Staging took place at Holy Apostles Catholic church, where we meet our hero’s sister and brother, and many of his friends who also came to ride with us for our escort and Mug & Hug at another brother’s home also in McHenry. Our honorary member, McHenry Mayor Sue Low also met us the the church and rode to the mission on RC Fitz’s bike, along with a City of McHenry proclaimation. We welcomed several first timers who signed up yesterday on our web page with open arms. Sgt. Paul Funk of the McHenry Police Department had told Fitz that one of his other officers would also be helping with the escort, and that he was a Marine, now out of the service and a police officer. Upon his arrival to the staging site, I spoke to him, found he had been in Iraq in 2008 for a year, so we did what we do best; we coined and beaded him and gave HIM a proper welcome home and thank you. After a short one mile or so ride to get our hero at his brother’s house, his Mother Nancy, who contacted us for the mission, got him outside of the house so we could arrive and treat him like the Hero he is; to say he was surprised would be an under statement. At the house, we all met Mom, our hero’s wife and children, and his brothers and sisters. Mayor Low gave him his plaque, and we coined and beaded him, and gave him a printout of our thread for his welcome home. Our LEO then led us through town, with squads at each intersection due to heavy rush hour traffic, and escorted all of us to Veteran’s Park, where several dozens of other family friends had set up a banner, and another round of “Welcome Home” and “Thank You For Your Service”. Our hero spoke a few words of thanks, and mentioned that many soldiers in the sandbox have followed our efforts on their behalf via uTube, and told the crowd that this was why he and his fellow soldiers do what they do on our behalf.

 
JIM “FITZ” FITZGERALD
FOUNDING MEMBER
ILLINOIS CHAPTER
WARRIORS WATCH RIDERS