PGR MEET & GREET WICHITA FALLS TEXAS 9-12-09

Today, Saturday 9-12-09, the North Texas PGR held a Meet & Greet here in Wichita Falls Texas at the Eagles Lodge on Seymour Hwy & Barnett. (NW Corner) The day was overcast with a moderate rain and it's supposed to rain for the next two days without letup. Needless to say, most of us were in cars or trucks. There were two motorcycles that did show up but they belonged to the Lodge bartender &, I believe, a lodge member. For more on the PGR (Patriot Guard Riders), see this link: http://www.patriotguard.org/. Scroll down and check out the PGR Meet & Greet and REMEMBER: IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE PICTURE BIGGER, JUST CLICK ON THE PICTURE..




The Eagles Lodge as seen from Seymour Highway, as I turned into the parking lot. That is Bud up under the overhang waving.

Here are Bud, Laura & Tex out front of the Eagles Lodge. Bud is doing a lot better since his motorcycle accident a couple weeks ago, see: http://jjskewlstuff3.blogspot.com/2009/08/pgr-mission-purcell-oklahoma-8-30-09.html. He has been driving me around in his truck since I still have 6 weeks or more to go before I can ride the bike. Laura is married to Tex and Tex is one of our North Texas PGR Assistant Ride Captains.

Barbara & Mike arrive. Both are North Texas PGR Ride Captains and in the car with them are the BBQ and fixin's for today's meeting.

This is the Eagle Lodge's bartender's Harley. Hope it stops raining before he gets off work..

Ted arrives and is all smiles. He has to be because I take a multitude of pics of him and send them to Colorado to his daughter & son-in-law, Vickie & Tim. Vickie & Tim have a Harley & ride all over. They are also members of the PGR up there. Check out Vickie's great blog at: http://www.ourharleydays.blogspot.com/

Some of the first PGR vehicles to arrive..

Moe arrives. She just got out of the hospital also. Will be a few more weeks before she can ride again too.

Bud, Moe & Ted

Laura (sitting), Tex & Ted

Bud, me, Tex & Ted

This is Debbie with the Gainesville Texas PGR group that attended today..

As the food is being prepared, PGR members sit around and socialize..

This is Tim & his son TJ. They are from Gainesville Texas

This is PJ, his daughter Savannah & Bud. PJ is Mike & Barbara's son and one of his bikes he rides is a 52 Triumph (customized))

This is Moe & Katie. Moe's husband Dennis, has just started a business called: C ME SHINE. He does Motorcycle accent lighting & Installation Service. As soon as I get back on the bike, I am going over and get pics of him in action and pics of his finished bikes and do a post on the blog. In the meantime, if you are interested in getting your bike equipped with Accent Lighting, email Dennis at: DPatte6268@aol.com or give him a call today and set up an appointment at: 940-782-6312. He is located here in Wichita Falls Texas

Here is Moe, Katie, Kirby & Ted

This is Kirby, Ted & Jody (Kirby's wife). Jody heads up Project Jody: A Cadence for Life. She works with the VAMC's (Veteran Administration Medical Clinics) and supplies Veterans with much needed items that they can't get or sometimes can't afford. Jody was one of our speakers today and check out the following links for more on Project Jody: http://www.mycommitment.org/node/403, http://texomashomepage.com/content/fulltext?cid=6953, http://www.timesrecordnews.com/photos/galleries/2008/apr/14/awards/1431/,

If you can help out Jody in helping our Veterans, please contact her at: projectjody@mail.org

Bud sitting down watching the going ons around him

Barbara announcing the "foods ready...come & get it"...

This is Bill. We met on the Rhineland Texas Ride earlier this year

This is Eddie (gray shirt), Becky, Betty & Johnny. Eddie & I worked together back in the early 80's.

This is Rocky & Allison

This is Gary, another of our North Texas PGR Ride Captains that most of you regular viewers recognize. This was the first time I have ever seen him without a hat on..

This is Doug & Majorie. They are also members of the Texas Wing Riders. I met them on the Compassion Run back in March 2009

This is Sherri & Jeanann.

This is Joe, Sherri's husband. Joe & I also previously worked together back in the 80's

This is Ray & Cindy. Ray & his brother in law, Richard, own Brother In Law Cycle Service and do tire service. Again, when the business opens, I will go there & do a post on the blog. If you have need of their expertise, call them today and they can work with you. Call: Ray: 940-766-0068 or Richard: 940-692-9512.

This is Richard, co-owner of the Brother In Law Cycle Service. Call them today with any inquiry's you may have.

This is Troy

This is Rich. I met Rich & his wife, Wilda, last year on an adopt a highway cleanup project with the Motorcycle Awareness C.O.R.P.S. For more on M.A.C., see this link: http://www.seemymoto.com/main/

This is Wilda, Rich's wife. She rides her own bike also..

Here is the ever hard workin', Barbara. Barbara, you & Mike did good on the food. Wish I could of eaten some of it...

The head table...Sherri, Jeanann, Gary, Joe, Ted & Tex (back to camera)

PGR members talking prior to the meeting

Member donation's to help offset the cost of the BBQ meal...

This is Bree Ann (PJ's other daughter), Barbara & PJ

Another brave soul rode their bike in the rain...

Mike & me. I love this guy..He is a hoot!!!

Katie & Samantha relax & talk while Rich & some of the others play pool..

This is Nubbin & Angela. They both have trikes with the big flag set ups and are some great people. I love both of these folks. ALSO, Nubbin just got out of the hospital from an operation he just had. I was complaining about my ONE drain tube until I found out that he had had several. My hats off to you Nubbin. I couldn't of handled more than the one...

Here is Russ. He is one of my best friends and he just landed himself a 2010 Harley Ultra Classic Limited edition. You can see it on this link: http://jjskewlstuff3.blogspot.com/2009/08/russ-gets-his-new-harley-8-29-09.html

This is Bill

The meeting starts and Jody explains about Project Jody: A Cadence for Life

Russ, sitting at the INFO table, listens in as Jody speaks

Here, they are auctioning off sunglasses, the proceeds of which, go to Project Jody.. I think they had 8-10 pair and they all went for $10 a piece..

Mike talks about FLAG ETIQUETTE, formation riding and safety..Also about the recent ruling on the large PGR back patch in Oklahoma

Barbara also covered various items on the info table and also covered some safety items. She also read some thank you letters from some military families pertaining the the PGR at some of the previous Missions...

PGR members listen attentatively to the information being passed on by our Ride Captains, Jody and others..

The September PGR Meet & Greet in Wichita Falls Texas is over and we are dismissed. Here are the members fixin' to leave.

Sherri & Joe. Joe also has his Ultra Classic set up with the big flags.

Jeanann & Gary. His Harley Ultra Classic has an Eagle paint scheme and is one good looking bike..

Sherri, Jeanann, Gary & Joe, just prior to leaving the Eagle Lodge..

One of the reasons I love Gary...The front of his shirt.......Ya gotta love this guy.....

The back of the shirt....I want one!!!

Nubbin & Angela. Their son, Sgt. Gary S. Johnston, USMC was KIA in Iraq in 2007. As a result of the outpouring of support by the PGR during that terrible time, Nubbin & Angela came aboard the PGR and are some of it's more faithful members. Here is the info provided by the U.S./Coalition Casualty site on Gary's death:

Sgt. Gary S. Johnston

3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force

Died while conducting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq, on January 23, 2007.

Nubbin & I. They were giving out boots to veteran's and I found a pair that were my size. With the additional ankle support, I can now wear these boots while on the bike and quit wearing my prothsetic boots, which I call my clod hoppers..

Angela's shirt..My kind of people!!

Laura & Tex right before leaving the PGR Meet & Great...This will conclude this post. I enjoyed seeing my PGR family today and being at the meeting. I also enjoyed meeting several new folks and getting with good friends from the past that now ride...I look forward to riding again here in the next 6-7 weeks...

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