I arrived at the hospital early, so that I would have the lay of the land and be there to direct people to the proper places as they arrived. As it happened, Rusty and his family were outside when I pulled up and I had the opportunity to meet them quietly.
Rusty talks to WWR members about his plans and goals...
Shortly after the first group of WWRiders arrived. They too were early as they had come here directly from an early –morning mission for WWII veterans. Rusty and family came out again (it was a beautiful, warm and clear morning) and I called the 20 or so from this first group over to say hello.
Rusty began to talk to us. He talked for about 20 minutes and had our full attention. What was so extraordinary about this was the he was talking not about how rough it was for him, but instead he was talking about the future – about the things he wanted to do and the things he planned to do and see and experience in the future. This amazing young man spoke about the way things happen and about why things happen – and instead of bemoaning his fate he spoke of his beliefthat things happen for a reason.
The plan for this welcome home began to fall into place. The WWR members attending were to meet at the various secondary rally points around the city and from there converge on the hospital as a final rally point. The municipal police and fire departments participating would then arrive in a convoy at the hospital, and we would all greet Rusty and his family and escort them home.The Philadelphia Police Department, as always, was also a vital part of these logistics, both helping and “putting up” with us as we, as Chief Daly put it, “invaded” Philadelphia.
And an invasion it was. The one city block length of South Street opposite the doors to the hospital was already packed and crowded with people as all of the WWR and the Second Brigade Motorcycle Club had arrived for the event. Then the police “invasion” happened, and even I was amazed.
One after another, car after car after car came down the street, each one from a different police township and municipality. The procession of police vehicles was seemingly endless – on and on they came, followed finally by several emergency vehicles.
Now the street truly was packed. There was barely room to move.As the time approached I called the masses together for a loudly shouted ride briefing, joined and added to by Chief Daly, and then Rusty came out of the hospital with his family. It took only one shout of “Welcome Home” from me to set the crown into a frenzy.
Somehow we managed to line everyone up for the ride order and with lights flashing and sirens blaring we were off to Springfield. This ride was so big that no one person, either in the ride or watching it, could see the whole thing at one time. From my own perspective, the first motorcycle in the lead, I could see the lead police cars in front of me and the lead motorcycles behind me, and that’s all. The bikes behind stretched to a point beyond my rear-view. In front of me were approximately 25 police cars, each one from a different municipality, every one with lights flashing.
There were also lots of people out to watch us, as well as lots of us to see them. The “parade” had been publicized by newspaper, flyers, and even telephone calls. And the people responded. As we came closer and closer to Rusty’s home, the crowds on the street thickened – all waving flags, cheering, and holding up sincere home-made signs of WELCOME HOME HERO!
At the end point, it took awhile to pack all of those vehicles, bikes, and people into that little block where the home is, but we finally came to the end of the escort. At this home end was A HEROE’S WELCOME and all of our WWR members who use four wheels, adding to the family, friends, community members, police and fire agencies, veterans groups, a string band, and several local, state and federal politicians. They even had a podium set up in front of the house.
Personally I empathized with what I assumed was probably Rusty’s desire to just get home. He had told us earlier that he intended to take about 6 months to just relax and do what he wants to do, and I think he was looking forward to starting that rest period now. So when Maria (A Hero’s Welcome) and I were called to the podium I kept it to 30 seconds or so, and simply offered to Rusty the sentiment upon which the Warriors’ Watch Riders is founded –
Many people know the words Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Courage are individually as single words or statements, but how often do you see someone who is described by these words and lives up to them? The Army has these seven values tought to our servicemen and women during basic training. When the request for a special welcome home for Army Spc Eric Moyer came in, it was mentioned that he is not only recognized by his peers and collegues for these 7 values, but he lives by them. Spc Eric Moyer has served his community in many ways while learning the ways of being a medic. A graduate of North Penn High School and Montgomery County Community College, Eric also filled his time in with volunteering with the Souderton Ambulance Company and the Colmar Fire Department.
Spc Eric joined the Army and was assigned as an Army Medic with the 3rd Battallion Ranger Regiment. Earlier last week, he returned to the United States following his first deployment to Afghanistan. After some time in the south, he returned this past weekend to Lansdale and Sunday there was a Welcome Home BBQ at his fiance’s home in a quiet neighborhood in Lansdale.
Meanwhile, across town, the Warriors Watch Riders were gathering at the rally point to Welcome Home our local hero. With the additional support of Lansdale Police Department and the Colmar Fire Department, a large group of Warriors Watch riders lined up and began our short trip thru town to meet our Hero. A quick text to our contact, “Operation Yellow Ribbon” and we were on our way. That was her signal to try and get everyone out front for a photo by the Welcome Home Sign that she had made up with a Yellow ribbon on it. Well, our timing worked out well, and as we rounded the corner onto their street, we increased the noise with sirens, horns, and lights flashing! Neighbors opened their doors to see what was going on, and a few followed us to our destination to join us in Welcoming Home SPC Eric Moyer!
Spc Moyer was speachless and didn’t know what to say after we all surrounded him on the front lawn. After a moment, he was able to say Thank you! Then, the WWR presented him with an Honor Coin, thanking him for his service to our local community as well as his country abroad. A Hero’s Welcome then presented him with a Certificate of appreciation for his service. After receipt of both, Spc Moyer was able to make a few statements of how much he appreciated this outpouring of welcome and how his unit was through some times, but fortunately everyone was able to come home.
Thank you Spc Eric Moyer for all that you have done! Congratulations on your engagement to Samantha!
A perfect day for playing ball with an outstanding group of Veteran’s.On Wednesday April 12th, 2012 thirty-nine Veteran’s from Clifford Chester Sim’s State Veteran’s Nursing Home pulled into Frank Brown Park ready for Spring Training. The Veteran’s were escorted by Panama City Beach Police and four members of the WWR on flag mounted bikes to a line of flags awaiting their arrival. Like players of a World Series game they took the field and owned it.
We were lucky they allowed us to help considering some could run circles around us. Actually a few left wheelchairs behind to be pushed by their “buddy” while they ran to the base. Really to have so much fun you forget your in a wheelchair; that brothers an sisters means we did our job.
Since it was only Spring Training no one kept score. I’m pretty sure it would have been a tie because these Vets are very competitive. Our day ended with a cook out provided by the Rotary Club, Soldiers Angels, and the Mayor of Panama City Beach Mrs. Oberst. All said we had 17 bikes, 4 cages, and 24 members. We had a great time and I thank all of you that came out to join us. As always I am proud to ride with you all. Keep doing what you do!
Sarah M.Ward Warriors’ Watch Riders
Northwest Florida Chapter
It was a great honor to welcome home 1st Lt. Neil Fotre after his recent tour of duty to Afghanistan where he planned and led over 100 raids on the enemy. A nice group of WWR members and other members of like minded groups went by the Fotre home to meet and greet the young officer. Mom and dad, WWR members said it felt different to be on the recieving end of a WH. Thanks to all who attended and to the Lisle Fire Dept. for their support with multiple vehicles, men and officers. Neal was amazed and his parents very pleased. Thanks most of all to this young officer who has led dangerous missions in Korea and then Afghanistan. He spoke of his men and especially those he was unable to bring back to their families. He is a very capable, brave, and courageous officer and our community is very proud of him. He now heads back to his duties, but we let him know how we felt about him on this special day.
SPC Thomas McCulley thought he was going to a local Sports Bar to meet with some family and friends. He had no clue on how he was going to get there. Needless to say the WWR had something up their sleeve that was going to totally surprise him. He was greeted at his home by about 25 bikes, 4 cages and the local fire and police departments. With horns blairing and lights flashing, Thomas had the escort of his life. He was greeted at the sports bar by a flagline and cheering relatives. He was presented with the WWR beads and coin, as was his dad that never received a Welcome Home. Father and son both signed the banner, pictures were taken and the WWR was off to another mission. Thank you SPC Thomas McCulley. You received a welcome home that was well deserved.
Although March 31 started as a gloomy day, George from the Yellow Ribbon Club left his house for Egg Harbor Township on a wing and a prayer of no rain. He took charge and was on a mission to pick up over 100 boxes of goodies from Boy Scout Troop 389. On his way, George converged with the riders from WWR. With engines roaring and horns blaring, the Yellow Ribbon Club and WWR arrived at the school. “It was quite a sight to behold!” was heard from parents and troop members.
The gift boxes for the troops contained a variety of items collected by the 20 scouts in Boy Scout Troop 389, which is sponsored by Atlantic Christian School and its students as part of a joint troop and school service project that began last winter. The donated items in the boxes included Boy Scout popcorn, coffee, powdered Gatorade, hand wipes, protein bars, beef jerky, Q-tips, Zippo hand warmers, magazines, books, and letters of encouragement from the scouts and students.
Peter Karabashian, Committee Chairman of Troop 389, was in attendance and said the scouts worked hard reaching out to families, friends, local churches, businesses, veterans and sportsmen’s organizations to obtain donations for the troops. “We are living out the value system of scouting – to show our love of God and love of country,” Karabashian said. Also present at the ceremony were Dr. Thomas Margolis and Dr. Brett Foxman of the Northfield retinal surgeon practice of Foxman, Foxman, and Margolis, which made a contribution to underwrite the cost of shipping the boxes. “Anything we can do to make the troops’ lives more comfortable and more palatable, we’re happy to do it,” said Dr. Margolis, as he presented a check to Yellow Ribbon Club, which will cover the cost of the shipment of the boxes.
At the end of the ceremony, the scouts and members of Warriors Watch and the Yellow Ribbon Club formed a long assembly line to carry and load the boxes into vehicles that would transport the boxes to a storage facility in Marlton prior to shipping. With an added bonus, we were able to coin four veterans; three Vietnam Era veterans and one Korean War veteran! Nothing makes us happier than being able to recognize our heroes.
How would we spend our sunny Saturday afternoon? This was an easy question to answer for dozens of Warriors Watch Riders,including our founder Wayne, some ECPA members who are becomming regulars at SEPA missions ( shows you their dedication), some members aquaintences, and members of A Heros Welcome. We would gather to welcome home an Army Sgt name Anthony Cabassa, thats how……..Being the RC of this mission, I thought I’d do well to get to the Rally point first by arriving 25 minutes prior to the schedualed Rally time. Ha…..upon my early arrival, there were already a couple of dozen bikes lined up. That shows you the spirit of these riders……they just couldnt wait to get there to show their support for our Hero and also to enjoy the socializing that comes with these welcome /escort events.
We had an amazing number of bikes lined up to parade over to our heros house. Being the first up the driveway, I saw a look of total shock on our Heros face upon viewing the seemingly endless line of gleaming paint, chrome and walking leather which lined the street way up and around the bend. The Sgts step father and Mom were present along with numerous family members, including the Sgts Father who was a guest rider with us and Im sure that helped make it even more special for them both. We did the usual mug n hug with some photos and we then headed off to escort our hero and his family to their welcome home party . It was a scenic ride , which had something unusual at the start…..we had to cross Rt 30 , a busy 4 lane highway and there was an Amish Buggy in front of us waiting / trying to find a break in the traffic, so they too could cross. Our roadguards got out in front of the buggy and stopped traffic allowing first the buggy and then the rest of the bikes safely across. This was a first for us and I’d bet a first for the Amish as well. The motocade traveled smoothly along for about 10 miles down Rt 30 and when we turned off the main highway to head to the Wagontown Firehouse,we were greeted by local police and led by our own Doc kromer and crew with an Ambulance and Firetruck with horns and sirens blaring to let everyone know someone special was comming thru. We arrived at the Firehouse a short time later where we were greeted by a spectacular line of younger people holding large white poles with our Beautiful American Flag on each pole. Wagontown members and family members had signs, flags etc and it was really a touching site. We all gatherd around and made presentations of coins to both our hero Anthony and his Veteran Wife Stephanie, and I suggested Marias daughter Colleen present Kats youth certificates to Ant and Stephs son Caden and Ants younger brother and sister Abbey and Ryan, and of course Maria presented A heros Welcome certificates to both Ant and Steph. We lined up once more for a group photo shoot and then it was a quick farewell, as many of us had to head off to yet another deserving soldiers welcome home. Thanks to everyone in front of and behind the scenes who collectively made this a successful event for our Hero and his family.
...THE WARRIORS’ WATCH RIDERS ENVISION A DAY WHEN EVERY MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES, AT HOME AND ABROAD, AND THEIR FAMILIES, FEEL APPRECIATED, HONORED, RESPECTED AND LOVED BY THE CITIZENS THEY RISK THEIR LIVES TO PROTECT...
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