Send Off Ceremony - E Battery 151 Field Artillery, Anoka, MN, 29 MAR 09

Sunday morning 20 degrees, sunny, and a cold north wind we gathered at the Anoka High School. 15 came on bikes which we lined the sidewalk to the Fieldhouse with. As if rehearsed the members set a flagline on their own along the entrance sidewalk. Joe Egan stationed himself at the entrance being there to welcome and direct the attendee’s to the first of three parking lots.

The soldiers started arriving 1 ˝ hours prior to the ceremony and were met by 57 PGR members holding flags to honor the defenders preparing for own mission. The PGR welcomed and thanked the soldiers for their service as they walked through the gauntlet of red, white, and blue. Once the soldiers were all inside the PGR stood down for 30 minutes.

We reset the flagline for the next wave of attendee’s which consisted of the families, friends, and community leaders. Joe took five members and put two with their bikes at the entrance to the schools driveway, then another two halfway up the long drive. Joe and one other stationed themselves at where the visitors needed to turn into the parking lots.

As this wave arrived the members in the flagline again did an awesome job of welcoming and thanking them for their role in supporting our defenders. The PGR did a great job of showing the soldiers, their families, and the community support. When the Governor arrived he attempted to quietly enter the school through another entrance, but it just wasn’t going to be quiet with 54 PGR shouting “good morning Governor” He turned to the flagline, waved and thanked us for being there.

The ceremony started on schedule at 13:00 and most of the visitors had arrived, but there were more arriving so every other member (except Pat) stayed on the flagline to welcome the late comers while the other half went to line the balcony. After it appeared that all visitors were inside the balance of the PGR joined the crew already inside and watched the ceremony.

The ceremony lasted about 1 hour, after the ceremony myself and a few members presented a signed PGR flag to CPT Gile while the rest of the members lined the sidewalks as the soldiers and guests depart for the parking lot. Captain Gile (also a NW Metro PGR member) Thanked us for being there to show community support, it is always our honor to do.

Thank you Joe, Mike, Jack, and the rest of the members that attended this mission for helping make this a great mission. This was again a good day to be a Patriot Guard,

(@) PGR National Thread

Tim Leonhardt