III Corps has asked the Patriot Guard Riders to participate and lead the 1,200- 1,500 strong bike procession along its intended route. The exact number of bikes participating will depend on the number of soldiers who are present for duty that day on Fort Hood. This event is 'mandatory fun' for soldiers stationed on Fort Hood who own a motorcycle, so the number of participants is pretty much written in stone.

This ride has a 65 mile route through Central Texas and will also include a concert (free of charge) upon our return to Fort Hood Stadium along with eats and drinks (adult beverages will be available) provided by various vendors, so food and drinks are not free.

Numerous celebrities have already committed to attend this ride such as: Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston, Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, Cmd. Sgt. Maj. Neil Ciotola, Kid Rock, 'Uncle' Ted Nugent, Willie Nelson, Gov. Rick Perry and numerous others as well as the 1,200-1,500 soldier/heroes of Fort Hood.

To facilitate our participation, Fort Hood has waived all DoD Motorcycle Safety requirements for Patriot Guard Riders with the exception that each rider must wear a DOT approved helmet during the ride. No safety course, long pants, full-fingered gloves, long sleeve shirt or over-the-ankle-boot are required. We will have access through the Santa Fe Gate to Fort Hood.

We do have to provide the names (not road names, but actual legal names) of our riders who are participating by 24 October 2008 so the security guards at the Santa Fe Gate will know who to allow access to.

We must also sign a waiver of release and turn that waiver in to the ride coordinators upon our arrival at the Fort Hood Stadium. No cages are allowed to participate in the ride per Fort Hood directive, so don't ask me to make an exception. If you drive a cage and want to participate, find someone to ride with. However, people driving cages may attend the Memorial at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery and the concert on Fort Hood. More info to follow concerning times to arrive for these two sub-events.

For us to accomplish our (PGR) participation, we will need anyone who is going to attend this mission to RSVP me at stevec@hot.rr.com with your full, legal name by 24 October 2008 and a method to contact you if it becomes necessary. Any PGR not on the access list will NOT participate in the ride, so no last minute decisions are acceptable.

For those outside CenTex who wish to participate, you certainly may and should organize locally. However, we will not accept any last minute additions to the access list and everyone who rides must be present at the local (CenTex PGR) staging to sign the 'Hold Harmless Agreement' that will be provided at the PGR staging site.

With all that said, PGR staging for the ride will be held at Kay's Motorcycle Mania in Nolanville, Texas. Kay's is located just to the south of the Nolanville exit off US Hwy 190 between Belton and Killeen. Staging will begin at 0600 hours and end at 0700 hours. KSU enroute to Fort Hood's Santa Fe Gate and Fort Hood Stadium will be at 0715 after our internal safety briefing.

This is your chance to ride with the soldiers who stand in the breech for us and provide us an opportunity to show them that America cares for our soldiers and their safety before they come home as a Fallen Hero. Fort Hood has assured me that they will welcome as many PGR members as we can muster as long as they meet the criteria as posted above to participate.   Please join us !!!