Eutrusca
26-06-2006, 14:20
COMMENTARY: Particularly telling is the mention in this story of how being reviled when he returned from Vietnam prompted Woody Wagner, with the Hampton Roads Patriot Guard Riders, to serve as ride captain for the group. Being reviled by your own countrymen is something you don't easily forget.
Motorcycle group escorts local soldier
returning to Iraq (http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=106550&ran=48739)
By KATE WILTROUT, The Virginian-Pilot
© June 24, 2006
VIRGINIA BEACH - The first leg of Christopher Edwards' long journey back to Baghdad started with a thunderous rumble Friday morning, when a motorcade of 30 flag-bedecked motorcycles escorted the surprised Army specialist and his family to the Norfolk airport.
Local members of Patriot Guard Riders, a nationwide affiliation of bikers who typically ride to funerals of military members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, had a happier mission: Thank a soldier home on leave for his service, and send him back to Iraq with a roar of good wishes.
Donna Edwards, mother of the 21-year-old soldier, requested the escort after learning about the organization from her colleague, Woody Wagner.
Wagner, who serves as the Hampton Roads ride captain for the group, was glad to oblige.
About 300 people - not all of them bikers - belong to the organization locally. Formed last fall, the network counts 41,000 members nationwide.
Last week, Wagner announced the ride on the group's Web site, and the message spread. Many of the riders Friday were participating in their first mission with the group.
As a growing crowd affixed American flags to their bikes and snapped on helmets, Wagner and Kat Atwood went into the Kempsville restaurant where Edwards was finishing breakfast with his mother, sister, aunt and grandfather.
"This is your own personal parade," Atwood told Edwards, who graduated from Portsmouth's Woodrow Wilson High School in 2002 . "A small token of our appreciation for your personal service."
Edwards joined the Army in January 2003 and served a hitch in Afghanistan before arriving in Iraq last October with the 101st Airborne Division .
He came home June 7 for two weeks of leave, which included a trip to Busch Gardens, time at the beach, a family cookout and hanging out with friends.
He tried not to think about the war while he was home, Edwards said.
"But it's always in the back of your mind. It's hard to forget about."
He has 2-1/2 months left in Iraq and plans to get out of the Army when his commitment ends in January.
"I'm glad I'm going back so I can get it over with," he said.
The Patriot Guard Riders have garnered national attention for their presence at funerals. While the group's primary mission is to show respect for the family and community of fallen military members, its other purpose is to shield mourning families from protestors.
One Kansas-based church has picketed at military funerals, claiming that U.S. deaths in Iraq are God's retaliation for the American culture's tolerance of homosexuality.
Reading about that motivated Ken Trietch to get involved.
"As soon as I found out what it was about, I had to join," said Trietch, who lives in Hampton. "Some things you have to do."
In January, the Patriot Guard Riders attended services for Army Cpl. Tony Lutz of Chesapeake, the first local funeral for the group. Many have ridden outside the region as well.
Wagner has traveled to four military funerals outside the area, something that has extra significance for him. His son, like Edwards, is an Army infantryman. He has pulled two tours in Iraq and faces a third one this winter.
"I'll do this for anybody and everybody, but God forbid I have to do it for my son," Wagner said.
Three weeks ago, Bill Jones rode to Greensboro, N.C. , where Patriot Guard Riders had been invited to escort a fallen Marine's body from the funeral home to the memorial service.
"This one's so much better. It's not a funeral," said Jones, who took the morning off from his job at Norfolk Naval Shipyard to ride his gleaming black 1999 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide.
Jones served in Vietnam, and he remembers when soldiers were publicly reviled for their service.
"It sort of eats at you over the years," Jones said. "Then you see the military finally getting a little respect. It makes you feel good."
The bikers broke into applause when Atwood introduced Edwards outside the restaurant. Moments later, with a flip of kickstands and rumble of engines, they got down to business.
They rode in pairs down Indian River Road , turned onto Military Highway and made a right on Azalea Garden Road .
They parked their bikes and formed two facing lines outside the doors of the airport terminal. On Atwood's command, as Edwards approached the door, they snapped to salute.
"Good luck, and thank you," Atwood said.
Motorcycle group escorts local soldier
returning to Iraq (http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=106550&ran=48739)
By KATE WILTROUT, The Virginian-Pilot
© June 24, 2006
VIRGINIA BEACH - The first leg of Christopher Edwards' long journey back to Baghdad started with a thunderous rumble Friday morning, when a motorcade of 30 flag-bedecked motorcycles escorted the surprised Army specialist and his family to the Norfolk airport.
Local members of Patriot Guard Riders, a nationwide affiliation of bikers who typically ride to funerals of military members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, had a happier mission: Thank a soldier home on leave for his service, and send him back to Iraq with a roar of good wishes.
Donna Edwards, mother of the 21-year-old soldier, requested the escort after learning about the organization from her colleague, Woody Wagner.
Wagner, who serves as the Hampton Roads ride captain for the group, was glad to oblige.
About 300 people - not all of them bikers - belong to the organization locally. Formed last fall, the network counts 41,000 members nationwide.
Last week, Wagner announced the ride on the group's Web site, and the message spread. Many of the riders Friday were participating in their first mission with the group.
As a growing crowd affixed American flags to their bikes and snapped on helmets, Wagner and Kat Atwood went into the Kempsville restaurant where Edwards was finishing breakfast with his mother, sister, aunt and grandfather.
"This is your own personal parade," Atwood told Edwards, who graduated from Portsmouth's Woodrow Wilson High School in 2002 . "A small token of our appreciation for your personal service."
Edwards joined the Army in January 2003 and served a hitch in Afghanistan before arriving in Iraq last October with the 101st Airborne Division .
He came home June 7 for two weeks of leave, which included a trip to Busch Gardens, time at the beach, a family cookout and hanging out with friends.
He tried not to think about the war while he was home, Edwards said.
"But it's always in the back of your mind. It's hard to forget about."
He has 2-1/2 months left in Iraq and plans to get out of the Army when his commitment ends in January.
"I'm glad I'm going back so I can get it over with," he said.
The Patriot Guard Riders have garnered national attention for their presence at funerals. While the group's primary mission is to show respect for the family and community of fallen military members, its other purpose is to shield mourning families from protestors.
One Kansas-based church has picketed at military funerals, claiming that U.S. deaths in Iraq are God's retaliation for the American culture's tolerance of homosexuality.
Reading about that motivated Ken Trietch to get involved.
"As soon as I found out what it was about, I had to join," said Trietch, who lives in Hampton. "Some things you have to do."
In January, the Patriot Guard Riders attended services for Army Cpl. Tony Lutz of Chesapeake, the first local funeral for the group. Many have ridden outside the region as well.
Wagner has traveled to four military funerals outside the area, something that has extra significance for him. His son, like Edwards, is an Army infantryman. He has pulled two tours in Iraq and faces a third one this winter.
"I'll do this for anybody and everybody, but God forbid I have to do it for my son," Wagner said.
Three weeks ago, Bill Jones rode to Greensboro, N.C. , where Patriot Guard Riders had been invited to escort a fallen Marine's body from the funeral home to the memorial service.
"This one's so much better. It's not a funeral," said Jones, who took the morning off from his job at Norfolk Naval Shipyard to ride his gleaming black 1999 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide.
Jones served in Vietnam, and he remembers when soldiers were publicly reviled for their service.
"It sort of eats at you over the years," Jones said. "Then you see the military finally getting a little respect. It makes you feel good."
The bikers broke into applause when Atwood introduced Edwards outside the restaurant. Moments later, with a flip of kickstands and rumble of engines, they got down to business.
They rode in pairs down Indian River Road , turned onto Military Highway and made a right on Azalea Garden Road .
They parked their bikes and formed two facing lines outside the doors of the airport terminal. On Atwood's command, as Edwards approached the door, they snapped to salute.
"Good luck, and thank you," Atwood said.