On March 27, 2008 we organized a Welcome Home Mission for WIA Andrew Hanson in Luverne, MN. We had been planning this for months and when the day finally came the community rallied behind us and a very fitting Welcome Home took place.

The day started with us scrambling for Plan B for the escort as we had at least 3 inches of wet snow and it continued to snow as the morning progressed. We obviously had to cancel the motorcycle escort but a call to Rick and Lori Reed, owners of Luverne Kawasaki quickly had us back on track as they very graciously agreed to donate the use of up to (6) 4 wheelers for the escort! Andrew called me a little later in the morning and asked if he could ride his 4 wheeler with us in the escort? Of course my answer was a resounding "Yes - that would be great!"

We had a total of 11 PGR members arrive at the staging area in spite of very poor road conditions. By the time we were ready for the escort, the snow had stopped for the most part and the roads were mostly just wet which was a big help. Our 7 members from MN were joined by 3 members from SD and 1 from IA.

Andrew and his Mom and Dad joined us at the staging area and I presented Andrew with the well wishes from the PGR Forum for his mission - it was 14 pages long once it was all printed. Thank you to everyone who posted a message to Welcome Andrew Home and thank him for his service! I also gave him a PGR MISSION ACCOMPLISHED pin which he so very much deserves! After a couple group photos, the LEO escort and Fire Trucks arrived and we were off.

About half our members were in the escort either on 4 wheelers or in vehicles with flags. Terrie Gulden, Luverne PGR member who was instrumental in making the arrangements for the mission, led the group and Andrew followed on his 4 wheeler. With the blaring of sirens we headed down main street with more than a hundred people lining the street with flags and welcome home signs. There were many waves and cheers as Andrew rode past them.

We then headed north on Hwy 75 towards the Veteran's Home and were greeted by a few more people along the highway including the other group of PGR members who had established a flag line along the highway near Andrew's home.

When we arrived at the VA Home we were very pleased to see that many of these HERO'S were also outside to welcome Andrew home. It was heart warming to see our friends from the Home outside on such a cold day!

We then headed to the school. In Luverne, all students are on the same campus from K-12 and there were at least 1000 students and staff lining the road from Hwy 75 all around the back of the school. To me, this was the most moving part of the Welcome Home. All the signs, flags, kids jumping up and down and cheering to do their part to Welcome this Hero HOME!

After leaving the school we escorted Andrew and his Family back to their home where the other PGR members were standing with Honor, Dignity and Respect.

This was a very special mission for all of us who have been following Andrew's recovery at Walter Reed and the entire community. I want to thank everyone who helped put this together including the PGR members who were there, the community of Luverne and most of all Andrew Hanson and his Family for letting us give him the Welcome Home he so very much deserved!

Here is a link to pictures taken by Alan Peterson and Dale Claussen:


Click on Shutterfly Logo above, Andrew Hanson's Welcome Home pictures taken by Dale Claussen and Alan Peterson (27 Mar 08)



Respectfully submitted,

Paul Ramsbey

-- Paul Ramsbey
Patriot Guard Riders
Minnesota Patriot Guard
Worthington Ride Captain