Ride Report for Ride Captain joemfitter

46 bikes rallied in Marlton for the Welcome Home of Airman 1st class Lorraine Miller.  After a ride brief was given on our returning Hero we started up and rolled across route 73 to a local eatery where we were to pick up Airman Miller.  As we greeted our Hero outside the eatery with shouts of Welcome Home her Dad was there joining in on the ride with his Harley and offered her the back of his bike and a helmet.  We then behind the safety of Evesham Twp. P.D. made our way towards our destination and along the way Evesham P.D. dropped off and just as it was written up Medford P.D. picked us up without a hitch in stride for the majority of the escort with Medford Lakes joining in and bringing us to where we were greeted by Medford Lakes F.D. ladder trucks with a Huge American Flag hanging for all to see.  The Yellow Ribbon Club as always did their magic in making a Hero feel welcome along with the Mayor and town officials and family and friends of our Hero Airman Miller.

I would like to thank the Police Departments of Evesham Township, Medford and Medford Lakes along with the Fire Department of Medford Lakes, Mayor and also the Medford returning veterans group for helping in making a true American Hero feel like one should be made feel.

I would also like to thank the Bullets M.C., Old Coots with scoots M.C., the Yellow Ribbon Club and of course my fellow riders of the Warriors Watch.

Ride Report for Ride Captain Mary Kay (MK Patriot)

The town of Cicero, IL, works very hard to honor their military families and regularly hosts Welcome Home celebrations at their Town Hall meetings. On Tuesday, July 10, 2012, they hosted their very first wedding and they asked Warriors’ Watch Riders to come out and help them celebrate.

Army Lt Salomon Jaramillo, a native of Cicero, IL, is a graduate of West Point and has been stationed in Germany for the past two years. He recently returned home to get married to his fiance, Sabrina Hernandez, before returning to Germany for another year. The Cicero Police and Fire led over a dozen WWR bikes and cages on a very noisy trip through town, ending at the Cicero Town Hall where we were able to greet and hug our returning hero. After mugs and hugs, we formed a flag line inside the Town Hall for Lt Jaramillo’s bride-to-be to walk through on her way to the rose-covered arch where they made their vows.

Military Families of Cicero United and the Town of Cicero then hosted a small reception in the Town Hall lobby where there was music, many more mugs and hugs, and of course…cake!
WWR was very honored to be a part of this very special day for this very special hero.

Respectfully submitted,

MaryKay (MK Patriot)

Ride Report for Ride Captain Mary Kay (MK Patriot)

The town of Cicero, IL is extremely proud of their hometown heroes. Military Families of Cicero United and the Town of Cicero invited Warriors’ Watch Riders to welcome home one of their own on Tuesday, July 10, 2012.

Cpl Roger Espinosa, USMC, arrived home to Cicero on leave on 6/29, just three weeks after his return to the U.S. from his deployment to Afghanistan. His parents, Myrthala and Rogelio, are very active members of Military Families of Cicero United, spending a lot of effort and time welcoming home other hometown service members. This was their time to shine and to welcome home their very own hero and we were extremely proud and honored to help treat Cpl Espinosa like a rock star!

So, early on a Tuesday morning, a dozen bikes and a couple of cages were led by Cicero Fire and Police to the home of Cpl Espinosa. Cpl Espinosa, his sister, and his 3-yr-old niece were given a ride in the fire truck through the town to the Cicero Town Hall. At the Town Hall, the WWR escorted our hero into the Town Hall meeting where a proclamation and presentation was made by the town representatives and where we presented the WWR mission beads and coin. A celebration followed, which included patriotic music, photos, and cake!

Respectfully submitted,

MaryKay (MK Patriot)

Ride Report for Ride Captain HoawardK

Saturday July 28th began with clear weather as we rallied at the Coatesville Veterans Hospital to provide an escort to the 4th annual hospitalized veterans tribute concert in Gorkas Park in Philadelphia.

Warriors Watch Riders were invited by the 21st Ward Veterans Association and by the Coatesville Veterans Hospital to provide an escort to the 4th annual hospitalized veterans tribute concert in Philadelphia. More than two dozen WWR members were joined by the Legion Riders in Coatesville at 9:00. There we met Veterans Hospital Director Warren Stackhouse who was organizing the transportation for the day. As we waited for the arrival of the buses, the veterans enjoyed checking out the line of bikes awaiting the escort to this annual event. When the bus arrived, fifty-two veterans boarded and prepared for the escorted ride to Roxborough.

We exited the hospital with the VA security team providing road blocking. As we reached the Philadelphia city limits we were met by Philadelphia Police who were joined by classic automobiles from the Ridge Runners Car Club. Led by the Philadelphia PD the entire entourage proceeded down Ridge Avenue to the annual event.

Upon reaching Gorkas Park the street was lined by flag carrying members from A Hero’s Welcome joined by the 21st Ward Veterans Association, Operation Bedding, Boy Scout troops as well as by many members of the community eager to greet our HERO’s. When the bus pulled in, a flag lined “walk of honor” was formed to greet the visiting VIP’s from the Coatesville VA Medical Center. The honored guests were led to a covered picnic area to await the large buffet meal which awaited them.

Bruce Hoffman greeted all of the veterans on behalf of the 21st Ward Veterans Association as he stood in front of the concert pavilion. The Merion Concert Band then opened the program with our national anthem. Bruce passed the microphone to Tim Rooney (GPOPPS) who called forward Marine Lt. Colonel Larry Henigan. Lt. Col. Henigan recently retired after a 20 year military career that included multiple deployments as well as service assignments around the world. Tim recited Lt. Col. Henigans service record, thanked him for his service and presented our WWR honor coin. Tim then passed the microphone to Maria Hyland who thanked Lt. Col. Henigan for his dedicated service from a grateful nation and presented him a certificate on behalf of

A Hero’s Welcome.

The veterans then enjoyed the meal prepared in their honor as a one act play was performed. The Merion Concert Band then continued the concert for the enjoyment of all the honored vets. Before departing, each honored veteran was provided a “care package” from Operation Bedding to enjoy when they arrived back in Coatesville.

o honor those who defend our nation and protect our freedoms. To end our nation and protect our freedoms. T WWR would like to thank Bruce Hoffman and the 21st Ward Veterans Association for organizing this very fitting recognition of our hospitalized veterans and for inviting WWR to be part of this very well organized event. We

would like to Warren Stackhouse and the security team at the Coatesville VA Hospital for making all of the arrangements at the Coatesville Hospital. Thanks also go out to the Philadelphia PD for their patriotism, support and participation in this veteran’s recognition ceremony. We would also like to thank the Legion Riders and the Ridge Runners for joining us for this event. Most of all, THANK YOU veterans for your service and sacrifice, without which our nation and citizens could not enjoy the freedoms we all enjoy today.

Respectfully submitted by Ride Captain HowardK

Ride Report for Ride Captain Kelly “DirtyDog” Johnson

One of the happiest missions has got to be welcoming home a soldier that you met when you escorted him to leave for deployment.  Army mom Karen Blevins contacted us to see if we would be able to welcome home her son, SGT Robert Derr, upon his arrival for R&R.  We were overjoyed to welcome him back home to be reunited with his 11 year old daughter and the rest of his family!

SGT Derr serves with the 378^th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion as an Information Tech Specialist.  (We were there to escort his unit in November as they left for Afghanistan.)  He has earned two Army Achievement medals as well as Certificates of Achievement.  He has also helped to build a FOB in less than 30 days – a first!

Due to flight changes and delays, plans to meet him at Harrisburg International Airport were scrapped in favor of surprising him at a “troop support” party being held at Hot Z Pizza in Lancaster.  Members of Humble Hearts For Hope were on hand – and I cannot thank them enough for all that they do to support the 378^th as well as other members of our armed services.

Rob was surprised and touched by knowing that we came out to thank him for his service.  While there, we were also able to thank his sister Stephanie who has been in the Army for 19 years so far.

Words cannot express our gratitude for our soldiers that step forward to protect us.  Many thanks to the soldiers’ families that await their loved one’s return; we were honored to be a part of Rob’s welcome home celebration.

Submitted by: Kelly “Dirty Dog” Johnson

Ride Report for Ride Captain MaryKay (MK Patriot)

Military Families of Cicero United and the Town of Cicero are always anxious to welcome home one of their own. They invited Warriors’ Watch Riders to welcome home one of their hometown heroes on Tuesday, July 24, 2012.

On June 1, SGT DeLeon completed his active duty Army contract, where he had been stationed at Fort Hood. He was attached to the 1/5 Cav and was part of the Maddawgs. He deployed to Iraq twice during his active duty career. He has moved back to his hometown of Cicero, IL, where he is continuing his military service in the National Guard.

Not letting the huge thunderstorms get in their way, several Warriors Watch members arrived in cages and were led by Cicero Fire and Police to the home of SGT DeLeon. SGT DeLeon, his wife, and his two sons were given a ride in the fire truck through the town to the Cicero Town Hall. The skies cleared up for the escort and we were able to have our hero sign our banner and pose for some photos. The WWR then escorted our hero into the Town Hall meeting where a proclamation and presentation was made by the town representatives and where we presented the WWR mission beads and coin. SGT DeLeon gave a heartwarming speech of gratitude to all and spoke of his NCO that was KIA in their last deployment, asking that we always remember those that gave that sacrifice. A celebration followed the presentations, complete with cake!

Respectfully submitted,
MaryKay (MK Patriot)