The incredible networking skills of the Patriot Guard Riders never cease to amaze me, They are always, and I do mean always there when you need them. This act of compassion by these men and women is good for indulgences in Heaven in my mind. Ride on!
Michael Alan Gares, USMC, Vietnam vet passed away recently in CA. His family lives in Florida and cannot attend his burial. We in CA have a Vets Without Families program where we act as the family for vets that have passed without families for whatever reason. We are burying Michael tomorrow, Wednesday July 29, 2009 at Riverside National Cemetary in Riverside, CA. A PGR brother from PA thought it would be a GREAT idea to hand deliver Mr Gares flag and shell casings from his Military Honors to his daughter in Florida. The idea is for each state between CA and FL to carry the flag across their state and hand off to the next state. HELP!
Here is the beginning of a wonderful journey:

RE: CA needs your help
by hdpgsusnavyvet

OK Arizona PGR, it’s official. The Michael Gares Military Honors Flag pony express to Florida is starting Tuesday August 4. We / the CA PGR will be in Ehrenberg AZ that day about 1 pm at the gas station on the south side of the freeway as outlined in Pat Eagan’s email to pass the package to you. You will be passing off the package to Jack / Roadrunner 847-710-1471 in San Simon, AZ for the New Mexico leg.

Several have asked if I will riding all the way from California to Florida. The concept for this endeavor has always been a ‘pony express'; ride your leg and hand off the package to the next rider(s) / state. I will be riding the first leg from CA to AZ on Tuesday August 4 with many of my SoCal PGR brothers and sisters but I would love to ride to Florida tho if for no other reason than to shake each of your hands and tell you how grateful to and proud of you I am for the noble work that is getting done here insuring that the Military Honors Flag of a USMC Vietnam vet gets to his family as it should . . .

Respectfullly submitted

Buz Sawyer, proud US Navy Vietnam era vet and SoCal PGR member

Ride procedure:

NUMBER ONE. Ride safe and stay hydrated! No illiness or accidents allowed!
2. Communicate with the rider(s) / state ahead of you. Each state will have the state contact ahead of them and should insure every rider has his or her handoff info too.
3. Pick a safe and as well know as possible transfer point to maximize the turnover
4. If you carry the package, sign the plaque
5. Try to stay on schedule
6. When you get home, file a post mission report on your state or region PGR forum about this event so we can track the progress of the package across this fine country
7. If you have any media contacts, let them know what we are doing
8. Flordia is planning a BIG presentation so let’s all do our part to insure this happens

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