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From the Gazeebo...  

WARRIORS' WATCH RIDERS: AN ILLINOIS-STYLE HOMECOMING!

We were impressed to the point of shouting "Bravo!" at the reports, photographs and media sightings from the most recent Warriors' Watch Riders Welcome Home Ride: Welcome Home SP4 Michael Aragon!

Despite the typical Chicago-style Winter Weather, the welcome Home ride for this Army Specialist was one that wonderfully typifies the enthusiasm and devotion of our Northern Illinois / Southern Wisconsin Warriors' Watch chapters.

In particular, the photographs taken did an outstanding job of recording an event that will undoubtedly write an indelible memory onto the psyche of this young American hero!

CLICK HERE to read the ride report, posted for Matter. And while you are at it, be sure to catch the media reports of the ride HERE, and HERE.

Finally, DON'T MISS the beautiful photography of MICHAEL JARECKI, HERE

Specialist Michael Aragon, WELCOME HOME, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

MEMBER NEWS!

MEMBERSHIP GROWING, EXPONENTIALLY!

Two of the busiest people in the Warriors' Watch Riders are our Membership Director, Handyman, and our National Coordinator, T. These two men are the ones most directly responsible for signing them up and working with new chapters, members and coordinators.

This past week we have had a very large influx of new members from the states of Georgia, Texas, and Mississippi. There are others and I don't want to slight them, but these three states have seen new member coming in groups, and we THANK THEM FOR THEIR CONFIDENCE IN THE WARRIORS' WATCH RIDERS!  We will devote ourselves to EARNING your trust, confidence, and your membership with us. THANK YOU, AND WELCOME!

SPEAKING OF HARD-WORKING,

One of the most intense and continual "jobs" in the WWR is that of board moderator. And one of the most continually active board moderators since the inception of the WWR has been Shooter.

Shooter is now taking a break, needing a little down time to catch up with his own life and concerns. His place as an Advisory Council member is now vacant, and a search for a replacement is underway.

Taking on the forum moderator responsibilites is Cetanagi! Thanks to you for that, Centanagi, and join me in thanking Shooter for months of devotion to our cause!

GROWING THE MISSION, SPREADING THE WORD!

One thing that members of the WWR understand is that we can't achieve our vision if we can't spread the word about the WWR and what our troops mean to us. PR is part and parcel of our mission. The more we spread the word, the more we grow. The more we grow, the more American Warriors receive the welcome that they deserve when they return from their selfless service.

For those of you along the east coast, be sure to pick up next month's (April) issue of East Coast Biker Magazine. The April issue will featur a story about the Warriors' Watch Riders, complet with photographs by member/photographer Sean Carpenter.

And if you do not live in an area where you can get a print copy, they have an EXCELLENT electronic version of the magazine for free, here!

MISSION PLANNING - WEEK OF THURSDAY, FEB. 27 THROUGH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4

NORTHERN ILLINOIS: SATURDAY, MARCH 7

Welcome Home Cpl. Carlos Mariscal, USMC

On Saturday, March 7, we will be honored to welcome home Cpl. Carlos Mariscal, USMC as he completes his third tour of duty.

Staging will take place at 11:00 AM at the Midway Airport cell phone lot, 61st and Cicero.

Ride brief 11:30 AM.

Cpl. Mariscal's flight is expected to arrive at 1:30 PM.

This welcome home will be a special one as Bob Stone with the USO has made special arrangements for all Rider Groups and the Soldiers Guardian Angels to welcome Cpl. Mariscal in a manner befitting his three tours of duty. This will include a flag line as he enters and exits the airport. Bob Stone has been very helpful in the past and is VERY EXCITED about this welcome home.

Because of this, I am asking everyone to make every effort possible to attend this welcome home.

Following this special welcome home at the airport, we will be escorting Cpl. Mariscal to his home in New Lenox, the home of proud Americans.

Because these arrangements are not complete as of this posting, details regarding the welcoming at the airport will be discussed at the ride brief.

Please watch the WWR threads and SGA emails for any last minute changes or details.

Let's have a special prayer to the Gods of weather, leather and chrome for some great weather and as always, a safe event. See you there.

Cynthia Barr, Soldiers Guardian Angels
RC: Hogtony  - 

CONFIRMED: FOLLOW THIS MISSION LINK FOR UPDATES

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SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA: SUNDAY, MARCH 8

Maine Unit Deployment Sendoff

We only received this inforamtion as this newsletter was being prepared, so this is light on details. PLEASE FOLLOW THE MISSION THREAD FOR THIS MISSION IN THE CONFIRMED SECTION OF THE MISSION PLANNING FOURUMS.

We have a request from the wife of an FBI agent who is a reserve Marine deploying in May. The Marine unit is currently training in Folsum, Pa. The request is to show a patriotic flag line outside the base, then to form a convoy a short distance to a local VFW, there to meet the Marines face to face. THIS IS THE BEST OF ALL POSSIBLE CAUSES, and all involved are very excited about this opportunity to show our MARINES that we love and appreciate them.

SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 3PM, AT FOLSUM, PA (Just West of the Philadelphia International Airport.)

RC APPOINTMENT AND RIDE ITINEARARY PENDING. IT WILL BE POSTED ON THURSDAY.

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SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA: TUESDAY, MARCH 10

Welcome home Joseph Malley

Below is an email we received from Debby Malley.  Escort from Rally Point to West Chester, PA.

RC: GOLDWING30

Rally Location: Painters Crossing  Rt. 202 &  Rt 1        Rally Time: 1610
KSU : At the Arrival of our Package from the Airport

Final Destination:   West Chester, PA  19382     ( about 10 miles )  
  
I have notified A Hero's Welcome  and asked them to greet our Hero at the Airport so we can Rally at Painters Crossing, We'll give him the old One, Two Punch - A HERO'S WELCOME AT THE AIRPORT THEN OUR FLAG LINE AND ESCORT TO HIS HOME.
Traffic at that time of day Is a safety concern as far as trying to keep everyone together.
I have also Notified The Yellow Ribbon Club To see if the can work their Magic.  
      
Hello Bobcat,

Here is some biographical information on my son.  Joseph joined the Army in June of 2006.  Upon completing basic training at Fort Benning, GA, he was sent to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX for intensive training as a combat medic.  Passing this course in February, 2007, was assigned to Fort Carson, CO.  He is Unit C Co., 64th BSB, 4th ID. In December of 2007, he was deployed to Camp Taji, Iraq.  He came home for a brief two week visit last February, getting off the plane and going immediately to his paternal grandmother's funeral.  Not a good way to begin his "mid tour leave".  Back in Iraq since early March 2008,  Joseph is serving as support medic to infantry units performing various missions.  For two weeks in August, he volunteered to accompany a Special Forces Group on a mission he will not talk about.  In December 2008, Joseph was sent to the US Air Base in Balad where he studied for his second level of training as a medic.  He passed this course and has obtained his basic EMT status.  

Joseph tells us his tentative date to leave Iraq is February 5.  He believes he will be in Fort Carson by February 9 and home in West Chester approximately two weeks after that.  I have contacted our FRG coordinator at Fort Carson to confirm the dates.  She hasn't gotten back to us yet.  I'm sure it will be a few more weeks before I have good dates and I wil be in touch with you then.

I am overwhelmed that there are groups such as yours who are willing to give up your own time to welcome back a soldier who is not family.  So many times over the past year, with the election dominating the news, it seemed that the majority of folks (even some in our own family) didn't really give the war in Iraq and Afghanistan much thought.  Joseph will be 22 on March 25.  He had his 21st birthday in Iraq so not much celebrating going on.  This year will be much different.

Again, thank you so much.  I will be in touch.

Debby Malley

 CONFIRMED: FOLLOW THIS FORUM LINK FOR UPDATES

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COMING NEXT WEEK:

A Bike Show Appearance by the WWR in Valley Forge, Pa, plus more missions, more members, more excitement. DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS ON MARCH 8. SPRING CANNOT BE FAR BEHIND!

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, THE GREATEST NATION ON EARTH, AND ALL OF THOSE WHO DEFEND HER.

*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"