Posted by Lutz

The WWR turned out in force to welcome home a true hero. This Lt Colonel, David May, is Special Forces, returning to home turf from his THIRD tour in Afghanistan. He is FBI at home, and the Springfield Township administraton and police department turned out in force.

The three-hour delay in the flight was more than worth our wait – what is three hours compaired to three tours of service to our nation? It is the LEAST we can do.

Springfield Twp. Police sent an esort to the airport to lead us all back home to Springfield, an indicaton of how respected this LTC is in his home town.

Welcome Home LTC May – and thank you for your service to your nation!

Ride Report for Ride Captain HowardK

On Friday afternoon June 28th Rich Kennedy US ARMY was honored for his dedicated service to our country with a Welcome Home by WWR, AHW and many friends and family in Bristol Pa.

Mike Maurizi, proud father-in-law of Rich Kennedy, decided a welcome home for his son-in-law was overdue. He also wanted Rich to visit the Bristol veteran’s memorial where his name had been inscribed. Mike contacted Warrior’s Watch and asked if we would like to assist in this ceremony. Well, you know how much we enjoy honoring our veterans for their dedicated service, so WE WERE ALL IN!

Rich Kennedy grew up in the North Park section of Levittown and is a graduate of Pennsbury H.S. . He lived in Bristol prior to joining the U.S. Army. Sgt. Kennedy served in Operation Enduring Freedom VI and VII in Afghanistan from 2006 to 2007. He was assigned to Army Intelligence.

Rich was awarded the Army Commondation Medal, 2 Army Achievement Medals, the Army Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Action Badge. After his return from Afghanistan he remained a member of the Army Reserves until 2010.

Rich is married to Nicole (Maurizi) and they have a beautiful son Crosby (11 month old). They currently live in Dunedin Florida where Rich is a teacher at the Plato Academy.

We met at the WAWA just outside of town. At 6:00, led by Bristol Borough PD, we proceeded to Farragut Avenue and arrived at the veteran’s memorial in the center of the street. The Bristol FD 25 was there with a large American flag suspended from their ladder truck. Many local friends and supporters were there to await the arrival of our Hero.

At 6:15, Rich, accompanied by Nicole and Crosby came walking around the corner with umbrellas protecting them from the light rain. Rich was wondering about the

commotion he saw around the veterans memorial site. He was surprised to find out that we were all there to greet HIM for his overdue Welcome Home.

Rich was presented our WWR honor coin by the Ride Captain and thanked for his dedication to keeping us all safe and free back here at home. Next Tom from A Hero’s Welcome presented Rich the AHW certificate giving him thanks from a grateful nation. Dutch then presented Rich with Warrior beads and explained the significance of the colors in the strands.

We then proceeded to the memorial as Rich, Nicole and Crosby saw, for the first time, Rich’s name inscribed in the stone. In true WWR tradition we then stood behind the AHW banner for our official MUGGING with cameras on the left and the Hero, friends and family on the right. WWR and AHW members and many family and friends were eager to commemorate this great afternoon on film. Channel 6 Action News was also on hand to film this ceremony for their broadcast.

Warriors Watch Riders extend our sincere thanks to Mike Maurizi and the entire Kennedy and Maurizi family for inviting us to participate in this very well deserved Welcome Home for Rich . Thank you to the Bristol Borough PD for their safe escort and to the Bristol Borough Ladder 25 FD for their impressive display of patriotism. Most of all, THANK YOU Sgt. Rich Kennedy for all you have done to protect and preserve the freedoms we all enjoy today!

ARMY STRONG!!

Respectfully submitted by RC HowardK

Pictures courtesy of Bikerider

Ride Report for Ride Captain Calamity Jane

Since Andrea heard about us almost 19 months ago, she’s wanted to honor her Dad, Dana Christ, USMC – a member of the Walking Dead. Today was good timing – great weather, some good stuff after the unfortunate loss of his mother a couple weeks ago, and tomorrow is Dad’s Day! Dana’s sister, wife, ex-wife and Andrea were all excited and some even joined to post messages on his thread.

Andrea didn’t know it, but the plan was to make a bit of a fuss over her and her husband, Jared, while waiting for her Dad to show up at Chick-Fil-A. Since they all ended up coming together and we were taking up a good bit of the parking lot, we delayed that.

When they arrived, we had a flag line set up, but they parked out front; instead of a drive through, Dana did a walk through. It appeared to take him a little while to get the confused look off his face that continued even after you could see him say “for me?” more than once. After a couple minutes of handshakes, hugs and stuff, we set out. Local Police Departments were instrumental in getting us safely out of the lot and up Route 611; there were a couple really busy intersections so we greatly appreciate their help!

When we arrived at the house we recognized Andrea and her husband for their work in the Air Force and now: him in security, guarding nuclear arms, and now a Park Ranger; her an RN very involved in air transports for infants and children while in Okinawa then taking care of wounded warriors in Landstuhl Medical Center’s ICU; she is now an oncology nurse at CHOP. The family wanted to acknowledge a long-time friend and retired Army nurse, Grace Oberholtzer, which we did next. Then we moved on to our honoree!

Instead of me reading about Mr. Christ at the rally point, since it “is” Father’s Day, his son read his bio while Dana had an arm around each of his daughters. Gunny then coined him, and made a classy ‘’on behalf of” additional mention of George who, as a member of the same unit wanted to be there, but is on the other coast. Tom represented A Hero’s Welcome and Dutch presented the beads. Andrea read another wonderful “toast” about her father and mankind, then her sister, Missy, presented her father with a couple gifts.

The family also told us of two other folks there, a recently-retired Navy man and another Viet Nam Veteran. These two were also recognized for their service.

After invading that beautiful cul-de-sac for a while, we graciously thanked the family for their offer of cold beverage and food, but left them to enjoy all that and, most of all, each other.

Thanks again to Chick-Fil-A for allowing us to use their parking lot (and for having such good food); the Warrington, Warwick and Doylestown Police Departments for keeping everyone safe; Ed and MaryJane for leading the ride; Gunny, Pete, Harry, Tom, Dutch and MaryJane for their presentations; to the family of Dana Christ for inviting us to be a part of their special time; and most of all, to Dana Christ for hisr difficult military service and raising such fine children (well, helping lol)!!