On Sunday afternoon April 27th Captain Jerry Reitano, US ARMY was honored for his dedicated service to our country when WWR, AHW, Strength and Honor MC as well as Haverford PD and Manoa FD “dropped in” on a party arranged by Jerry’s mom and dad at the family home in Haverford Pa.
Jerry and Marge Reitano, proud father and mother of Jerry, decided to have a party for family and friends to celebrate Jerry’s return from Afghanistan. Jerry and Marge contacted Warrior’s Watch and asked if we would be available to “do a little something”. WE WERE ALL IN!
Jerry entered the service through the college ROTC program at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in 2002 and was commissioned in 2005. He was assigned to the US Army aviation branch where he piloted both Chinook helicopters and fixed wing planes. Jerry has spent time overseas in Pakistan and South Korea as well as 12 months in Afghanistan. He was last stationed at Ft. Hood in Texas and prior to that was stationed in Tucson Arizona, Fairbanks Alaska and Enterprise Alabama.
Jerry was awarded the Bronze Star, the Combat Deployment Medal, the NATO medal and the Senior Pilot in Command medal. Jerry has been married for 7 years to Kala and they have a beautiful daughter Peyton (19 month old).
We rallied at the Manoa shopping center at 4:15PM where many members of both Southeastern Pa WWR and New Jersey WWR and A Hero’s Welcome were met by Haverford PD, Manoa FD and Strength and Honor MC. Led by the Haverford PD and WWR Road Guards we proceeded to the family home with horns honking and police sirens blaring. Many friends and family had gathered on the front lawn to await our arrival. Jerry Sr. introduced his son to the RC and Jerry was then greeted and thanked by the many members assembled.
Jerry was presented our WWR honor coin by SEPA ASC Tom and thanked for his dedication to keeping us all safe and free back here at home. Next Maria from A Hero’s Welcome presented Jerry the AHW Certificate of Appreciation giving him thanks from a grateful nation. JD then gave Jerry an honor coin from the Combat Veterans Association and offered a salute. Brenda from AHW presented Jerry with a star from a retired American flag asking him to carry it with him as a reminder that he is not forgotten. Dutch then bestowed upon Jerry a string of Warrior beads and explained the significance of the colors in the strands. Lastly Peyton Reitano was presented a Certificate of Honor from the Kathryn Fialkowski Memorial by SEPA ASC Chrisy.
In true WWR tradition we then stood behind the AHW banner unfurled in the driveway 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
Warriors Watch Riders extend our sincere thanks to Jerry and Marge Reitano, Kala Reitano and the entire Reitano family for inviting us to participate in this very well deserved Welcome Home for Jerry. Thank you to the Haverford PD for their safe escort and to the Manoa FD 56 for their impressive display of patriotism. Most of all, THANK YOU Captain Jerry Reitano 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 and Will
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