The PGR members talk in the hallway of the Howard Johnson Hotel, awaiting the survivor's to start to the auditorium. I mistakenly said this was the Holiday Inn on my post. I will correct that later..
Members talk while waiting for the survivor's. The older guy with the PGR armband, I was told, is 81 years old, the oldest PGR member in Texas and a WWII Veteran. What stories he must have..
As the survivors start thru the flag line to the auditorium, we shook their hands, thanked them for their service and a few stopped for a very quick chat
The survivors & their families come thru the flag line
The survivors were smiling and appreciated the honor being given & shown to them..
More family members. The survivors were from the Navy, Marines & Army
Survivors approach thru the flag line enroute to the auditorium
Survivor families go thru the line also
The flag line in one hallway
The flag line down the main hallway to the atrium where the survivors were gathered, and leave from, going to the auditorium
Family members
The flag line at the entrance to the auditorium which is to the left of the glass doors. That's Russ in the blue denim vest down at the end.
Artie, McGruff-the Crime Dog's boss, makes it thru the line.
The Flag line. Ted is down on the left in the blue cap & white beard
Here is Jody in position in the line with her flag.
When the survivors turned the corner to the auditorium, they we greeted by the Boy Scouts who were assisted us in the flag line. I said it on my post and I will say it here: this was probably the best history lesson they could ever get. Not only did they get to see the men who actually fought on Iwo Jima, but got to hear what happened during the re-enactment and talk to the survivor's afterward..
The patch on one of the PGR vests
PGR members wait in the auditorium prior to the re-enactment starting
Gary & Joe look on as the re-enactment narration starts
This is Inez, Ted (beard) & Kenny waiting for the narration to begin
PGR members in the auditorium
Mark and other PGR members in the auditorium
The reenactment starts. The original flag raised on Mt. Suribachi was a small flag. A larger flag was sent up to the Marines on Mt. Suribachi's summit to replace the smaller flag. Here is the position of the Marines with the larger flag on the staff just prior to the famous picture.
Another view
Then the Marines raised the larger flag in this position, one the most famous pictures ever taken and recognized the world over.
Another view. This reenactment is being done by Marines from the USMC detachment at Sheppard AFB here in Wichita Falls Texas
A final view of the reenactment of the Marines raising the flag on the summit of Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima in February 1945.
The reenactment Marines.
The survivors of the Battle of Iwo Jima
The survivors of Iwo Jima
The survivors of Iwo Jima
The survivors of Iwo Jima
Following the reenactment, the PGR files out of the auditorium to put our flags up. I am in the camo ballcap.
Visitors & family members leaving the auditorium
Mike & Barbara, our North Texas PGR Road Captain's, get ready to leave..
Mike sees PGR members off.
Following the Reunion, PGR members left the Howard Johnson's Hotel and went various places to eat. Here is Ted, on his Harley, getting ready to pull out.
PGR members getting ready to head out
Some of the PGR bikes
PGR bikes & riders at Howard Johnson's Hotel Wichita Falls, Texas
PGR bikes & riders at the Howard Johnson's Hotel Wichita Falls, Texas
More PGR bikes in the parking lot
More more of the PGR bikes
Last picture of the PGR bikes at Howard Johnson's
Quite a few members of the PGR went to lunch at the Jalapeno Tree Mexican Restaurant in Wichita Falls. Following the lunch was a PGR Meet & Greet. Here is Barbara arriving with the prizes for the raffle
Barbara with the raffle prizes.
PGR members file into the reserved dining room. PGR members filled that room up and spilled out into the regular dining room also
The waitress takes the order from our table. I am down at the far end talking to Bud
Out table & those that I know: Left side: Herb & Dawn, Deborah & Kevin. Right side: Bud (red shirt).
This is Mike & Barbara's son, P.J., and the kids may be their grandkids...
The table outside the Reserved room Curtis Jr is on the left with Chuck, Janice & James. Omar is on the end. On the right are Curtis (Drifter- a PGR Road Captain from the Lawton Oklahoma area), his wife Dee, I am standing nest to here and then Doug with the blue levi vest
Jody (on the left) having fun with some of the kiddo's at another table in the reserved room at the Jalapeno Tree Restaurant
PGR members at the head table
The far left table. Gary is on the end on the right side.
PGR members & family in one of the booths
Some of the parked PGR bikes out front of the Jalapeno Tree Restaurant, Wichita Falls, Texas
More of the PGR bikes at the japaleno Tree restaurant
Last picture of this post is of a PGR member leaving the Japaleno Tree Restaurant. This will conclude this post. Many thanks to Jody & Kirby for the pictures and the permission to use them on the blog. Ya'll done good!!!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. Until next post, ya'll be careful out there, ride safe, keep the rubber on the road & pray for our Troops & Rodney................JOHN
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