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As a Patriot Guard Ride Captain you can plan all you want.  But, no battle plan survives contact with the enemy, airlines or Uncle Sam's Travel Agency.  Our Welcome Home mission was moved up a day due to flight data changes.  Hey, that's a good thing!  Well, except for the planning part.  Changes were posted and the Statewide Email was sent.  

I arrived at the Rally point, Huntingtown High School at 1445 hours, well ahead of the Rally time.  By 1600 hours we had 20 bikes lined up on either side of the driveway awaiting the arrival of PO1 Lively.  26 total Riders were ready to show their appreciation.  Hey, I was only 30 minutes or so off the time I had calculated.  Thank you to all our Riders who came out.  Welcome and hope to see you again to our 1st Time Riders.  Special thanks to the Nam Knights MC members who attended and assisted.

The stretch Hummer limousine arrived with the Lively family inside and slowly made way between the bikes to cheers, clapping and salutes.  When the door to the limo opened something amazing happened.  Something that was completely unplanned by this Ride Captain.  Members of the Huntingtown High School, Hurricanes Marching Band, just happened to be at the school.  The Assistant Director led the band in playing the National Anthem for our returning Hero. Out of sight!  Thank you so much to the Hurricanes for an outstanding display of patriotism and appreciation.  I hope the picture of you with PO1 Lively makes the Yearbook!

We mounted up to move this happy procession on to Lusby and the Lively family home.  I can't begin to express my gratitude and admiration for the Calvert County Sheriff's Office.  Sgt Brian McCourt of the Traffic Safety Unit responded to our request for escort assistance in true style!  Not only did he get us under way, he had the entire route mapped, covered and the backdoor closed.  Thank you to all the Motor officers that assisted us through to our final destination.  It was a wonderful tribute and evidence of how the Calvert County Sheriff's department supports & appreciates the efforts of our Servicemen!

After a beautiful 20 mile ride down Route 2 to Lusby we were able to deliver PO1 Lively safely to his home.  Additional handshakes, hugs and "welcome homes" were tendered.  On behalf of the Patriot Guard Riders I presented a PGR Challenge Coin to PO1 Lively in gratitude for his service to our Nation and to celebrate his safe return.

It's such a little thing we do.  We get on our bikes and we ride.  Sometimes the weather cooperates and makes it a nice ride.  Sometimes it's brutal and we wonder what we were thinking.  What we did today was welcome home a man who left his family and went into danger's lair for our way of life.  We honored his and his family's trials and tribulations.  A double edged sword, the danger and the loneliness for home & deployed.  Today the Hurricane Marching Band, the Calvert County Sheriffs Office and the Patriot Guard Riders let one family know just how much we appreciate the personal sacrifices they made.

Thank you Doug for answering the call.  Thank you Jessica for inviting us to celebrate the Welcome Home with you!  We will treasure this memory!

Welcome Home!