Like so many events, the Western Nebraska Veterans Honor Flight was suspended for the past two years due to Coronavirus concerns. The details for the Thursday, May 12, 2022, Law Enforcement Escorted Procession, are listed below. In the past, some of our members have honored the Veterans as they passed through the intersection of Highways 14 and 71. The vans that will be transporting the Veterans, Guardians and Staff are scheduled to arrive in Fort Morgan by 4:00PM.
3:45PM - Stage at the Super 8 Hotel Parking Lot, 1220 Main Street, Fort Morgan, 80701
4:15PM - Mission and Safety Briefing
4:45PM - Procession Departs for DIA
E. W. Thomas and John Weisgerber will serve as Ride Captains.
The Patriot Guard has been invited to escort a group of Nebraska Veterans from Chadron, via Alliance to Scottsbluff, then south through Kimball to Fort Morgan, and then on to their motel on Tower Road, near DIA. The Veterans will be traveling by van to Colorado in preparation for their Honor Flight to Washington DC. They will be making the journey on Thursday, May 12, 2022. NOTE: Local & County LEO will lead through Counties and Cities, Colorado State Patrol will lead on I-76 to DIA. . The 5 vans are leaving Chadron at 10:00AM on Thursday May 12th, and scheduled to arrive in Scottsbluff at NOON for a one hour lunch break (at the Elks), departing from Scottsbluff at 1:00PM with a final destination being the Quality Inn, 6890 Tower Road, Denver, CO 80249. SCOTTSBLUFF PGR STAGE DATE: Thursday, May 12, 2022 STAGE LOCATION: Elk’s Lodge, 1614 1st Ave, Scottsbluff, NE STAGE TIME: 11:00AM RIDERS MEETING: 11:30AM logistics & flag line HEROES ETA: NOON LUNCH NOON – 1:00PM - Open to all PGR, Legion Riders & LEO Escort DEPARTURE: 1:00PM south towards Kimball & Fort Morgan Chadron Area Riders: Staging time 9:15AM / Riders Meeting 915 AM / Departing 10:00AM Location: The American Legion / 123 Bordeaux St., / Chadron, NE Craig Barthel will Ride Captain this segment of the mission. Please Ride with a maximum of 6 riders in front with all others following the vans. DO NOT ride between or along-side the vehicles . Alliance Area Riders: Stage time for Early Riders heading to Chadron is 7:45AM – riders meeting – 8:00AM – kickstands up heading to Chadron at 8:15AM Escort ETA – Riders arriving back in Alliance 11:00AM – Slow roll-by / Location: / Alliance / Craig Bartel is the Ride Captain for this segment. There will be a flag line established on the West side of Hwy 385 - by the Old Terry's Corner. Mary Barthel is the Flag Captain. Late riders going to Scottsbluff, will be alert and ready to fall in behind - when PGR/RC Criag Barthel and early riders come by on their slow roll-by heading to Scottsbluff. Staging time in Alliance for Flag Line and (late riders) at Old Terry's 10:15AM Scottsbluff Area Riders Arriving: ETA 12:00 P.M. - Departing 1:00PM ELKS Lodge Location: / 1614 1st Avenue, Scottsbluff, NE. Kimball Area Riders: Escort ETA - Arriving 2:05PM - Departing 2:30PM Location near I-80 / (The High Point Welcome Center, 204 S. Kimball Blvd. Kimball, NE 69145) Dave Saunders is the Ride Captain for this segment. HWY 71 & HWY 14: ETA: 3:20PM Fort Morgan Area Riders Arriving: ETA: 4:00PM--Super 8 parking lot behind Conoco, DQ & Arby’s Riders Meeting 4:15PM – Clutches out 4:45PM Denver International Airport area Quality Inn & Suites - International airport, 6890 Tower Rd, Denver, CO - Arriving ETA: 6:45PM Honor Flight leaves DIA at: 6:55AM / Friday May 13th Ride Captains: Steve Thomlison / Gering rugrats1@charter.net 308-436-7123 Michael Blue / Scottsbluff mjblue1@yahoo.com 308-631-1336 Craig Barthel / Alliance goldwinglvr@yahoo.com 308-760-0884 Dave Saunders / Sidney dndgutter@hotmail.com 308-249-0643 FLAG CAPTAIN: Jan Blue / Scottsbluff mjblue1@yahoo.com 308-631-1336 COLORADO Ride Captains: Colorado State Captain/Jim Herstein jwherst@aol.com 303-518-8790 E. W. Thomas e.w.thomas842@gmail.com 970-554-0822
John Weisgerber weisg1@hotmail.com 970-466-1076 PGR Escort Riders will have 2 to 6 riders lead the "Convoy of 5 vans" and the rest protect the rear. - DO NOT ride between or along-side the vehicles. Safety being paramount – ride only if conditions permit. The Nebraska Patriot Guard Riders have been recognized by the National Safety Council and the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety for adhering to and promoting motorcycle safety. Ride Alert – Ride Safe. MISSION Coordinated and submitted in completed form by Nebraska Ride Captain, Steve Thomlison. Jim Herstein - State Captain Colorado Patriot Guard 303-518-8790 jwherst@aol.com
I will be at the Quality Inn and Suites, 6890 Tower Road, by 5:45PM and will have Flags available.
It will be my honor to be in the escort from Fort Morgan to DIA.