Ron Mackedanz, Willmar

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After yesterday's Homecoming to Hutchinson I thought that i would take it upon myself to write an after action report. Please feel free to share it with our members and our returning soldiers:

At 0800 hours on Thursday, July 19th, 2007 Andy Musolf, Stacy Puckett, Mike & Mary Remarke and I left Litchfield to meet Nate Zenker and a couple of other PG riders at Woodbury. While topping off our tanks at the SA station, we ran into none other than fellow PG rider, Ron Renne. He was delivering gas to the SA station.

At approximately 1100 hours, we departed with seven motorcycles for the prearranged meeting point with the buses coming in from Fort McCoy. The Mn. Nat'l Guard had a refreshments tent set up and there were a number of Vietnam Vets from several organizations there to greet the soldiers as they entered Minnesota and stopped to stretch their legs, and set foot on home turf for the first time in many months.

After a short break, it was back on the buses, and away we went. Led by Nate Zenker and Andy Musolf, we made our way around St. Paul and then Minneapolis. Just before we hit Hwy 7 heading west, we picked-up a police escort. By the time we got to Hwy 7, we had three squad cars in front of us and a couple of more bringing up the rear.

From there on, it was "balls to the walls" . (Sorry Monica) I meant full bore, to Hutchinson. The LEO's from the various metro communities changed off leading us through their towns. We never had a stop light against us, as we made our way out of the Cities. From St. Boni to McLeod county we were on our own. But once we got to the McLeod county line, the county sheriffs deputies escorted us in to Hutchinson.

As prearranged, Andy Musolf took off and ran ahead to let another very important part of our ride know that we were drawing near. A group of soldiers from the unit, including Willie Puckett, Greg Brown and several others who had come back early due to being wounded or for other reasons, were waiting at the edge of Hutchinson on motorcycles and in uniform to lead their buddies home. WOW!!! What a sight this must have been for those guys. Both the ones on the buses and the ones waiting for their buddies. Believe me, as an old Vietnam Vet, it did my heart proud to see this and to be a small part of it.

As we stopped very briefly for those guys and a few more LEO to get out in front, we started seeing more and more people along the highway, waving flags and welcoming the soldier's home. The closer that we got to downtown Hutchinson, the more people were lining the streets. All up and down the Mile long main street, there were hundreds of people. Little kids, adults, elderly people, some in wheel chairs, all out waving flags and showing their support and their love for our soldiers. The town of Hutchinson can be very proud. They showed us all what a welcome home was all about. My unqualified estimate is between one thousand and two thousand people lined the streets. Man!! this was really awesome. As an old vet, this was especially meaningful and I might add, healing for me. Every time that I attend one of our welcome home missions it helps to renew my faith in the American people.

After our parade through town, we worked our way out to the McLeod county fairgrounds, where we were met by our Patriot Guard members in a large flag line, and by family members, anxiously awaiting their soldiers return. Parton me while I stop to regroup.

I just wish that every Vietnam, Korean War, and WWII vet could experience what I did yesterday. It brings tears to my eyes, just thinking about it. Man!! It was great.

As the soldiers got off the buses to the loud welcome and applause of the crowd that was gathered, they formed up for a round of cheers by the families and PGR members. They were then marched in to the near by building for a brief ceremony during which our friend/ soldier/ PGR member Greg Brown was awarded a Bronze Star for his actions and service in Iraq. After patiently waiting for the ceremony to end, the soldiers were finally dismissed to the waiting arms of their families. The PG members stood by inside the building in a flag line, three deep and atleast thirty long. Again. WOW!!!

As the soldiers were heading out, I was told that they needed some PG riders to escort a few of the soldiers and their families over to Glencoe. Lori told me they needed someone to lead that ride, so I pulled up and started a line of what I thought would be three or four bikes. It turned out that we had seventeen bikes and a couple of cages along with Glencoe and McLeod County LEO's escorting eight soldiers home to Glencoe.

Once again, all stops were pulled, as the Glencoe squad car led us through all the intersections, and on the homestretch, along Hwy 22 toward Glencoe. We pulled in to a church parking lot on the west edge of Glencoe, where I had our group all park on line and then we stood in a flag line (minus a flags for most of us) to greet the soldiers and their familes once again.

About five minutes later, the entire Glencoe fire dept. showed up with six or seven trucks. They loaded the soldiers and their families up on the top of the trucks and headed for downtown Glencoe. With our PG riders bringing up the rear, at about 3MPH. we made our way downtown. Once again, the streets were lined with people welcoming their soldiers home. We stopped for a short welcome home speech by the Mayor of Glencoe. (All the while blocking the main street through town). Finally, back to the church parking lot for dismissal.

I would like to personally thank all of our PG members who took part in these missions. It was AWESOME!!!

And Special KUDO's to Nate for the outstanding job of co-ordinating all of these 'Welcome Home Missions'

" You Rock. My brother."

Ron Mackedanz (WillmarARC2)

**** foot note****

I had several officers from the McLeod County Sheriffs office and the Glencoe PD come up to me yesterday that told me how much respect they have for the Mn PGR's. I in turn, told them how much their working with us means to all of us. I would recommend a note from our leadership go out to all the LEO' departments involved letting them know that we appreciate their services for our soldiers and our group.

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