Save The Date - 6th Annual Heroes Run

6th Annual Heroes Run

Save the DATE: June 9th, 2018

Event Location: 344 Dorsey Rd, Greece, NY 14616
(Greece American Legion Post 468)

Annual Heroes Run is a charity fund raiser hosted by Patriot Guard Riders of New York that benefits Help On The Homefront and New York Warrior Alliance. Our event begins with a memorial ride (motorcycles and vehicles) to a dedication site where a brief ceremony honoring a hero takes place. Normally a remembrance object such as a bench, or marker is placed bearing the name of the hero. The ride then continues back to the event location for food, entertainment and raffles. This year's Annual Heroes Run is honoring Army Pfc. Jason D. Hasenauer.

2018 Annual Heroes Run Honoree
Army Pfc. Jason D. Hasenauer

Army Pfc. Jason D. Hasenauer 21, of Hilton, N.Y. died December 28, 2005 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. Pfc. Hasenauer was sitting in a machine-gun turret when the bomb explosion overturned his Humvee in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He died of head injuries. A 2003 graduate of Hilton High School, Jason Hasenauer was a member of the Hilton Fire Department and had been employed at JC Penney when he joined the Army.He wanted to do more-wanted to serve and felt it was the right thing to do. Pfc. Jason D. Hasenauer was a father for just four weeks.

My very first mission with the Patriot Guard Riders was to stand for this young man.  I will certainly never forget it and I hope that recognizing Jason at this year's event will be a reminder to the community, his family and friends that we will never forget his service and sacrifice.

A summary of past years memorials:

5th Annual Heroes Run - 2017

Our dedication memorial ride was held in Batavia where we honored and remembered SGT Shaina B Schmigel and unveiled a memorial bench at the Genesee County War Memorial in Batavia. We were honored to have COL Dawn DeVine as our guest speaker at our event. She spoke on the challenges women face while serving and once their tour of duty is done, definitely keeping to our event's theme of Women in Uniform. We also had a Car4Heroes vehicle which was presented to one of our HOTH veterans as part of our program. Great food and entertainment by Big Mike and The Motivators.

4th Annual Heroes Run - 2016

On June 11, 2016 we were all worried what the weather would be, especially with the thunderstorm we had about 6:30am. But God saw fit to bring us a beautiful day for our dedication ride honoring NYS Trooper Andrew J Sperr and Staff SGT Nicholas J Reid.  A memorial bench remembering Trooper Sperr is located at the entrance to the Greece Town Hall.   A memorial gazebo in memory of Ssgt Reid (gazebo built by Eagle Exteriors who generously donated time & labor) is located at Lakeview Cemetery in Brockport.   Then back to a beautiful ceremony at St Paul Exempts, where the Karpus Family Foundation us with a very nice check and Medal of Honor recipient Gary Beikirch gave a very moving talk. Everyone enjoyed not only the ceremony but the food, entertainment and raffles.

Further prior events, summaries & photos here.

This is a major fundraiser for the Patriot Guard Riders of NY, and we hope you will come out and join us to help make it a success!

Marine Corps Marathon 2013

Support an Army Veteran, an Army wife, and Patriot Guard Rider in her endeavor to complete the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday, October 27th. She is designating all donations she receives to the Patriot Guard Riders "Help on the Homefront" program in memory of her husband, Jon Perkins.

Jon and I met in Katterbach, Germany in 1981 while both serving in the U.S. Army. After a wonderful friendship, we came to realize that we wanted to spend our life together in marriage. We took our vows on January 7, 1984 and were lovingly committed to each other for over 28 years. We enjoyed our life together and the family we raised. Our children are a testament to Jon's integrity, work ethic and compassionate spirit. We heard about the Patriot Guard Riders in Summer 2011 and immediately became part of an organization that supports our military, past and present. Our first mission was Devin Snyder; a mission that affected us so deeply. We continued to participate in missions throughout the rest of the year, and even into the winter and spring of 2012. Friday, April 6th, I registered for my first half marathon in Buffalo, NY to be run Memorial weekend 2012. On Easter Sunday morning, April 8th, Jon died of a massive heart attack. When the day finally came to bury Jon, so many Patriot Guard came and stood at his funeral. We can never fully express what having them there to honor his memory meant to us. Just thinking about it even now fills me with gratitude. Jon would have loved this mission! I did run the half marathon with my son-in-law and continued to run to help with the sometimes overwhelming grief. Last December, I decided to run the Marine Corp Marathon in honor of Jon. Because Jon and I love(d) the Patriot Guard, I want to give all proceeds that I collect to Help on the Homefront. I am thankful to God for His mercy and grace through this time of both pain and healing, and for His protection as I train. I hope that you will sponsor me in this endeavor, either by the mile (26.2) or however much you can. If you are able to come to Washington D.C. on October 27, 2013 to cheer me on, I would be honored to have you there. Blessings to each of you, Kelly A. Perkins

Click here to donate!

Wednesday Hero

Lt. Cmdr. Kenneth Vargas Lt. Cmdr. Kenneth Vargas, disaster preparedness officer for Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast, dressed in authentic Choctaw clothing, plays a Choctaw flute during a luncheon.    The Native American Heritage celebration was hosted by Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 202 Detachment Jacksonville.     Photo courtesy U.S. Navy taken by Matt Simons These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero. Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday Hero

  Fisher House Foundation The Fisher House Foundation is a great charity that offers free housing for families of wounded service members to stay in while their loved one recuperates. The Fisher House Foundation was start in 1990 and has a least one house at every major military medical center. Since there is no cost to the families they rely on donations to continue operating. So, please, head over to their site and check them out. And if you're able to, please make a donation.     These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero. Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday Hero

This Post Was Suggested By Michael
Pfc. Charles George 20 years old Cherokee, North Carolina Company C, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division August 23, 1932 - November 30, 1952 The name Charles George may sound familiar to some. That's because last week it was reported that two boys in New York were at a local antique shop looking for G.I. Joe's when they came across a number of military medals, Medal Of Honor, a Purple Heart, a bronze star and good conduct award, bearing the name Charles George. From Pfc. George's Medal Of Honor citation: Pfc. George, a member of Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy on the night of November 30, 1952. He was a member of a raiding party committed to engage the enemy and capture a prisoner for interrogation. Forging up the rugged slope of the key terrain feature, the group was subjected to intense mortar and machine gun fire and suffered several casualties. Throughout the advance, he fought valiantly and, upon reaching the crest of the hill, leaped into the trenches and closed with the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. When friendly troops were ordered to move back upon completion of the assignment, he and 2 comrades remained to cover the withdrawal. While in the process of leaving the trenches a hostile soldier hurled a grenade into their midst. Pfc. George shouted a warning to 1 comrade, pushed the other soldier out of danger, and, with full knowledge of the consequences, unhesitatingly threw himself upon the grenade, absorbing the full blast of the explosion. Although seriously wounded in this display of valor, he refrained from any outcry which would divulge the position of his companions. The 2 soldiers evacuated him to the forward aid station and shortly thereafter he succumbed to his wound. Pfc. George's indomitable courage, consummate devotion to duty, and willing self-sacrifice reflect the highest credit upon himself and uphold the finest traditions of the military service You can read more here and here These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero. Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday Hero

This Post Was Suggested By Greta
Cpl. George Smith 90 years old from Sundance, New Mexico June 15, 1922 - October 31, 2012 There aren't many Code Talkers left so it's a true tragedy when we lose one. George Smith joined the United States Marines when he was 17, after lying about his age, becoming one of three brothers in his family to do so. He was trained as a rifleman then as a Code Talker serving in a Pacific. He was honorably discharged in 1946.     You can read more on George Smith here These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero. Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday Hero

This Post Was Suggested By Michael
SSgt. Hiroshi H. Miyamura 87 years old from Gallup, New Mexico Company H, 7th Infantry Regiment, 442nd Infantry Regiment From then Cpl. Miyamura's Medal Of Honor citation: Cpl. Miyamura, a member of Company H, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. On the night of 24 April, Company H was occupying a defensive position when the enemy fanatically attacked threatening to overrun the position. Cpl. Miyamura, a machinegun squad leader, aware of the imminent danger to his men unhesitatingly jumped from his shelter wielding his bayonet in close hand-to-hand combat killing approximately 10 of the enemy. Returning to his position, he administered first aid to the wounded and directed their evacuation. As another savage assault hit the line, he manned his machinegun and delivered withering fire until his ammunition was expended. He ordered the squad to withdraw while he stayed behind to render the gun inoperative. He then bayoneted his way through infiltrated enemy soldiers to a second gun emplacement and assisted in its operation. When the intensity of the attack necessitated the withdrawal of the company Cpl. Miyamura ordered his men to fall back while he remained to cover their movement. He killed more than 50 of the enemy before his ammunition was depleted and he was severely wounded. He maintained his magnificent stand despite his painful wounds, continuing to repel the attack until his position was overrun. When last seen he was fighting ferociously against an overwhelming number of enemy soldiers. Cpl. Miyamura's indomitable heroism and consummate devotion to duty reflect the utmost glory on himself and uphold the illustrious traditions on the military service. After his actions that day, Cpl. Miyamura was taken prisoner by the Chinese. You can read more on SSgt. Miyamura here and here These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero. Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday Hero

This post was suggested by Kathi
George Lutz George Lutz had the most horrible event a human can have happen in their lives happen to him. The loss of a child. His son, George Anthony Lutz II, was KIA in Fallujah, Iraq on December 29, 2005. Mr. Lutz almost let his son's loss beat him until he met a Mother, a few months later, who had lost her son as well. It was then that he realized that he could do something to help honor and remember the fallen. He set out on a mission to find a nationally recognized symbol for all fallen service members.  

You can read more about George Lutz here These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero. Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday Hero

This Post Was Suggested By Michael
Sgt. Darrell Cole 24 years old from Park Hills, Missouri 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines July 20, 1920 - February 19, 1945 Sgt. Darrell Cole joined the U.S. Marines in 1941 and appointed to the Field Music School because he knew how to play the French Horn. He wasn't happy with the assignment and applied to be a machine-gunner four times before he was finally approved.    In his three years of service, Sgt. Cold saw action in Guadalcanal, Kwajalein, Saipan and Iwo Jima. Sgt. Cole was KIA on February 19, 1945 in Iwo Jima when he was killed by an enemy grenade after he had single handily attacked two gun emplacements armed with only a pistol and one hand grenade.     For his actions that day Sgt. Darrell Cole was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Leader of a Machine-gun Section of Company B, First Battalion, Twenty-Third Marines, Fourth Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the assault on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945. Assailed by a tremendous volume of small-arms, mortar and artillery fire as he advanced with one squad of his section in the initial assault wave, Sergeant Cole boldly led his men up the sloping beach toward Airfield Number One despite the blanketing curtain of flying shrapnel and, personally destroying with hand grenades two hostile emplacements which menaced the progress of his unit, continued to move forward until a merciless barrage of fire emanating from three Japanese pillboxes halted the advance. Instantly placing his one remaining machine gun in action, he delivered a shattering fusillade and succeeded in silencing the nearest and most threatening emplacement before his weapon jammed and the enemy, reopening fire with knee mortars and grenades, pinned down his unit for the second time. Shrewdly gauging the tactical situation and evolving a daring plan of counterattack, Sergeant Cole, armed solely with a pistol and one grenade, coolly advanced alone to the hostile pillboxes. Hurling his one grenade at the enemy in sudden, swift attack, he quickly withdrew, returned to his own lines for additional grenades and again advanced, attacked, and withdrew. With enemy guns still active, he ran the gauntlet of slashing fire a third time to complete the total destruction of the Japanese strong point and the annihilation of the defending garrison in this final assault. Although instantly killed by an enemy grenade as he returned to his squad, Sergeant Cole had eliminated a formidable Japanese position, thereby enabling his company to storm the remaining fortifications, continue the advance and seize the objective. By his dauntless initiative, unfaltering courage and indomitable determination during a critical period of action, Sergeant Cole served as an inspiration to his comrades, and his stouthearted leadership in the face of almost certain death sustained and enhanced the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country."    In March 11, 1996 he received the honor of having a Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, USS Cole (DDG-67), named after him.     You can read more about Sgt. Darrell Cole here and here These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero. Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday Hero

This Post Was Suggested By Kathi

 
Dan Carbonneau A grenade explosion might have put an end to Dan Carbonneau's effort to serve his country, but he hasn't let it sway his determination to serve others. He found a new mission: training assistance dogs. The former Marine from Excelsior spends 20 hours a week at Can Do Canines in New Hope, teaching dogs to do everything from punch elevator call buttons to open kitchen drawers. "The dogs help people with disabilities," he said. "It's nice to know that you're doing something positive for the community."   You Can Read More About Carbonneau Here These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero. Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.