Letter of Appreciation from MA PGR: U S Army Spc Scott A. Andrews, 21, Fall River, MA

Orginially posted by Connecticut Patriot Guard on Sunday, July 11, 2010 at 8:00pm

Donald Pearce Dave Rumney Howard Shrut
Sent: Sun, Jul 4, 2010 2:59 pm
Subject: RE: With gratitude!

Dave,

As is often the case, the mission would not be the success that it was without the outstanding leadership and hard work of the Ride Captain in charge. You have done a fantastic job, and I am very glad to have you on the team. I also want to add my thanks to all who stepped up to assist you. I know that the family is very thankfull as well. Thank You all for your dedication and for what you do. We also cannot forget the Conneticut contingent for their support. Pattie please forward this to all who came.

Thanks,

Don Pearce

Taunton, Massachusetts

Assistant State Captain, Patriot Guard Riders

Vice President – American Legion Riders Post 19 Somerville, MA

Life Member – Viet Nam Veterans of America

USAF 1970-1974

MARNG 101st Engineers
1984-1986

Riding in honor of my Dad Sgt Warren R Pearce Sr. 1942-1945 Normandy to Germany and my son, Sgt.Donald E Pearce Jr, recently returned from the ROK

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Subject: With gratitude!

Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2010 16:01:13 -0400

I feel a very unusual sensation – if it is not indigestion, I think it must be gratitude. ~Benjamin Disraeli

Seriously: We paid tribute to an American Fallen Hero and his family today with Honor, Dignity and Respect!!! Thank you for all your help with this mission. I am honored to be in the company of such fine men and women. Dave Rumney

PS. Please, Let me know if I missed someone whose E mail I do not have and would like to send this to. the Connecticut flag folks.
Thanks

Orginially Posted by by Connecticut Patriot Guard on Friday, July 2, 2010 at 7:50pm

SSG Edwin Rivera KIA Afghanistan Waterford CT

To Bob Stone and the Patriot Guard,

thank you for the outstanding job you did in honoring and protecting the dignity of the service.

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I want to thank you for all you have done Saturday. It was a very emotional experience for me and I was deeply moved by all the people I saw along the route honoring our fallen hero. As a parent of a soldier that recently spent a year over in Afghanistan (my son was part of the first wave of CT 102 deployment in the infantry), I know the daily anxiety that come with the dread of a parent’s worst nightmare. It is people like you, who have the dignity and drive, to sacrifice so much personal time in leading an effort such as PGR, that makes life a little more bearable, for those who are personally affected by these tragic events. You have my most sincere respect for what you do.

I know I have already expressed it but it could never be enough to tell you how much your Patriot Guards presence was felt yesterday. Thank you for what you do and just know that it is sincere

Jim and Bob, please pass this around to all the folks that showed up today, or any day. I received this from one of my co-workers. This truly means a lot. Karen

“You gotta tell your Patriot Guard people and the New London Motorcycle Club; that was incredible. I didn’t expect that kind of showing from them. What they do for our fallen soldiers at these funerals is just awesome. When we got to the cemetery, I was looking around for you, and I realized we were enveloped in red, white, & blue. And you guys are so respectful. Just awesome.”

Captain Stone

Mere words of thank you cannot express the deep gratitude we have in our hearts for the honor and dignity shown by your organization for Staff Sergeant Rivera and his family.
Please extend our thanks to the Riders.

God bless you.
With deepest respect –
SFC (Ret) Margaret Wolk

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Thank you to ALL who supported our Hero and his family this week it has meant a lot to them.

Sincerely,
Kathleen

Origninally Posted by Connecticut Patriot Guard on Friday, July 2, 2010 at 7:36pm

Send-off Mission 325th Military Intelligence Battalion Hartford

325th Military Intelligence Battalion Send-off Mission 325th Military Intelligence Battalion Hartford Just wanted to extend to you our grateful appreciation for your participation in our farewell ceremony.

The Soldiers appreciated it and it was an honor to have you.

SHANE T. BYRD CSM, USA 325th Military Intelligence Battalion

Orginially posted by Connecticut Patriot Guard on Friday, July 2, 2010 at 7:56pm
SSG Eric McMenamin 39 US Army & CTANG

Dear Mr. Bob Stone,
I received in the mail today the beautiful plaque dedicated to my husband whom you and the Patriot Guard Riders escorted to his final resting place in the Veterans Cemetery in Middletown on June 25th.

My husband would have been honored and proud to have you with him, and I, for him want to humbly thank you for being there for Erik and my family. My friends and family were amazed and humbled by your dedication and support that day. It is truly a blessing to have had you and your fellow riders with me.

I am a soldier’s wife; and my husband was proud to be in service for our great nation and to others. On a side note, my birthday is July 4, 1976. I am truly blessed to have been born on this day, and to have married a wonderful soldier.

God Bless you and the Patriot Guard Riders!

Freedom is not free!

Regards, Ann-Marie McMenamin and SSG Erik McMenamin

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I wanted to thank you for organizing the mission for Eric. Everyone in attendance was moved, from the formation to the procession to the reverence at the burial, I had to thank each Guard member personally afterwards. Thank you so very much this was something we could give back to Eric for his love of this country and his service to all. My eyes still swell when I think of reverence shown.

Debbie

Orginially posted by Connecticut Patriot Guard on Friday, July 2, 2010 at 7:16pm

Geremia A. Naimoli, 84 Army WWII Meriden CT

Thanks for setting this up. A lot of people liked the line up and the flags. Please let all those that showed up that we (the family) loved and appreciated what you guys do. Dad was very proud of his service during the war, even thou he didn’t talk much about it. I’m sure he enjoyed it from his view. Thanks again.

John Naimoli & family and now from me (Paul Novicelli)

I would like to thank all that made time to attend this short notice mission for my uncle. Especially Greg Young who assisted me as a paul bearer at the cemetery. (Not our usual duties) I didn’t know my uncle was a battle field medic or that he had earned the Purple heart and Bronze Star. It is a shame it took to now to learn that.

It was very different standing on the other side of the flag line and I now know how much it means to the families that we are there for them Honoring their loved one. It will be an honor to continue to do so for our Veterans

Orginially posted by Connecticut Patriot Guard on Friday, July 2, 2010 at 7:27pm

Ray “Chimp” Sanborn, 73, USN Korean/Vietnam Veteran Groton CT
I am not sure if I can put into words the feelings that I have for all of the Freedom Riders for what you all did for Chimp and our family yesterday. I don’t want to miss any of the groups that participated. I have already sent an email to the Patriot Guards. I don’t have a contact for the NLMC, or the Fire Fighters. I was an amazing tribute that was paid to Chimp and he would have been so proud

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Thanx a ton 4 turning out in such awesome numbers to pay final respects to our brother Chimp. It meant a lot and he would have been very pleased. Respectfully, Husker Ray “Chimp” Sanborn, 73, USN Korean/Vietnam Veteran Groton CT I am not sure if I can put into words the feelings that I have for all of the Freedom Riders for what you all did for Chimp and our family yesterday. I don’t want to miss any of the groups that participated. I have already sent an email to the Patriot Guards. I don’t have a contact for the NLMC, or the Fire Fighters. I was an amazing tribute that was paid to Chimp and he would have been so proud

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Thanks a ton for turning out in such awesome numbers to pay final respects to our brother Chimp. It meant a lot and he would have been very pleased. Respectfully, Husker