Send Off -829th WIARNG, Ashland, WI, 16 FEB 09

Total of 10 PGR members stood in honor of the departing soldiers and their families. It was a little cool and windy as we stood outside as the families arrived for the luncheon and the ceremony put on for those soldiers leaving. During our stand outside, a mom and her 5 little children were trying to cross the main street to get to the Armory at which time good old Pete walked out and stopped traffic so they could cross safely. What a neat sight. I could not get my camera out fast enough. We then set up our flag line inside for the ceremony.

After the ceremony we lined up our vehicles behind the police, fire trucks & ems for the escort thru town. The whole route went thru the main street of Ashland and then we proceeded to the road that passed by the schools. That's when that darn road dust must've got kicked up and got in our eyes. The road was lined about a 1/4 mile long which school children holding signs and flags yelling thank you's and good lucks and good byes to the soldiers as we passed by. As our eyes dried up a little, errr! ah! cleared up from that darn road dust, we proceeded to the airport at which time we turned off and the soldiers continued on to Chippewa Falls. 2 of our PGR members stood on both sides of the road as we passed by as final good bye and good luck.

The biggest highlight was all those kids at the school. Most of us returned to the Armory where Pete brought his PGR flag in that has flown on numerous missions and those of us there signed it and gave it to SPC John Taitt who ran it over to those departing from the Armory to take with them to Iraq.

Everything went well and I thank all those PGR members who came to this wonderful send off for the 829th.

(@) News clip from mission

(@) WDIO - 10-13 News clip from mission

(@) PGR National Thread

Respectfully submitted,
Den Padora