Tulsa Oklahoma 2009 Veteran's Day Parade (Keith's Pic's) 11-15-09

Due to a foot problem, I am off the bike until 11-23-09. Knowing I won't be riding or taking pics, my good friend Keith, up in Tulsa Oklahoma, has been helping out this blog and sending me ride pics to post. On Veterans Day, 11-11-09, he rode in the Tulsa Oklahoma Veteran's Day Parade. The following pics & descriptions are providing by Keith & used with his permission. Additions to his descriptions in parentheses are mine & are so noted:

I have been riding almost every day. I want to tell you about the parade I rode in . It was a very memorable experience.

I rode with the American Legion Riders of Post I. I have been a member with the ride group for about a year. Tulsa's American Legion Post 1 was chartered on June 19, 1919 — three months after the post in Paris was founded. We are the oldest, continuously operated American Legion post in the United States. Riding in the Veterans parade with this Post was an Honor.

(for more on the American Legion Riders Post 1 Tulsa Oklahoma, see this link: http://www.tulsapost1.com/riders/riders.html ..John)







We had breakfast at the VFW about 08:30 hrs. My black shiny, sparkling Harley in front of the VFW. The white Harley behind mine is a good friend's bike. Neal is an Air Force Vet and we ride almost every where together. I still ride black & white, HA! You met him at the PGR mission in Purcell. We both took the day off without pay to ride in the parade.

After breakfast we were standing outside talking to some vets with the PGR and I noticed this man looking at my bike. He stood at my bike for about 5 minutes and was really looking it over. I walked over and introduced myself and was I surprised when I saw his ribbons and his hat. He is a survivor of Pearl Harbor. We talked for quite a while. He had me explain all about my bike (what this was and what that did). I told him that it was an honor to have visited with him and we plan on talking again.

Two of the PGR ride captains in the parking lot of the American Legion. Notice the PGR flag. This is the one that we signed in Purcell. I found our names on it.

(see this link for more of the PGR Purcell Mission:
http://jjskewlstuff3.blogspot.com/2009/08/pgr-mission-purcell-oklahoma-8-30-09.html JOHN)

After a staging briefing and a prayer, all Vets were asked to stay for a presentation. Two Blue Star Mothers wanted to give us all a very special coin. It was a Vietnam Veteran Thank You coin. It is a beautiful high quality medallion. Both ladies addressed us and it was very emotional for everyone. I received the 2nd coin handed out and when I received it I held on to her hand and pulled her to me for a great big hug. That was all it took , tears ran from both of our eyes.

Uncle Sam told Neal that he had looked him up with the IRS and it looked to him that Neal was in pretty good shape. He told me I was in trouble

Staging downtown. We were to be first in the parade after the dignitaries and the command staff. Marine Corps on the left, and the PGR was behind us. You can see the PGR flag

another pic of our PGR riders

A few of the American Legion Riders ahead of me. I have my Police siren on the bike and I let it rip most of the parade.

One of the many groups of ROTC

Former Prisoners of War. Being in the front of the parade means we finished first and now I could watch the parade. I stopped at the end and parked next to one of the Police bikes. Since I was getting to stand in the middle of the street, when this group walked by, I walked over and shook their hands

Part of the group of Rolling Thunder bikes.

More of the Rolling Thunder group.

The dignitaries were all in these small foreign cars, yes! The lady on the left walking is a District Judge now in drug court. I worked with her when she was a prosecutor in the DA's office

Mounted Honor guard from Ft. Sill.

Mounted Honor guard from Ft. Sill.

Really a neat float. Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution.

Blue Star Mothers Chapter in a deuce and a half.

(for more on the Blue Star Mothers, see this link: http://www.bluestarmothers.org/ JOHN)

A group of school children that did not want to just watch the parade, they wanted to participate.

Do not remember exactly which group this was. John, I do not know if I told you that my Great Grandfather was in Company F of the 3rd US Cavalry. He was a MOH recipient during the Indian wars.

(For our out of country viewers & those not familiar with the initials MOH: it stands for the Medal Of Honor. It is the highest military award given for bravery under fire by the United States during war time conditions. It is also sometimes referred to as the CMOH, for Congressional Medal Of Honor. for more on the Medal Of Honor & it's recipient's see these links: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_of_Honor & www.history.army.mil/moh.html

& www.cmohs.org/ ..John)

Tulsa Police Armored Tactical Vehicle.

SOT truck.

(for more on the Tulsa Police Dept & the Tulsa Sheriff's Dept, see these links: http://www.tulsapolice.org/ & http://www.tcso.org/tcsoweb/ John)

These VFW bag pipe playing Vets were at our Legion dinner after the parade.

This will conclude this post. Thank you, Keith, for the great pics & descriptions & permission to use these on the blog. For all you viewers that live in a free society, might I suggest that you seek out a Veteran in your country, talk to them and thank them for the service & sacrifices to your country that they gave, enabling you to have the freedom that you now enjoy. I want to thank our Veterans here in the USA for their service & sacrifice to the country & for all it's citizens, in keeping us free & out of harm's way. God Bless you all!!

Scroll WAY down for more rides, events & posts and don't forget to click on the "older posts" link at the bottom of EACH page for more rides and posts. Check out North Texas Bikers (1) at http://www.jjskewlstuff.blogspot.com/ for rides, events & posts from January 08-November 08. and North Texas Bikers II at: http://www.jjskewlstuffii.blogspot.com/ for rides, events & posts from Nov. 08-July 09. Until next post, ya'll be careful out there, ride safe, keep the rubber on the road & pray for our Troops & Pattie & Manuel................JOHN