An open letter of Thanks to all Patriot Guard Riders and US Service Men and women from the family of Virginia "Ginny" Tusa:

Our Entire Family would like to extend our Heart Felt Thanks to ALL of the Men and Women who have fought and died for our Country and to those who ride in their Honor and keep the peace so families of our fallen Hero's can grieve without interruption.

Although Ginny never served in the Military I would like to share a little bit about how she and I first began learning about Patriotism. As we were growing up we watched as our Father (a Disabled American Veteran of WWII, and member of the American Legion) would call all of the Gold Star Mothers and P.O.W's from our town and arrange for them to be driven in our communities Labor Day parades.

Our Mother was a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary and was a flag bearer herself marching in as many parades as I can remember. The parades would process through our town and end at a bridge over the DesMoine river where a wreath would be dropped in the water to the sound of a twenty one gun salute to honor our Soldiers.

Ginny and I would always run to pick up the brass from the salute after the parade was over. Later in our lives our mom formed a Junior Auxiliary marching group that would allow young girls to march in the parades along with the Ladies Auxiliary.

Our Mother used to have fun with people about our name and how it is spelled. The correct pronunciation is (TOO-SHA) and people would ask "How do you spell that?" Mom would say " As long as you can remember The United States of America You will never forget how to spell our name!

The Flag that Ginny used while participating in PGR missions was carried aboard Combat mission "G" over the skies of Iraq in a UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter on the 22nd day of May, 2008 by Charlie Company 2-147 Aviation (ASLT) In support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and America's war on terrorism. and given to Ginny on behalf of CPT Andrea R. Ourada Pilot, CW3 John Cole Pilot, SGT Todd Hacker Crew Chief, and SGT Rob Bennett Crew Chief.

This flag will be folded at my youngest son Daniel's Eagle Scout Ceremony later this year by Daniel and our oldest Son Nathan (Also an Eagle Scout) in Ginny's memory and placed in a case to be proudly displayed in our home.

In conclusion I would just like to once again say on behalf of our entire family THANK YOU for all of your prayers and words of kindness during this most difficult time.

God Bless our American Servicemen and Women
God Bless the Patriot Guard Riders
And God Bless America

With Kindest Regards and Respect

James H. Tusa and Family