Troop deployment send off, Austin, TX, 04 NOV 2011

[markwells]

[markwells]

The command of the 980th Engineering Battalion HSC FSC, US Army Reserve, has requested that the PGR participate in the farewell ceremony for 200 of its soldiers deploying to Afghanistan.

This mission will consist of a flag line at the farewell ceremony at Camp Mabry followed by a LEO escorted procession to the Texas National Guard Air Support facility at Austin Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA).

Date/Time: Friday, 04 November 2011. Farewell ceremony begins at 8 am.

Location: Camp Mabry, Austin. We will stage adjacent to the entrance guard station.
Directions: From Mopac (Loop 1), take the exit for 35th street, go west 0.6 mi to the Camp Mabry entrance at Maintenance Drive, turn north into the facility. Proceed through the entrance guard station and immediately turn left into the adjacent parking lot. Map link: http://www.tinyurl.com/CampMabryEntrance

Timeline:
6:50-7:15 am
7:15 am briefing and KSU to the farewell ceremony location on post.

Wx: Clear, low 39, high 67 deg. Please remember your drinking water.

Notes: Please arrive fed, fueled, and hydrated. A photo ID and proper PPE (helmet, boots, eye protection, and gloves) are required to enter the post. Upon arrival at the farewell ceremony location we will establish a flag line to greet the arriving soldiers and their families until the start of the ceremony. We are invited inside to attend the ceremony and afterward participate in a LEO escorted procession to ABIA. Departure from Camp Mabry at approximately 9:00 am.

Ride Captain: Terry Ayers, mototerry@sbcglobal.net, 512-925-6101
Flag Wrangler: JC Clausen

Please make plans to support these soldiers as they depart to serve our nation in defense of freedom.

[markwells]

A note from Janice Vacchiani… Thank you all and Thank you Janice

“My son left Camp Mabry this morning for his deployment. It was such an honor to see the Patriot Guard Riders there supporting our troops. Thanks for escorting them to airport as well. I just wanted to say thanks for your time and your support for all that the Pariot Guard Riders do.

Thank you!”

[mototerry]

Thanks to the twelve (PGR's Dirty Dozen?) members for participating in the departure ceremony for the men and women of the 980th. I cannot thank you enough…I also want to thank LTC Wyatt A. Lowery, Commanding Officer of the 980th for authorizing the invitation for the PGR to attend Additional thanks to CW2 Carla Gentry for coordinating our access, and SFC Michael Zsembik (retired) for assisting us on location. The PGR was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation signed by Commanding Officer LTC Wyatt. A. Lowery. God Bless the men and women of the 980th Engineer Battallion HFC FSC.

[markwells]

Just a side note- there were 2 aircraft at ABIA that took the troops to Ft. Bliss this morning. One was a charter company that boarded at Atlantic Aviation, the other was a Southwest Airlines jet on the ramp where I work.

I was in charge of the SWA charter. After the 2 buses parked near "my" airplane, I boarded each bus before the tropps got off. I had my PGR cap on, and told them I knew the PGR had been at Mabry and apologized for not being able to have been there. And of course I thanked them for the job they're doing for all of us. But as soon as they heard me say the 3 words "Patriot Guard Riders" they erupted in cheers and began chanting "OOORAH".

Y'all done good. Again!

[Author]

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