Dave Woodward, Detroit Lakes

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How do I put into words all the emotions that have challenged my soul this last week. From the many sleepless nights pondering all the logistics of the many Welcome Home Escorts and Flag Line Missions that needed to be put together, then the sudden and tragic loss of Cory Orvik and the planning of his Honor Mission in Perham, yet Welcoming Home my son, Randy, from 16 months in Iraq.

Patriot Guard Cory Orvik was an exceptional man. He had given our Country 29 years of service in the Military plus was very active in his community and with helping children. And, as I found out from my son, he was very active in getting care packages and cards sent to our Troops in Iraq. My time with him was very short but he has left an impression on my heart that will never fade.

Our Visitation Flag Line on Sunday, July 22nd, was maintained for at least 3 1/2 hour in sweltering heat and you Patriot Guards made me proud that you once again held the line in such adverse conditions. I am not sure how many Patriot Guards did stand the Flag Line as I was late arriving due to taking my Son home first and spending a little time with him and my family. When I visited with Cory's wife, Mary, I was shocked and Honored by her presenting Cory's Patriot Guard Flag Pole and his American Flag to be carried at all future Missions. His Flag has ridden with me since but unfortunately I have not had the opportunity to Stand a Flag Line, other than his own, but His Spirit is with me at all times when I ride.

Cory's Honor Mission was as dignified as any Mission I have planned and the outpouring of love and concern from the community, National Guards, friends, family and Patriot Guards was unbelievable. Some Troops of Company E of 2/136th CAB, still in demobilization in Camp McCoy, even drove up for the Funeral Service on Monday. There were in excess of 40 Troops from Company A, Bemidji and Detroit Lakes, also in attendance at Cory's Funeral, including my son.

The Honor Mission of Monday, July 23rd, was attended by at least 30 Patriot Guard Members. We did an Honor Escort from the Funeral Home to the St. Stanislaus Catholic Church and then held the Honor Flag Line for the Visitation and Funeral Service. We did a "rap off" at the beginning of the Service to Thank Cory for his Service to his Country and to the Patriot Guards. Since the Cemetery was approximately 2 blocks from the Church, Cory's Funeral Procession was led by the Patriot Guards on cycles while the Funeral Procession followed the Pall Bearers on foot to the Cemetery. Cory was given a full Military Funeral Service with 21 Gun Salute and the most beautiful trumpet rendition of Taps I have every heard. Our Flag Lines held until Cory's Family departed the Interment Service. Prior to departing, Mary and several of Cory's children, walked the Flag Line and thanked each and every Patriot Guard for Honoring Cory. Mission Complete.

Sunday July 22, Detroit Lakes Welcome Home Escort.

The last of three legs of the Escort (8 Patriot Guards) picked up the Troops of A Company at Motley. Where we expected a simple run from Motley to Detroit Lakes with 2 State Patrol LEOs, we were fooled. All of a sudden, Fire Trucks started showing up at our staging area so we ended up moving it further South to accommodate the 8 Firetrucks that eventually proceeded us down Hwy 10. As we crossed different Fire Districts, another set of Fire Trucks picked up the lead until we went through Staples. We were free wheeling from there to Detroit Lakes. Every Community we went through and many intersections had citizens waving Flags and cheering on the Troops. Emotionally I was fine until we came up to Perham where literally hundreds of people were lining Hwy 10 and on the overpass (which had a large Welcome Home banner with Joshua Hanson and Greg Riewer's pictures included). There were 3 large billboards between Perham and Frazee that also welcomed home the troops. Frazee also had hundreds of people and a banner on the overpass. At Frazee, I truly lost it when I saw Dick and Jan Riewer, parents of SSG Greg Riewer, and family standing along the Highway Welcoming Home the Troops who Greg served with. How hard that had to be for the Family to see their Son's fellow Troopers coming home yet there they stood. Good thing I was following a Highway Patrol so as to keep track of where I was. The entrance down Washington Ave. in Detroit Lakes was unbelievable. First off ,the Fire Department had opposing hoses shooting water up and creating a welcome shower of water to ride through and then there were the thousands of people lining the streets. Wow. At the High School, I rushed inside to partake of the Welcome Home Ceremony which included the awarding of 2 Purple Heart, 2 Bronze Stars, and at least 2 Army Commendation Medals with one of them with the "V" for Valor before the joyous words, "Dismissed" were announced. I stood on a bleacher seat to hug my son, he is 6-3, and of course was overwhelmed with joy. The Welcome Home Mission was complete but the Patriot Guards immediately headed for Perham for the Visitation Mission for Cory.

Friday July 27th Welcome Home Escort Mission for Crookston and Bemidji.

Eight Patriot Guards (2 showed up that were not expected..lol) stood for over an hour on the Barnesville Hwy 9 overpass waiting for the Troops. Just as they showed up, our State Patrol LEO showed up so we were led from there all the way to Crookston area before we picked up additional Polk County LEO's to lead us into Crookston itself. From Ada North, every community had people waiving their Flags and cheering us on. You knew you were in farming land because there were Combines and Swathers at several intersections waiving us on. It was hard to believe the total distance through Crookston that there were people on both sides of the street welcoming home the Troops. Then as we got closer to the High School, the numbers increased. We were again showered with water, 2 times, as we came up to the School and were greeted there with about 20 Mounted Patrol. Fortunately the plan to have them march us into the Welcome Home Ceremony site had been nixed but they were there to greet us. Gary Metcalf and his Patriot Guard Flag Lines Welcomed the Troops as they left the bus. After greeting all the Troops, we hurried to top off our tanks to get back for the Bemidji run. Crookston Mission ended.

Friday, July 27th, Welcome Home Escort for Bemidji.

As we left Crookston High School's parking lot to Escort Bemidji's Troops home, at least 8 more cycles unexpectedly joined in the Escort as we took off down the road. I am sure this was an impressive view of the Escort from inside the bus but it drastically hindered my view of where the bus was so I had a hard time judging the pace of the Escort. As a word of caution for future Welcome Home Escort Missions that do run at or above the posted speed limits, whatever speed the LEO's ran we ran, please fall in behind the buses rather than join the Escort Group. It was a fun ride though because we did the inside lane all the way to Bemidji and every once in awhile I would have to go over to the right lane to actually see where the bus was and low and behold, 16 cycles behind me moved over too.....there I am waiving my left hand to indicate they needed to get back...lmao**. After the second time they figured out what I was doing and performed wonderfully thereafter. And again..all the way to Bemidji there were the crowds and the single cars with Great Grampa and Grandma waiving their Flags and the countless little children, some saluting with their dads, all along the way. Every community had their streets lined with people. By the time we got to Shevlin we had 10 LEO's, 3 Firetrucks and an ambulance leading us on. Those six Soldiers on the bus will never forget their Welcome Home. Of course one of the wonderful problems Nate and I had to endure were the last minute changes in Military plans and Bemidji's Welcome Home was no exception. First it was reversed from Bemidji to Crookston to Crookston to Bemidji. Second, it is a good thing I was being led because I would have headed over to Bemidji State University to the Fieldhouse as I was unaware that the Welcome Home Ceremony had been changed to the Bemidji Armory. As is the case of all Missions, we took the changes in stride and most importantly, the last group of Soldiers made it back to Bemidji to their loving families and friends, safe and sound and having been shown the Patriotism this Country can truly give to Welcome its Heroes Home!. Mission Complete

David Woodward
**laughing my a-- off
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David J. Woodward
ARC Detroit Lakes Sector
WIA State Representative
Minnesota Patriot Guard

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