For those that did not get the opportunity to attend the 1st Annual Gathering of the Guard you missed a great time. Though the location was dampened by a constant downpour the spirits of those attending remained high. Due to the weather we were unable to partake in the Ride that had been superbly planned by Scott Baker but we appreciate his efforts and we appreciate him riding down in the rainstorm to be available to lead anyone wanting to brave the conditions.

Facilities for this event were great and the staff at Masters Inn were extremely accommodating. The meal was well prepared and enjoyed by all. The conference room and lobby remained the focal point for meeting the membership from all over Ky, Tn and Ill.

We had approximately 104 members that had pre-registered. We had 72 show up on Friday night for the meet and greet and had 98 for the dinner. Considering the extremely poor weather conditions the turn out was great with about 30+ members actually riding.

We we blessed to have the Parents of SSG Gary Woods KIA and LCpl Matt Hanson KIA. Gary, Debbie, Lowell and Cindy enjoyed themselves immensely. A tissue moment was when Gary and Lowell each got up and talked about their sons, their loss and what the PGR support meant to them.

We found out that a number of the members have some hidden talents. Tim Gilpin, Pat Boyle, Dave Haynes and Dale Taylor all excepted the the Ride Captain Karaoke Challenge and entertained the membership with a couple of songs. Though I do not think that George Strait, Alan Jackson or Zach Taylor band are in any danger of being knocked off the charts we do give our RCs applause for getting up in front of the masses.

I would like to thank Tom Folsom and his lovely bride Bobbie for all their efforts to ensure this event was a success. This event had been in the planning since last fall and Tom put a lot of effort into making the event what it was. I am privileged to have him as a Ride Captain but more importantly as a friend.

Many people had the opportunity to reconnect with members they have not seen in a long time, reminisce with some they see frequently and meet new friends that will be around for years to come. This was the FIRST Annual GOTG of KY and hopefully the first of many more to come.

Again thank you to all that were able to attend. Please pass this onto your local membership.

Will Arnold

Anvil7

Kentucky State Captain

www.pgrofky.com 270-272-2378

"STAY FOCUSED"

RCs,

Please forward this to the masses - I will also have Tom Folsom post it on our website. We had NUMEROUS calls as to why the SGT Adam J. Ray mission information wasn't posted, or that the "News said" or "Supporting Heroes"

says or some other website declares that the soldier is arriving at such and such - or the service is private etc.  There is only 3 confirmed methods of up to date information; #1 the Ride Captain tells you, #2 the National Website has it posted or #3 the KY Website has it posted.  Other forms of information will not always have the details or the correct information.

Those 3 methods deal with the only true source "the family"

Mission notification for Other than KIA is extremely quick with very little information provided.  EXAMPLE: A veterans passes away on a Thursday afternoon, family makes funeral arrangements for a burial on that Monday.

We get invited by the family on Sat or Sun.  This is a SHORT NOTICE Mission it happens more often than not.  Coordination is usually done with the funeral home or directly with the family.

Mission Notification for KIA:  DOD publishes the incident.  I utilize my sources to find out where the soldier is actually being buried.  Many times he will be a KY soldier but be buried in a different state at the behest of the family or the opposite, deceased is from Florida and is being buried in KY.  I attempt to make contact with the CAO or CACO to offer our services.

The family MUST invite.  The CAO is a VERY busy individual and sometimes there are as many as 5 CAOs for one deceased service member depending on the marriage status of the solider, his parents, his parents maritial status or his children etc. After initial contact with the CAO for invite I try not to bother him/her and deal directly with the funeral home.  Many funeral homes know us and work with us very well, others do not know what we are about and have to be reminded as to what we are going to do.

The CAO relays our capabilities to the family and the family determines if they want us there or not.  Hopefully the family has made some arrangements for what funeral home will be assisting them but this is not always the case. Many times the family is at Dover with their soldier/marine/sailor or airman.  We then have to wait until the deceased is processed and a flight date and arrival location has been determined.  Usually the funeral home will contact the Ride Captain who has made face to face with them and keep him informed - this does not always happen either.

Once the Ride Captain knows when/where the soldier is to arrive ( many times i have to find this out by my contacts at Kallita airlines) and that we are invited to escort - he will post that info.  Once the Ride Captain knows what date/time the visitation/services/burial are he will send it to me with his staging info and I in turn post it on the National site, Tom Folsom posts it on the KY site.  In the event I am unavailable then Mike Little will post or Greg Newman will post.

Any changes to the mission are forwarded to me and I again post those as stated above.

As you can see all coordination/planning/communications etc depends on the families needs and desires.  The Ride Captain does a lot of leg work but can not make decisions separate of the input from the family/funeral home and or CAO.

I completely understand that we want to be a part of honoring the fallen - we want to be there in full force - we want max participation - we want to do what is right BUT we are not the primary thing that is on the minds of the family, CAO or Funeral Home.

I will continue to work my sources at the Pentagon, Kallita airlines Ft Knox and Ft Campbell Mortuary Services, LEOs etc to keep you as informed as I can but I can only give the information that I am provided from the FAMILY, CAO/Funeral Home only.  I will not make decisions, postings based on News Articles or "I Heard" information.  I follow up on those types of communications conduits but I do not base my decisions on them.

You may rest assured that myself, the Assistant State Captain, Regional Captain, Senior Ride Captains and Ride Captains do everything within our power to get you the most accurate and timely information so as to get the maximum participation possible.

I thank all of you for what you do for all our fallen.

Will Arnold

Anvil7

Kentucky State Captain

www.pgrofky.com 270-272-2378

"STAY FOCUSED"