To THE PATRIOT GUARD
Thank you for your support at my son's funeral (Specialist Jacob J. Fairbanks).
At a time when I did not feel safe, you made me feel safe.
At the time when I was crying, you comforted me
At a time when we needed support, you supported us......
Jake is a hero and you made sure everyone knew he is a hero......
I honestly think that you are Angels sent to look after fallen soldiers and their families......
Thanks soooo very much!
Janette Fairbanks
(Jacobs mother)
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
MN Patriot Guard Board of Directors Nominations
It is my pleasure to introduce the following nominees for the Minnesota Patriot Guard Board of Directors:
Joe Egan - Plymouth
James H. Elmquist - Rush City
John "Jack" Foster - Plymouth
Holly Frost - Bloomington
Brian Jones - Hager City - Current member of leadership
Christopher "Cowboy" Kamp - Blane
Tim Leonhardt - New Hope - Current member of leadership
Gary P. Meyers - Arden Hills
Michael P. "Medic Dad" O'Loughlin - Maple Lake
John Reuter - Walker
Sue Rochholz - Woodbury
Terrance J. Schwartz - St. Paul
Jerry R. Teeson - Coon Rapids
Terry R. Throndson - Rochester
Greg "Springer" Yung - Apple Valley
Please advise your Ride Captain as to your choice(s) of who you'd like to see elected to the Board of Directors. Since we didn't have as many nominations as anticipated we will hold only the one vote for the final four Board of Director positions to be filled.
The Leadership Advisory Committee will vote on 02 May 2008. The new board members will assume their positions on 05 May 2008.
Good luck to the ladies and gentleman listed above.
Joe Egan - Plymouth
James H. Elmquist - Rush City
John "Jack" Foster - Plymouth
Holly Frost - Bloomington
Brian Jones - Hager City - Current member of leadership
Christopher "Cowboy" Kamp - Blane
Tim Leonhardt - New Hope - Current member of leadership
Gary P. Meyers - Arden Hills
Michael P. "Medic Dad" O'Loughlin - Maple Lake
John Reuter - Walker
Sue Rochholz - Woodbury
Terrance J. Schwartz - St. Paul
Jerry R. Teeson - Coon Rapids
Terry R. Throndson - Rochester
Greg "Springer" Yung - Apple Valley
Please advise your Ride Captain as to your choice(s) of who you'd like to see elected to the Board of Directors. Since we didn't have as many nominations as anticipated we will hold only the one vote for the final four Board of Director positions to be filled.
The Leadership Advisory Committee will vote on 02 May 2008. The new board members will assume their positions on 05 May 2008.
Good luck to the ladies and gentleman listed above.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Short Notice Welcome Home
A very special welcome home is taking place tomorrow...see this thread for Shane Nault of Mondovi, Wisconsin:
http://www.patriotguard.org/Forums/tabid/61/postid/831542/view/topic/Default.aspx
I just spoke to Ed Bergey, the HOTH Coordinator from Wisconsin.
A few people will be seeing Shane off tomorrow from the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis...if you would like to join the flag line, be at the Outpatient Entrance prior to 10:45 a.m. with a 3 x 5 flag!
You are also welcome to join WI PGR on the escort near Menomonie. There is no PGR escort taking place from the VAMC due to city traffic.
Monica Mead
MN State Captain
http://www.patriotguard.org/Forums/tabid/61/postid/831542/view/topic/Default.aspx
I just spoke to Ed Bergey, the HOTH Coordinator from Wisconsin.
A few people will be seeing Shane off tomorrow from the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis...if you would like to join the flag line, be at the Outpatient Entrance prior to 10:45 a.m. with a 3 x 5 flag!
You are also welcome to join WI PGR on the escort near Menomonie. There is no PGR escort taking place from the VAMC due to city traffic.
Monica Mead
MN State Captain
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
This week we again mourn the loss of a hero from Minnesota. Spc. Jacob J. Fairbanks of St. Paul died April 9th in Baghdad, Iraq.
His family has asked us to stand in his honor on Thursday and Friday, April 17 and 18.
All details on this mission may be found here:
CLICK HERE
His family has asked us to stand in his honor on Thursday and Friday, April 17 and 18.
All details on this mission may be found here:
CLICK HERE
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
MN Board Nominations
Minnesota Patriot Guard is expanding our board of directors from five to nine people. Having four additional directors will help us to look to the future of our organization and ensure our organization stays true to its purpose.
If you are interested in serving on the board or would like to nominate another member that you feel possesses the qualifications for this position, please read the pdfs linked below and fill them out completely before turning them in. If you nominate another person, please first make sure they are willing to serve.
Nominations are open until 19 April 2008. On 20 April 2008 we will list the names of everyone who has been nominated on our website's News & Notes. Please make your thoughts known to your Ride Captain or other member of the Leadership Advisory Committee.
The final recommendations for the new board members will be made by an online election on 26 April 2008 by the Leadership Advisory Committee. The new board members will assume their position on 01 May 2008.
Documents:
http://www.mnpatriotguard.org/docs/BOD_Election.pdf
http://www.mnpatriotguard.org/docs/Roles_of_the_Board.pdf
If you are interested in serving on the board or would like to nominate another member that you feel possesses the qualifications for this position, please read the pdfs linked below and fill them out completely before turning them in. If you nominate another person, please first make sure they are willing to serve.
Nominations are open until 19 April 2008. On 20 April 2008 we will list the names of everyone who has been nominated on our website's News & Notes. Please make your thoughts known to your Ride Captain or other member of the Leadership Advisory Committee.
The final recommendations for the new board members will be made by an online election on 26 April 2008 by the Leadership Advisory Committee. The new board members will assume their position on 01 May 2008.
Documents:
http://www.mnpatriotguard.org
http://www.mnpatriotguard.org
Friday, March 28, 2008
Minnesota Mourns Another Hero
Spc. Gregory B. Rundell, 21, of North St. Paul, MN
This is a confirmed mission.
Spc. Gregory B. Rundell, 21, of North St. Paul, MN, died March 26 in Taji Iraq, of wounds suffered from small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
Jeff Good, the Ride Captain In Charge is in contact with the Casualty Assistance Officer who will be supporting Spc. Gregory B. Rundell's family through the coming days. The family has invited the Patriot Guard Riders to attend the services as the invited guests of the family. Until more information is available, we ask you to keep his loved ones in your thoughts or prayers.
Please check the mission thread for details:
Click Here
Stand down soldier, your duty is done, rest with God. A grateful Nation owes you a debt that can never be repaid. We will never forget your ultimate sacrifice.
This is a confirmed mission.
Spc. Gregory B. Rundell, 21, of North St. Paul, MN, died March 26 in Taji Iraq, of wounds suffered from small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
Jeff Good, the Ride Captain In Charge is in contact with the Casualty Assistance Officer who will be supporting Spc. Gregory B. Rundell's family through the coming days. The family has invited the Patriot Guard Riders to attend the services as the invited guests of the family. Until more information is available, we ask you to keep his loved ones in your thoughts or prayers.
Please check the mission thread for details:
Click Here
Stand down soldier, your duty is done, rest with God. A grateful Nation owes you a debt that can never be repaid. We will never forget your ultimate sacrifice.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Back Patch Update
To all MN members:
As many of you know, Minnesota Patriot Guard used to sell back patches that were in three separate pieces. A decision was made last June to halt those sales. A three-piece design with rockers (above and below a center patch) carries a great deal of significance in the world of motorcycle clubs, and we wanted there to be no confusion - we are not a motorcycle club, riding club, or any other type of club.
We are a non-profit organization that exists to honor our Fallen Heroes and provide both shield and support to their families, and to support the wounded and injured men and women of our military. Although many of us ride, it is not a requirement that members have motorcycles. The ONLY requirement is respect for those who defend our freedoms.
We heard from many of you when we halted sales of the patches. The message was loud and clear that you still wanted a back patch - and if it was to be a one-piece, you wanted it to be as similar as possible to the old one. A committee was put together to consider the requests. They agreed with many members that although the Fallen Heroes patch conveys much of the spirit of our mission, a more specific patch would provide name recognition to be identifiable by the general public, members of our military, and law enforcement while on missions. The committee considered several different options, some of which were submitted by members.
We apologize that this process has taken a while; unfortunately, some of the delay was beyond our control. The design was approved in December, but we had to hold off due to a trademark issue with the PGR name at the National level. After consulting with a trademark attorney, the MN Board of Directors decided to move forward with production of the new back patch. They have been ordered and should be available on the mnpatriotguard.org website gear page in approximately 4-5 weeks. As always...the proceeds will support our mission.
Some of you have asked whether or not you may wear the previous back patch design with the rockers above and below the Fallen Heroes patch. We are not in a position to tell you that you can or cannot wear them, because you own them. We can only make suggestions and provide information. However, it is our hope that, due to the high quality and amount of time that has gone into producing the new back patch, our members will overwhelmingly choose to wear the new one-piece version.
As the MN board of directors, we recommend that if you still choose to wear the previous patch with rockers, they be worn only at Patriot Guard missions within the state of Minnesota. We recommend that if ever asked by anyone to remove your vest, you do so without contention for your own well-being and that of others with you. We do not recommend the previous 3-piece patch be worn at motorcycle events such as bike shows, runs, rallies, bars, casual rides, or anything other than a PGR mission within our state.
Again - these are recommendations for those who have asked, or may wish to ask. The decision is up to the individual.
We also feel it may be helpful to provide you with information as to why we have made these recommendations. Motorcycle Clubs have a long history, and traditionally a 3-piece patch is earned over a period of time - not purchased. It is impossible to explain the culture of MCs in a brief email, but the following website may be of help to you in making an informed decision for yourself, by understanding the significance of rockers and the traditional protocols involved in wearing them:
http://home.earthlink.net/~rcvsmc-edu/index.html
(Please note that the bandwidth of this website is limited, and at times it may be unavailable - particularly later in the month. If that happens, it will be available again at the beginning of the next month.)
Some of you may have received much of this information previously. It is being sent out via email one final time, posted in the News/Notes section of our website, and posted in the MN forum on the National PGR website in an attempt to reach as many members as possible.
IMPORTANT: For those of you who intend to purchase the new one-piece back patch, the above link also contains important information. In keeping with traditional protocols established by the Confederation of Clubs, no rockers should be placed above or below this patch. Again, we are not a club and these are not "colors," but back patches of any sort can draw attention. Please keep in mind that there may be times or places when it may be best not to wear it (i.e. bike rallies, other states, etc.). If asked to remove the garment it is on, we recommend calm compliance. We encourage you to educate yourselves thoroughly if you purchase the new patch.
As noted above, the patch should be available in approximately 4-5 weeks. We plan to set up pre-sales on the www.mnpatriotguard.org gear page prior to its arrival and the price will be posted at that time. It will be available in both 12-inch and 14-inch versions. These patches will be sold only to members in Minnesota, and MN Patriot Guard has been granted exclusivity to the design by the manufacturer. This is a link to a preview of what the patch looks like:
http://www.mnpatriotguard.org/newpatchphoto.jpg
The inner part containing the Fallen Heroes patch has been slightly changed to reflect the proper order of service, as well as the proper seals being used for each branch of the service. As many of you expressed...it is a beautiful tribute to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in defending the freedoms we enjoy on a daily basis.
On behalf of the board, and with respect and appreciation for all you do in honoring our Fallen Heroes...
Monica Mead
MN State Captain/Board President
www.mnpatriotguard.org
As many of you know, Minnesota Patriot Guard used to sell back patches that were in three separate pieces. A decision was made last June to halt those sales. A three-piece design with rockers (above and below a center patch) carries a great deal of significance in the world of motorcycle clubs, and we wanted there to be no confusion - we are not a motorcycle club, riding club, or any other type of club.
We are a non-profit organization that exists to honor our Fallen Heroes and provide both shield and support to their families, and to support the wounded and injured men and women of our military. Although many of us ride, it is not a requirement that members have motorcycles. The ONLY requirement is respect for those who defend our freedoms.
We heard from many of you when we halted sales of the patches. The message was loud and clear that you still wanted a back patch - and if it was to be a one-piece, you wanted it to be as similar as possible to the old one. A committee was put together to consider the requests. They agreed with many members that although the Fallen Heroes patch conveys much of the spirit of our mission, a more specific patch would provide name recognition to be identifiable by the general public, members of our military, and law enforcement while on missions. The committee considered several different options, some of which were submitted by members.
We apologize that this process has taken a while; unfortunately, some of the delay was beyond our control. The design was approved in December, but we had to hold off due to a trademark issue with the PGR name at the National level. After consulting with a trademark attorney, the MN Board of Directors decided to move forward with production of the new back patch. They have been ordered and should be available on the mnpatriotguard.org website gear page in approximately 4-5 weeks. As always...the proceeds will support our mission.
Some of you have asked whether or not you may wear the previous back patch design with the rockers above and below the Fallen Heroes patch. We are not in a position to tell you that you can or cannot wear them, because you own them. We can only make suggestions and provide information. However, it is our hope that, due to the high quality and amount of time that has gone into producing the new back patch, our members will overwhelmingly choose to wear the new one-piece version.
As the MN board of directors, we recommend that if you still choose to wear the previous patch with rockers, they be worn only at Patriot Guard missions within the state of Minnesota. We recommend that if ever asked by anyone to remove your vest, you do so without contention for your own well-being and that of others with you. We do not recommend the previous 3-piece patch be worn at motorcycle events such as bike shows, runs, rallies, bars, casual rides, or anything other than a PGR mission within our state.
Again - these are recommendations for those who have asked, or may wish to ask. The decision is up to the individual.
We also feel it may be helpful to provide you with information as to why we have made these recommendations. Motorcycle Clubs have a long history, and traditionally a 3-piece patch is earned over a period of time - not purchased. It is impossible to explain the culture of MCs in a brief email, but the following website may be of help to you in making an informed decision for yourself, by understanding the significance of rockers and the traditional protocols involved in wearing them:
http://home.earthlink.net/
(Please note that the bandwidth of this website is limited, and at times it may be unavailable - particularly later in the month. If that happens, it will be available again at the beginning of the next month.)
Some of you may have received much of this information previously. It is being sent out via email one final time, posted in the News/Notes section of our website, and posted in the MN forum on the National PGR website in an attempt to reach as many members as possible.
IMPORTANT: For those of you who intend to purchase the new one-piece back patch, the above link also contains important information. In keeping with traditional protocols established by the Confederation of Clubs, no rockers should be placed above or below this patch. Again, we are not a club and these are not "colors," but back patches of any sort can draw attention. Please keep in mind that there may be times or places when it may be best not to wear it (i.e. bike rallies, other states, etc.). If asked to remove the garment it is on, we recommend calm compliance. We encourage you to educate yourselves thoroughly if you purchase the new patch.
As noted above, the patch should be available in approximately 4-5 weeks. We plan to set up pre-sales on the www.mnpatriotguard.org gear page prior to its arrival and the price will be posted at that time. It will be available in both 12-inch and 14-inch versions. These patches will be sold only to members in Minnesota, and MN Patriot Guard has been granted exclusivity to the design by the manufacturer. This is a link to a preview of what the patch looks like:
http://www.mnpatriotguard.org
The inner part containing the Fallen Heroes patch has been slightly changed to reflect the proper order of service, as well as the proper seals being used for each branch of the service. As many of you expressed...it is a beautiful tribute to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in defending the freedoms we enjoy on a daily basis.
On behalf of the board, and with respect and appreciation for all you do in honoring our Fallen Heroes...
Monica Mead
MN State Captain/Board President
www.mnpatriotguard.org
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