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From the Gazeebo...  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WARRIORS WATCH RIDERS! 

In April, 2008, the Group Leader of a Delaware Family Readiness Group (FRG) contacted me and asked for help. The 485th Chemical Battalion (The “Golden Dragons”), a Delaware Army National Guard unit, was coming home from their long overseas deployment and the FGR wanted to make their homecoming special. The woman who contacted me had heard of me, and knew that I had been successful in planning and exectuing large and logisically challenging escorts for soldiers and Marines. She asked me if I would plan and lead the homecoming for her troops.

Of course I said that I would do it, and I began to make the contacts necessary, most especially the Delaware riders who would be directly affected, and their state leader, a good and respected friend. He and I began to plan. The families of our troops are in need of support, and to lend our aid and support is one of our most sacred duties as "troop-support" volunteers.

The unit was to be demobilized at Fort Dix, New Jersey. We planned to get into Fort Dix, pick them up with their busses, and escort them to the waiting arms of their families in Delaware.

But, a funny thing happend during the planning of this happy homecoming escort. Someone tried to tell me I couldn't do it. And, while the Dealware Riders were pumped and all-in for this ride, the New Jersey riders began making demands of their own that showed they (not everyone, of course, but the "leaders") were more concerned about themselves than about the troops.

So. In my position as a PA rider, I was not "allowed" to answer the direct request of this military family group. The PA and NJ "leaders" were, apparently, feeling "dissed."

Naturally, I gave up, and quietly and respecfully stood down from this mission...

...NOT!!!

I refused to stop what I was doing. I had recieved a direct personal request and I was going to fulfill that request. Period. The Warriors' Watch Riders was born, and we were born ON THE RUN AND MOVING FAST! In fact our momentum never slowed. The mission came off precisely as planned with minor changes. The state of New Jersey was cut out of it entirely and the riders of Pennsylvania and Delaware joined forces. The troops were picked up on the roll at the Delaware Memorial Bridge and escorted with flying colors to their home, where we were greeted by screaming family members and an impressive array of brass and other dignitaries, including now-vice president Joe Biden (See photo below - Gazeebo, FeeF and Biden.)

The Warriors Watch was born officially on May 1, 2008. The website was built and launched in a few hours. The forums were immediately populated by 200 former riders and six former "captains" of another group and have been growing exponentially ever since.

The homecoming escort of the 485th Chemical Unit on May 10, 2008, was mission number THREE for the new Warriors' Watch, and now, exactly one year and hundreds upon hundreds of missions later, we are spreading the love of our troops across the nation in a groundswell of motorcycle-mounted troop-support. With members in 34 states, Afghanistan, Iraq, South Korea, Germany, and Canada, there is no stopping our vision: A day when every Warrior in this nation knows beyond doubt that he is honored as the hero that he/she is by his/her fellow citizens.

Our mission and vision resonate with millions of American patriots. There have been newspaper stories, television interviews and shows, magazine articles and word spreading around the globe of this group that shows their love for our troops. Our patnership with A Hero's Welcome and the Yellow Ribbon Club proved to be mutually beneficial and helped us to grow even more rapidly, getting the word out to families that we are here to show their military loved one the honor he deserves.

It is your dedication and your support that made all of this possible. And it's only the beginning! We are anticipating exciting things in the months ahead. Unfortunately the war in Afghanistan is heating up and our warriors and their families need more support than ever. The time to step up is now!

The Warriors' Watch Riders was born not out of "Spite" or "revenge" or one-upsmanship of any kind. Rather, the WWR was born because there was a need that was not being filled. The need was for an unselfish display of love and support for those men and women (and their families) who voluntarily put their very lives on the line SO THAT WE CAN LIVE FREE. There is no more noble motive than this, there is no finer action that a hero could take. Our Warriors are the very finest generation that this nation has ever produced, and the WWR is here to make sure the world knows it. Never again will any generation of heros and warriors be treated like the warriors' of the 60s and 70s were treated in that most shameful period of recent American history.

God bless each and every one of you for the work that you do and for your patriotism. Warriors' Watch Riders.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  

WWR LEADERSHIP NEWS AND OPPORTUNITIES

We have undergone a significant restructuring of our leadership roles here at the end of our first year. We are trying very hard to walk a fine balance - self-governance without anarchy - allowing every member to share ownership in his/her organization.  Every member who wants to step up into a leadership roll or otherwise take on additional responsibility will be given a "job." Just let us know. And please read the Grand Gazeebo forum titled IMPORTANT: Leadership Restructuring.

WWR "STORE"

The new black leather baseball cap with the 2-inch embroidered "gold ring" WWR patch sewn on the front was an instant hit, and we still have several left. ONCE GONE THEY CANNOT BE RE-ORDERED, so get yours now. These real leather baseball caps have a sweatband and velcro closure for one-size fits all. Get it  here at the WWR "store."

(Remember, no one makes any profit from the WWR store. We charge only enough to purchase the items in bulk from the manufacturers and pay for shipping and shipping materials and supplies and PayPal fees. The purpose of the WWR store is to provide you with a source of items with which to proudly display your affiliation with the Warriors' Watch Riders, not to make a profit. The WWR has no money of its own, we do NO fundraising and we do NOT accept donations. We proudly do what we do on our own time and at our own expense.)

Following are the mission itineraries for the CONFIRMED MISSIONS coming up this week, followed by a list of upcoming missions and sanctioned events. PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK THE FORUM LINKS FOR THESE MISSIONS PRIOR TO HEADING OUT, for last minute changes, updates and times.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR WARRIORS! TOGETHER WE ARE CHANGING THE CULTURE - ONE WARRIOR AT A TIME!

MISSION PLANNING - WEEK OF THURSDAY, APRIL 30 THROUGH WEDNESDAY, MAY 6

***

CONFIRMED MISISONS

NJ: SEND OFF DOMINICK EVOLA 4/30

IL: Welcome Home Francisco Avitia 5/01

NIL: 5/3 WELCOME HOME Cpl KENNETH STECK

NIL: 5/3 Welcome Home SPC Nicholas Santoyo

N IL: 5/3 Welcome Home Army PFC Jason Peter

SANCTIONED RIDES AND EVENTS

SE Regions:WARRIORS' WATCH REGIONAL BIRTHDAY BBQ

DE: 5/9 LEO SURVIVORS RUN

PA/NJ May 9th BEEF -N- BEER SANTIAGO NAVARRETE

All of the above threads can be viewed even if you are not registered on the fourms. However, if you have NOT YET REGISTERED ON THE FORUMS, PLEASE DO SO NOW to ensure that you do not miss any of the excitement, planning and discussion of this upcoming activity! Click on this link and register on the forums now!

Until then: MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS THIS, STILL THE GREATEST NATION ON EARTH, AND ALL OF THOSE WHO DO, HAVE, OR WILL DEFEND HER, AT HOME AND ABROAD.

- LUTZ

*This newsletter is named "The Weekly Ride" or "The Ride", for short, in memory of and to honor Sgt. Jennifer Hartman, U.S. Army. Sgt. Hartman was killed in Iraq by America's enemies. She died in defense of our freedom at the age of 20. This quote from Jennifer was read at her graveside:

"It's not about what happened in the past. It's not about what might happen in the future. It's about the ride, for Christ's sake."

Click here for a Tribute to Sgt. Jennifer Hartman: "The Ride"