Ride Report posted for RC Dave S.

An Urgent last minute request came to us in order to get another warrior home in style..

Robert Nolan returned home during the July 4th holiday weekend to visit family and friends. Robert is a member of the 10th Mountain Division, Second Brigade. The unit returned to Fort Drum in New York last month after spending eight months in Iraq. Robert still has about 1 year left on his current enlistment.

During the unit’s deployment, Army soldiers worked in partnership with Iraqi security forces to provide security, facilitate governance and economic development, and establish a transition force, according to the Fort Drum website.

Robert’s original flight was rescheduled. We only had around 4 hours to setup the Surprise Welcome Home escort for him. Robert’s mother Cindy was frantic with the nervousness of the details but took comfort in the reassurance these always work out very well for our hero’s.

Working with Chicago PD we arranged special parking and a gate escort through terminal security. Upon leaving, CPD provided an escort from O’Hare Airport to our staging area at the DesPlaines oasis. Robert (to his surprise) and family were greeted with a flag line, loud cheers and curious on lookers from the highway oasis. 

 

After a short break for our hero to get some quick food, about thirty bikes and 6 cages mounted up and began our 1 hour escort out the highway to McHenry Il VFW where more family and friends were holding a party in his honor.

 

Along our trip we had several towns and municipalities provide a rolling escort through their jurisdiction. As we left one town the LEO’s would drop off and the next would not miss a beat to pick us right back up. On the final leg of our journey, Mchenry PD and Fire joined the escort to our destination at the VFW where a flag line was waiting.

We entered the VFW hall where Robert was presented with a copy of our threads, WWR beads, coined and signed our hero’s banner. Mayor Susan Low (Pictured with her own WWR vest!) read and presented Robert with an official city proclamation followed by words from members of the McHenry VFW and American Legion. After a few words from Robert’s mother and Father the entire hall joined hands and sang aloud
“Proud to be an American”.

 

At the end of the night, I spoke with Robert and he expressed how important this was to him. He was truly grateful for the support. Even though he was smiling the whole time, we think those were the most words he spoke all night. It is truly a wonderful thing when we get our hero’s speechless with gratitude!

Many thanks to Roxanne of McHenry VFW, Northwest Herald Media, and our NIL LEO and FIRE personal for all their help on this mission. Most of all, thanks to SPC Robert Nolan for putting it all on the line for us and our country.