SE PA: HGTV Change the World for American Heroes

Ride Report posted by Lutz, Wayne G.

Warriors’ Watch Riders:

Monica Pederson

Now that I have your attention, I’d like to tell you a story. Once upon a time there was a large group of troop-loving biker-types. These guys and gals had made it their passion to go out and support our nation’s warriors and their families. Included in our definition of “Warrior” are of course our veterans.

Now, I live in the Big City. Philadelphia, to be exact. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen homeless men on the streets of this city, begging, holding signs that said “Veteran. Homeless. Please help.”  I also used to manage a Food Bank for the poor. We had strict “rules” about who we could feed and who not, because there is only so much food in the bank.  We had a zip-code residency requirement, and an ID requirement. But time and time again a man would present to me a veteran’s ID card for that ID purpose, and for me that was all I needed to know. He’s a vet, he’s hungry. Give him food.

Along comes a group called “Change the World, Start at Home.” –  Sponsored by Home and Garden Televison (HGTV), this group does things like rebuilding and renovating homes for the down-and-out. This time, having won a vote, the city of Philadelphia was chosen for a special project – HGTV’s CHANGE THE WORLD FOR AMERICAN HEROES for “Veterans in Transition.” This project would renovate a city house for the purpose of housing two to three veterans – homeless veterans. The TV show would chronicle the rennovation process, building a bit of hope for a couple of people who at some point risked all to serve their countries.

This isn’t a complete “handout.” The people chosen to live in this house must be willing to accept personal responsibility (what a concept!), to agree to some rules, and to have a plan for self-improvement through education and training.

The house in Kensington

House renovation completed, the men who were to live there for the first year are chosen (I only saw this house from the outside, which was nice enough, but we are told that it is beautiful inside – beautiful, and handicapped accessible, and very energy efficient. Even the postage-stamp front and back yards were made livable.) These two men were veterans – one from Vietnam and the other from the first Gulf war.

Photos by Sean Carpenter

These men not only served their country with honor, but they are now well on their way to becoming educated and trained and independent – with just a little leg up with a nice place to live.

Personally, what appeals to me more than most is that this entire project is a prime example of what the American People can do when Governments stay out of the way and PEOPLE help PEOPLE. The backbone of this nation was constructed by neighbor helping neighbor, not Uncle Sam paying Neighbor with YOUR money. This is the America I love – men and women coming together in the spirit if volunteerism to help someone who needs help – especially a veteran.

The Grand Unveiling of this house for the community and the men to live there was on June 28th, a beautiful sunny Sunday. HGTV had been hooked up with our beloved sister group A Hero’s Welcome, and A Hero’s Welcome (Maria) told them about the Warrior’s Watch. A few emails later between the producer, Chandra, and I and the deal was done – and we were excited. We would escort these veterans and the show host, decorating-guru and beautiful woman Monica Pederson, to the new house where all the volunteers who built it would be waiting.

I spent an afternoon  in Independence Park, Philadelphia, with the HGTV film crew, producer Sandi, and camera and sound men. The Warriors’ Watch Riders were “introduced” to the project in this way, with Monica and I strolling across the courtyard and visiting the Liberty Bell, all the while discussing the needs of our military and our veterans. It was an amazing opportunity to share with the entire nation our reason for being – the powerful need to treat our vets like the heroes they are.

That was Friday. The Big Day was Sunday, June 28th. We had arranged for all of the WWR and AHW to meet in a shopping center four miles from the house in Kensington. About 100 patriots showed up in cars and maybe 75 motorcycles, most flagged, to do this act of honor.

Was it fun? Of course it was! The idea of a big, well publicized ride, televised even, with a beautiful show host on a beautiful sunny weekend day – we are human and OF COURSE it was fun! But it had a much, much deeper value and meaning – a demonstration of the lengths to which the American Volunteer will go to make up to our veterans the service and sacrifice that they endured. Therein lay the true power of the day we were about to spend.

Lt. Sharon Hyland-Keyser, United States Marine Corps, right, poses with other military members at the rally location. Photo by Sean Carpenter.

Philadelphia’s Phinest, the Philly Police Department, met us at the rally point and as always were as supportive and helpful as anyone could have any right to expect. Given that our Philadelphia Police Department has virtually been under attack lately, for them to come out and support our activities in this way is nothing short of remarkable. We take note, and we do not forget.

We were escorted safely and in dramatic fashion down the Roosevelt Blvd. to Kensignton by three fine officers and others stationed at busy intersections. Monica Pederson rode up front on the passenger seat of Doc Kromer’s bike, and a nice convertible was stationed in the middle of the procession carrying the two veterans and a TV camera. Another TV camera in an SUV took up various positions along the rout to get all the good shots and angles – again, it was a gloriously sunny day, a beautiful, slow, flagged, safe ride.

Lutz. Photo by Sean Carpenter

Monica Pederson interviews the youngest PA WWR member, Danny "Youngblood." Photo by Sean Carpenter

 When we finally entered the tiny street where the house was, we were greeted by the sight of hundreds of red-shirted HGTV volunteers, neighbors, and TV cameras, cheering and applauding as we rode up the street. We stopped the convertible in front of the house and the ceremony commenced. VFW honor guards, Flag Raising (there was a 20-f0ot flagpole installed in the front yard – a nice touch, in my opinion), some local politicos, and a bunch of food and drink for thirsty people.

Photo by Sean Carpenter

 Warriors’ Watch, A Hero’s Welcome, Midnight Blue, and all others present today – you did a good thing. Not only did you do a good thing, but it was a good thing that cost the taxpayers nothing and was a lot of fun, to boot.