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MISSION ATTENDANCE

Patriot Guard Riders and Associates,

I am forwarding this message from one of our members regarding attendance at our missions. I will let him say what he feels.

 

To all members of the PGR (which I understand that’s there is 1300 – 1500 of us):   I am a five-year member that is retired injured and with medical problems. I have done over 550 mission. I’m sorry to say that it is always been the same 8 – 25 members that show up, some that seem to only show up on high profile missions. Unfortunately, lately its only been 6 – 12 of us showing up and many times its just the 6 – 8 that always do. As a PGR member, I understand that you just can’t make a lot of mission. but over the course of a year, you should be able to come out a few times.

 

With 1300 – 1500 member we should have a better showing then we do. Many of us seem to count on others to show up and think that’s fine. But just a little reminder that the ones that show up all the time most are in there 70’s. Many have been doing this for many years and some are thinking that they have done enough. Some have medical problems, but still, find the time and energy to come out. 

 

I guess what I’m saying and asking all the members is it’s getting harder and harder to continue without some more of you helping out. My final words are this. THERE’S MORE TO BEING A PGR MEMBER THAN WEARING A SHIRT, HAT OR PATCH ON YOUR VEST.  A little help is needed and would be greatly appreciated. Please see what you can do to help out from the tired ones.  
MARK A. BRUNDAGE SR.
                                                                                                                                                                                                              
This is Mac again. I hope that all our members will take to heart what Mark is saying. Us older members are getting tired and some of us have physical difficulties that make it a hardship to attend every mission. We are just asking for some additional support from the membership.
Thanks for all you can do.
Respectfully,

MAC MCARTHUR

STATE CAPTAIN

CT PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS

statecaptain@ctpatriotguard.org

haddamac@gmail.com

mac06438@aol.com

Cell:860-682-7625

Fax: 860-345-3654

** SPECIAL MISSION-ATTEND ON YOUR OWN** CT PGR Wreaths Across America fundraiser Thursday November 9th 2017 3p-7p Hartford CT

** SPECIAL MISSION ATTEND ON YOUR OWN**

CT PGR Wreaths Across America fundraiser

Thursday November 9th 2017 3p-7p

Hartford CT

Patriot Guard and Associates;

We have been invited to participate in a fundraiser that will benefit The CT PGR and Wreaths Across America in our attempt to attain our goal of 9500 wreaths for the CT State Veterans Cemetery. 
On Thursday November 9, 2017 ESPN Radio 97.9 will be doing a live broadcast of the Rob Dibble Show at the Hog River Brewing Company from 3pm to 7pm where a campaign to raise funds for wreaths will be held with a donation from Hog River at the end of the month. 
 
STAGING 2:30pm Hog River Brewing Company  1429 Park ST Hartford, CT 06106
Attend on your own. Spend as much time as you care to.
God Bless America, Our Troops, and Our First Responders. 
For the State Captain, 
William F. Petras III (Skip)
Assistant State Captain
CT Patriot Guard Riders
ascspetras@ctpatriotguard.org
860-463-5316 (cell)
860-358-9648 (fax)

**SHORT NOTICE** ATTEND ON YOUR OWN Wed November 1, 2017 1800 hrs (6pm) Hartford, CT

Patriot Guard and Associates;

We have been invited to attend the presentation of a proclamation and Good Citizen Award to Ms. Renee DiNino.

The presentation will be held will be held at the

IHeart Media Studio, 10 Columbus Blvd, Hartford, CT from 6-7pm.

Please RVSP Jennifer Straub, email:  jenniferstraub@iheartmedia.com

Light refreshments and  Hors d’oeuvres.

will be served.

God Bless America, Our Troops, and First Responders.

For the State Captain,

—
William F. Petras III (Skip)
Assistant State Captain
CT Patriot Guard Riders
ascspetras@ctpatriotguard.org
860-463-5316 (cell)
860-358-9648 (fax)

Additional Veterans Day Events

Saturday November 4th

9:00 am – CT. State VFW is looking for assistance in placing approximately 10,000 American Flags on gravesites at the State Veteran’s Cemetery located on Bow Lane in Middletown which will be the site of the 2:00 pm Veterans Day Ceremony on the 11th. Assistance will also be needed to remove the American Flags on November 18th which will start around 9:00 am that morning.

Youth Groups, Clubs, Groups, and organizations are particularly welcome to help and assist in honoring those Veterans no longer with us.

Upcoming Events List from ASC Skip Petras

Notice of upcoming events courtesy of ASC Skip Petras

This is the list of events in and around the Middletown area for Veterans that are offered by Schools, Organizations, Hospitals, Health Care Facilities, and Individuals to HONOR VETERANS FOR VETERANS DAY.  There may be more added to the list as Veterans Day gets closer and I will add those when I receive them. 

NEW ITEMS ADDED ARE IN RED

I urge all VETERANS to make every attempt possible to attend these functions that are offered to us by those who are showing their support to us for what we have done.  Special attention is needed to attend functions that are offered by the Schools in the areas as they are our future and need to be aware of what a VETERAN is and what they do.

WE NEED TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR THOSE THAT SHOW SUPPORT TO US !!!

These are known functions received for Veterans to attend: 

Wednesday November 1st –

2:00 pm – At Bielefield Elem. School in Middletown, a school wide assembly with a veteran from the ELKS Club, Mr. Bill Curlin, speaking to our student body about the importance of Veteran’s Day. This year we will again ask the student body to send in a photo of a veteran past or present from their family that identifies what branch of service they were or are in. We display these photos on our Wall of Heroes as you enter our school. It will be displayed fromNov. 1 through Dec3. The students are also sponsoring a sock drive for our Veterans and collections have already started this month. We also have our students make cards and letters for our Veterans to thank them for their service. We usually distribute them to our local vets as well as the State Veteran’s Hospital in Rocky Hill, Ct.  We will present the sock donations and cards to Mr. Curlin during our assembly on Nov. 1st. Our student council has a veterans committee that works with myself and Mrs. Baehr to remember our veterans throughout the year. Please feel free to visit our school on Nov. 1 at 2:00 pm for our assembly.

Friday November 3rd…

 VETS ROCK  Mohegan Sun Casino, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd, Uncasville, CT 06382 10am-6pm  Uncas Ballroom   **PATRIOT GUARD MEMBERS MANNING THE BOOTH MAY BE ASKED TO PROVIDE YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE CARD TO THE STAFF IN ORDER TO SATISFY THEIR LIABILITY REQUIREMENTS.**

 

VETS ROCK  Concert 7:30pm  featuring Joe Walsh and guest Eddie Money  to benefit the USO Connecticut  Emceed by Tony Orlando

 

Saturday November 4th –

7:30 am – The annual Veterans Day breakfast will be held at the American Legion on Freestone Ave, Portland,Saturday November 4th.  The door will open at 7:30 AM and we will be open until the food is gone. That is usually by 1030. The menu will consist of our usual fantastic (SOS) chipped beef on toast, omelets, grits, coffee, tea, bacon, sausage and Oj all prepared from the 1941 U.S. Army cookbook. All you can eat six bucks. Takeout’s available.

 

Saturday November 4th 

9:00 am - CT. State VFW is looking for assistance in placing approximately 10,000 American Flags on gravesites at the State Veteran’s Cemetery located on Bow Lane in Middletown which will be the site of the 2:00 pm Veterans Day Ceremony on the 11th.  Assistance will also be needed to remove the American Flags on November 18th which will start around 9:00 am that morning.

Youth Groups, Clubs, Groups, and organizations are particularly welcome to help and assist in honoring those Veterans no longer with us.

 

Monday November 6th - 7:00 am
7:00 am – The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce Annual Support the Troops and Honor the Veterans Member Breakfast Meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 6, 2017. Guest speaker is Col. Christopher Beckert.

The Member Breakfast Meeting, sponsored by Middlesex Hospital, will be held at the Radisson Hotel Cromwell, 100 Berlin Road, Cromwell, CT, with networking beginning at 7:00 a.m., breakfast buffet opens at 7:30 a.m., and the meeting program, 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.  Advance registration required, please register online:www.middlesexchamber.com. For more information, please visit www.middlesexchamber.com.   This sells out quickly.

Wednesday November 8th

8:00 am – The Independent Day School 115 Laurel Brook Rd, Middletown, CT, will be holding their morning assembly at 8:10 am and have asked to have as many Veterans attend as possible and provide a short presentation to the Students as we have done in the past.  Please be at the school by 8:00 am...

 

Thursday November 9th –

8:30 – 10:00 am

Woodrow Wilson Middle School and John Geary, 1 Wilderman’s Way, Middletown, will be having their Veterans Breakfast with the students in the library starting at 8:30am.

 

9:30 am – Middletown Community & Senior Center, 61 Durant Terrace, Middletown, will be hosting a Veterans Appreciation Social with eggs, bacon, fruit and coffee.  Thank you for your service.  Hope you can join us, FREE – for Veterans and their spouses/significant others only.  Pre-registration is appreciated.  Call 860-638-4540

 

9:30 am – Moody School Grade 3, will be visiting CT Trees of Honor on Nov. 9 at 9:30.

 

1:30 – 1:55 pm – Scott D. Sadinsky, Principal, Frank Ward Strong School, 191 Main Street, Durham student assembly.

 

5:30 pm – Elks Lodge 771, Maynard St. Middletown, POW Veterans Ceremony – Enjoy our Thursday night dinner at6 PM (free to Veterans) and a special Veterans ceremony to honor our veterans and the POW/MIAs will again be remembered. This ceremony begins in our lounge at 5:30pm with our special tribute to all those that served and have given us the freedom we enjoy today.

Friday November 10th

8:45 am Middlesex Health Care, 100 Randolph Rd. Middletown, Ceremony & Breakfast with their Resident Veterans.  Flag raising ceremony to be held outdoors.  Full breakfast to follow.  Please RSVP to Carol in recreation at860-344-0353.

10:30 am – Woodside Intermediate School, 30 Woodside Road, Cromwell, CT, we will be recognizing Veterans Day. I would like to give all of our students the experience of having a Veteran visit their classroom. If you know any Veterans who would be interested in coming to visit a classroom at WIS, please contact the school as soon as possible for scheduling. My e-mail is butwill@cromwell.k12.ct.us and our school phone number is (860) 632-3564. 

Your visit would be about 30 minutes. During this time you could: •Talk with students about your service to our country (which branch? when? where? why? how?) •Share pictures, mementos, or a story (Please remember to make sure that anything shared is appropriate for our students, who range in age from 7-11) •Answer questions

12:00 pm – Lunch at Heritage Commons Retirement Community, 38 Boston Road. Middletown with their resident Veterans.

 

5:00 pm – Eagles Club Veterans dinner, 64 Stack St. Middletown, all Veterans welcome

 

5:00pm - Marine Corp Birthday on Nov.10, 2017 at FIRST & LAST TAVERN all Vets. and friends welcome .Free chow but pay for your own drinks. Raffle will be held, all proceeds will go to Chapter No.1 VKVSW  to help local Vets.  Adults only please…

 

Saturday November 11th

11:00am – 2pm  Will Power for Veterans   Suffield High School  1060 Sheldon Street  West Suffield, CT  06093

Join us for guest speakers, refreshments, music, and community as we come together to honor and support our veterans.    Learn more atwww.willingnesstochange22.com

11:00 am - Council of Veterans/City of Middletown Veterans Day Ceremony at the Veterans Green, Washington St., Middletown

12:30 pm - Luncheon at Water’s Edge Health Care Facility, 111 Church St., Middletown with their Resident Veterans

1:00 pm -  First Company Governor’s Foot Guard, in honor of Veterans Day, the Trustees of the First Company Governor’s Foot Guard will host an Open House at the Foot Guard’s Armory, 159 High Street, Hartford Connecticut featuring the First Company Governors Foot Guard.  The historic Foot Guard Museum will be open for viewing and a display of artifacts and memorabilia from Vietnam will be on display.  1300 hours Doors open, 1400 hour Presentation of the colors, Commandant opening remarks, Foot Guard Band Concert, 1500 hours Tour the armory and visit the museum, 1600 hour Commandant closing remarks, Retiring of the colors.  Light refreshments will be provided.

2:00 pm – Ceremony at the Veterans Cemetery, Bow Lane, Middletown

5:00 pm – Free Veterans Day Dinner provided by Melilli’s Cafe & Grill at Portland High School 95 High St.  Doors open at 5:00pm, dinner beginning at 6:00pm.  Veterans from Portland, Middletown, Cromwell &East Hampton are Welcome. You must pick up a ticket in advance to attend, only 2 tickets given out per veteran.  Entertainment will be provided by the Middlesex Hospital Vocal Chords.  Tickets available at Portland Town Clerks office, 33 East Main St., Portland, Portland Senior Center, and the Quonset Surplus Pickering St in Portland off Marlborough St.( Rt.66.)

 

5:00 pm – 9:00 pm – 5th Annual Veterans’ Recognition Day Banquet & Gala; provided by Harry Ruffin Jr., American Legion Post 206, Saturday November 11, 2017 5:00 – 9;00 PM Radisson Hotel Cromwell, 100 Berlin Road, Cromwell, CT.  Keynote Speaker, U. S. Army Major Alyssa Kelleher.  For more information and tickets, please call Rosellen Duncan/Phillips at (860)997-9399, William White (860)510-3654 or via email roseduncan10@gmail.com, orabawhite@aol.com

  

Monday November 13th

8:00 am – Apple Rehab, 600 Highland Ave, Middletown Breakfast with their Resident Veterans.  PLEASE RSVP to Dotti Carpenter at 860-347-3315 if you plan to attend so they have a head count for planning.

 

Friday November 17th

9:15 am – 9:45 am – Macdonough School, 66 Spring St., Middletown will have a School assembly recognizing student family members that are Veterans,  Veterans from the Community, and students that excel in the School, along with new families to the neighborhood.  As in the past, Principal Reardon would like as many Veterans to participate in their neighborhood walking of students to school starting around 8:15am or so.  Please be at the school no later than 8:15am to participate.

**SHORT NOTICE ATTEND ON YOUR OWN** Saturday April 22nd, 2017 10am-3pm Groton, CT

**SHORT NOTICE ATTEND ON YOUR OWN**

Saturday April 22nd, 2017 10am-3pm

Groton, CT

Patriot Guard and Associates…..

Attached is an event that the Patriot Guard has been asked to participate in. This event is being organized by a CTPGR member. The proceeds from this event will benefit the family of USMC SGT, Justin Eldridge who was a casualty of his injuries of Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD received during deployment. 
Our own Greg & Marcia Young are personal friends of the organizer Felix. 
This is an attend on your own event. 
CTPGR has made a donation to this event. 
See the attached flyer, click on the link at the bottom of this post.
God Bless America, Our Troops, and Our First Responders. 
For the State Captain,
Skip Petras
Assistant State Captain
ATTACHMENT

Print Button

Our website was first published January 2012.  While assisting one of the Assistant State Captains, it was discovered that he was unaware of a “print” friendly button on each page.  This button enables all pages to be printed WITHOUT the colorful graphics – thus saving on printer ink.  Because of this discovery the “print friendly” button has been moved to the upper right side of each page and a little more colorful so it can be seen.  If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

Thank you,

Carol Casey

ccasey@ctpatriotguard.org

 

WEBSITE ISSUES

ATTENTION ALL SUBSCRIBERS

PLEASE AWARE THERE MAY BE A WEBSITE GLITCH FOR A FEW DAYS. IF YOU SEE NEW MISSION POSTINGS, PLEASE BE SURE YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THE DATES.  ALL MISSIONS ARE UP TO DATE.  THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE RSS FIELD (YOUR WEBSITE FEED).  THERE MAY BE OUTDATED POSTS IN YOUR SUBSCRIPTION.  PLEASE DISREGARD ALL OUTDATED MISSION ANNOUNCEMENTS.

THANK YOU

THE MEDIA TEAM

CT RUN FOR THE FALLEN/CT TREES OF HONOR DEDICATION CEREMONY

Patriot Guard and Associates,
Just a reminder about the event on Saturday, 17 September 2016 for the Run For The Fallen/ CT Trees of Honor Dedication Ceremony. While we are staging at 1200 hrs (Noon), if you wish to help with the set-up prior to the run starting, you can arrive at any time after 0600 hrs (6:00 am) as Skip Petras will be there early to do so. 

 

As a heads up, be advised that one of the contractors involved in the construction of the memorial has filed a suit against the City of Middletown to halt the dedication and opening of the park. The last I heard, his request for an injunction has been denied and the ceremony will go on as scheduled. Our participation in the event is not involved in the dispute as we are there to honor the veterans for whom the run is being held. If you should be approached by any members of the media who might want your opinion regarding the pending lawsuit, I would ask that you refer them to the City of Middletown, the organizers of the Park dedication, or to me or Skip Petras. We don’t want to be involved in any of the legal situation as it is still unfolding. Remember, we are there to honor the veterans. 
God Bless America, Our Troops and First Responders.Regards,
MAC MCARTHUR

STATE CAPTAIN

CT PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS

statecaptain@ctpatriotguard.org

haddamac@gmail.com

mac06438@aol.com

Cell:860-682-7625

Fax: 860-345-3654

 

Connecticut PGR Weekly Recap

Connecticut Patriot Guard Riders has an Honorary Ride Captain, who left us too soon, in 2013 – Jay Koonz.  Jay participated in many Patriot Guard Missions.  He rode a restored Ural with a sidecar.  Jay would write a recap of Connecticut Guard Missions for the Connecticut Cruise News. 

Connecticut Patriot Guard Riders is beginning a weekly recap our activities, will be published usually on Sunday’s.  This recap is being dedicated to Jay.

It will be posted on the web page:  https://www.ctpatriotguard.org and on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/CT.Patriot.Guard .  Because we are connected on twitter and Instagram, it will be share there as well.  It is hopeful this recap will inspire you to participate missions with us.

The Patriot Guard Riders of CT are volunteers and a large majority of us have full time jobs. We are a group that wishes to show honor and respect to our fallen heroes/heroines, including Active Duty Military, Veteran’s of Military Service, First Responders and Patriot Guard Riders Members.

We are not a protest group and we are not an anti-protest group. We will not participate in any event that could even be remotely viewed as such. We will not attend any event of political nature and do not seek publicity. We do attend funerals and on several occasions protesters have been present. Protesters are never recognized and always ignored.

FREEDOM ISN’T FREE, BUT MEMBERSHIP IS!

COME stand a flag-line with us, the only, requirement is: RESPECT.

To learn more, visit our website:   https://www.ctpatriotguard.org   or email our State Captain Mac McArthur

In memory of Jay Koonz:

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