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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>Ladies and Gentlemen,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>There are so many, many stories to tell about our recent
experiences with the Medal of Honor mission(s) that it would take a book to
write them all down but I can tell you that the board of directors of the
event, the people of Gainesville, including the Mayor and the City Manager, and
the recipients themselves were completely thrilled and happy with the presence
of the PGR and other riders who came to pay their respects and to honor the
recipients during their stay. It was a huge topic of conversation during
the entire event and they all expressed to me their appreciation and wanted me
to pass it along to each of the riders.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>Ride Captains Dewey Dyer, Gene Faulk and Sharon Faulk came through
in marvelous fashion, just as I knew they would. The other Ride Captains
stepped up and helped out wherever they could, as they always do, and deserve a
lot of credit for that. Sam Rainey brought water and snacks to the
airport…on his own…and quenched a lot of thirsts. On and on,
there were people helping whenever they saw a need, everywhere they saw a
need. I won’t attempt to mention all the names, but thanks to
everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>I would also like to thank each of the riders and cagers personally
for your great work, your patience, your skill and your perfection in representing
the Patriot Guard and all we stand for. I could not have been more
proud. I continue to be humbled and thankful that you allow me to stand
with you and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are wonderful
people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>I was able to attend the banquet for the recipients last Friday
night and in spite of my shyness, was able to gain the microphone in order to
make a presentation on your behalf to the recipients. The North Texas
Patriot Guard was able to obtain for each of the recipients a Texas flag that
was flown over the Alamo this year on March 6, the 173<sup>rd</sup> anniversary
of the battle in 1836. Along with each flag was a certificate of
authenticity with the name of each of the recipients on it. A copy of one
of those certificates is attached to this e-mail for you to see. While I
had the microphone for the presentation I mentioned to the recipients that the
Alamo is probably the most hallowed ground in Texas, and the place where true
heroes for the freedom of Texas fought to the last man for what they knew to be
right. I said that it was appropriate that a token from that place,
representing those gallant men be given to these gallant warriors, the Medal of
Honor recipients. That they share a common bond in being ready and
willing to give their very lives for their fellow man and for freedom, and that
on behalf of everyone in the North Texas Patriot Guard we were pleased and
proud that they had come to North Texas and that it was our privilege to honor
them. I also presented each of them with a triangle Patriot Guard pin and
a mission accomplished pin. Not only had they ridden on a Patriot Guard mission,
I think they earned that pin long before the Patriot Guard came into existence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>I thought you would like to know that not only did you give them a
wonderful memory and a great experience to take home with them, you gave them a
bit of Texas history that is certainly relevant to their lives and that they
can hang on their home or office walls and have to fondly remember their first experience
with the North Texas Patriot Guard Riders.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>Stand tall and proud yet again, my friends. The organizers
very much want us back next year and so do the recipients. By the way…a
couple of the recipients when talking about the escort on Wednesday said that
they had been to New York, Washington, DC, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, all over the
country…and they had never witnessed anything like that escort and they
had never been honored in such a manner. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>Now all we have to do is figure out a way to top it for next year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>Ladies and gentlemen all, I salute you. Not just for this
event, but for all you do all year long.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>Steve Lucas<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>Deputy State Captain<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>North Texas PGR<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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