Ride Report for Ride Captain JohnDelivers

About twenty patriotic bikers arrived at the rally point anxious to meet, and then escort, the teams to the DonnyBrook Cup, being played at Widener University.  As we pulled up out front of the team hotel, both teams were loading the team vans.  After a photo op we then made our way to Harrah’s Chester Casino (a BIG sponsor), and then on to Quick Stadium at Widener University.  The escort went smoothly and we delivered the teams safely.

We parked our rides inside the stadium, and hung loose waiting for the introduction of the teams.  When that happened we made a flag line at each end of the stadium for the teams to walk past and then we moved into position behind the teams as Blackthorn performed both countries National Anthems.

Then we got to watch on organized game of “kill the man with the ball”.  I grew up playing American football and IMHO there is no comparison to the game of rugby.  Football without pads……AWESOME!  Every time the USA scored the ROTC Cadets of Widener blasted the cannon and then did pushups equal to the USA score total.  I know these cadets are in decent shape, but even their arms and chest must have gotten tired by the end of this game.  USA Tomahawks 40, Ireland Wolfhounds 20.

During the game, we learned the American flag flying high in the corner of the stadium is the personal flag of the equipment manager at Widener.  It flew over Viet Nam and he brought it home during the Vietnam conflict.  We gathered our group together, and had an impromptu Welcome Home for him.  When presented with a magic coin and the words “we might be forty five or fifty years late, but we want to say Welcome Home”, his emotions got the best of him, and us.  Thank God for dark glasses.

Thank you, my WWR brothers and sisters for coming out today.  We’re now the unofficial good luck charm of the USA Tomahawks Rugby Team.  They’re two wins and no losses when escorted by the WWR.  Just sayin’.

Respectfully submitted
JohnDelivers

Ride Report for Ride Captain Gpopss

Warriors’ Watch Rider’s has received a request from the proud father of Army Sgt. Timothy Bouyea to help him welcome home his son from Afghanistan during his mid deployment leave.

On Sunday 3/11 about 30 Member’s of Warriors’ Watch Rider’s Rallied on a beautiful brisk sunny morning, joined by A Hero’s Welcome, 5 fire trucks from Boothwyn and Upper Chichester PD to give this Soldier a welcome home he wouldn’t soon forget.

We made plans with Sgt. Bouyea’s father Rick to have him taken out to a local IHOP for Sunday morning breakfast with the family so we could do a restaurant invasion and surprise him. The restaurant manager was expecting us and led us to his table. Once we all crammed in we announced the welcome home for this soldier and the patrons were as enthusiastic as the rest of us and joined in our cheers of welcome home!

After departing the restaurant we line up our motorcade with the assistance of Delaware State Police and led by PD and three fire trucks for the ten mile escort. The State Police and other first responder’s pretty much closed I 95 for our parade to the soldier’s home town.

Upon arrival at the family home in Boothwyn we gathered to present our honor coin. Joining us at our destination was Pa. State Rep of the 160^thDistrict Stephen Barrar. Rep. Barrar presented our soldier with our State Flag and thanked him for his service.

We presented Sgt Bouyea with our Honor Coin and Maria presented A Hero’s Welcome Certificate and did plenty of hugging and back slapping. This soldier and his family were truly blown away by the show of support from the community.

Sgt. Bouyea and his family were kind enough to share the spotlight today with another person deserving recognition for their service to our country!

When we met State Rep. Barrar yesterday it was the first time he had witnessed firsthand what we do for our service member’s. He told us of his return to the States in 1975 when he was told he shouldn’t wear his uniform upon return from service during the Vietnam War for fear of the negative reception he would get.

Rep. Barrar has spent his life, including 7 terms as State Representative dedicated to “being a champion for those who risk their lives to preserve our way of life including volunteer Fire Fighters, First Responders, Veteran’s and Military Personnel

Today Warriors’ Watch Rider’s, A Hero’s Welcome, and the community gave Rep. Stephen Barrar the welcome home he deserved by presenting him with our Honor Coin, Certificate and our gratitude for dedicating his life to the service of our community.

Ride Report for Ride Captain JohnDelivers

What a great night to THANK and WELCOME HOME three HEROES.

It is always nice to roll into the rally point at the proper time and see thirty bikes already there.  Awesome sight for an awesome event.   By the time we rolled to pick up these warriors we had close to forty bikes, one stretch limo, a couple of cages, and no less than five Deptford LEO cars providing safe passage.

We pulled into the townhouse development and made a little noise to let them know their ride was here.  The entire complex came outside to see what the fuss was all about.  Once the neighbors were informed, they joined in the celebration for these warriors.  We picked up our charges and made our way to a party being held in their Honor.  Pulling into the VFW parking lot you were enveloped in a sea of red, white and blue.  American flags were everywhere.  Two FD trucks held a large flag between them and we rode right under it.  Awesome!

Once inside the VFW, Leslie from the Yellow Ribbon Club got things under control and made these returning warriors feel like rock stars.  Several presentations were made, proclamations were read, hands were shook and hugs were given.   Our humble heroes each took a turn thanking us for doing what we do.

Welcome Home men.
JohnDelivers

Ride Report by Wayne Lutz
Photos by Sean Carpenter

On Monday, February 27, a phone call came in to the Warriors’ Watch Riders World Headquarters (my cellphone).

We received a request from Jeffrey Little, a member of the Board of Directors of the non-profit organization “Phila911.Org.”  This Philadelphia organizaton had received permisson to acquire artifacts from the 9/11/2001 attack on the Pentagon. The stone from the crash site is to be incorporated into a new 9/11 memorial to be built in Philadelpia, the memorial to be called tentatively “Mending Liberty.”

The request was to help Phila911 organize an expedition from Philadelphia to Washington D.C., to pick up these artifacts and bring them back to Philadelphia. Police vehicles, emergency vehicles, and WWR VEHICLES – bikes, and lots of them!

The notice was three days. Three days notice for a misson on a weekday morning, temperature 40 degrees in light rain and mist. The turnout on such short notice?  

120 riders.

Philadelphia Police Captain Kevin Hodges was in charge of the day’s event. We rallied outside the Round House Philadelphia in Center City and set out at 09:22 for the Pentagon.

The ride down 95 went well and without incident. When we got close to Wilimington, it was like driving through a gray wall – on this side gray skies and mist, on that side blue skies and sunshine. For the rest of the day the weather was better than we could have asked for – it was almost like Summer in Washington D.C.

At the destination I was ushered into a police van that then took us onto the grounds of the Pentagon. We were met by our contact who took us to the large pile of stone that had been deposited there after the disasterous attack on 9/11/01. We loaded several large and very heavy blocks into the van, as well as a lot of small pieces.  As a reward, each rider there was given a pice of Pentagon stone to take home for a keepsake, a hard reminder of that horrible day, and the resolute rebuilding that took place after.

We were not there long – after the stone was loaded and everyone had a chance to get theirs, we mounted up and took off. The ride out of Washington DC was expertly guided by the Pentagon Police on motorcycles – they were almost as good as Philadelphia Highway Patrol riders. (Almost!)

And speaking of Philadelphia Highway Patrol – when the convoy reached Philadelphia on I-95 we were joined by a fire marshall’s vehicle and two Highway Patrol wheels who escorted us the rest of the way into the city.

We made Two Stops before returning to the starting point – the first at the Fireman’s Hall museum where we gave them a large block of stone to put on display, then to another police building, and finally back to the Round House. Another large block was brought into the Round House by Captain Hodges and myself, and will remain there on display. The rest of the stone will be incorporated into the memorial to be built.

Mission Accomplished, taking about 8 hours and 310 miles on the odometer.

We look forward to two more such rides – one to central Pennsylvania and one to New York.

Never Forget!