Ride Report posted for John Delivers

Wow….what a night to Welcome Home one of America’s Heroes, Thomas Welch.  About 15 bikes and two cages rolled from LZ168 over to FB69 near the airport.  While we were running right on time, we got word our Hero’s flight was thirty-five minutes early.  Yikes!!!  We pulled into FB 69 and before all bikes were shut down I was into the ride briefing.  Kept it short and sweet, introducing Amanda, our Hero’s wife, and a handful of new WWR riders introduced themselves.  On to the airport.

 

Now we numbered about 40 bikes along with a couple of cages.  Maria, of A-Heroes Welcome, met us out front of terminal D.  She along with a few WWR folks assisted Amanda with getting their three young children to the gate to greet their daddy.  While waiting for our man to arrive, we Welcomed Home one Marine and two Army Heroes who happened by.  Having warmed up on the Marine and Army guys, a LOUD roar went up when Tom appeared.  Back Slaps, hand shakes and hugs were plentiful. 

 

PA State Police provided safe passage to the NJ side of the Walt Whitman Bridge.  Once we reached our exit from Route 42 Gloucester Twp. PD picked us up and, in coordination with PD’s from Pine Hill and Berlin, provided one hell of an escort.  

 

As we arrived at our destination on Jackson Rd in Berlin, there she was…..Old Glory, hanging from a Berlin FD ladder truck.  About fifteen more bikers were waiting for us there, members of the Last Patrol, along with neighbors, family, friends, and those Patriots from the Yellow Ribbon Club.  An awesome sight indeed.

 

Proclamations were read, coins changed hands, more hugs and handshakes were exchanged.  All in all, I’d say our Hero was feeling the love.

 

Thomas Welch, thank you for “just doing your job”.  God Bless you for doing what you do, so that we may continue to lead the lives we do.  You have a wonderful young family Thomas, enjoy your time at home, you’ve certainly earned it.

 

Thank you to all the Police Departments for providing the official sirens and lights giving us safe passage and helping make a real Hero feel special.  Thanks to Jinksey and DJolly for setting up LEO.  Thank you Berlin FD for joining in the effort to show some appreciation for what these Warriors do to protect our freedoms.  Thanks go to Bubba, a new WWR member, for presenting our Challenge Coin.  And lastly to the red, white, and blue blooded Patriots and the YRC and WWR for doing what you do.