Welcome Two New Colorado PGR Ride Captains

I am honored to introduce the two newest Colorado PGR Ride Captains. I want to thank them both for stepping up during these challenging and uncertain times. They are both very highly regarded among their peer groups. Gary Wetzel Joined the Navy at age 17, in 1971, right out of high school.  He was assigned to serve on the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) for four years.  He made two cruises, one 12 months off the North Vietnam coast. He is a Vietnam Combat Veteran. He spent eight months in the Indian Ocean and was a member of the ships special Firefighting team and worked in the Engineering Log room as a Yeoman.  He stood watches in the engine rooms, too.  Gary was discharge in 1975. He reentered the Navy in the reserves in Colorado Springs and spent two weeks at the Amphibious base in San Diego (Seal training base).  Gary flew dolphins around in helicopters. He became a Firefighter in Fountain, CO. as a Lieutenant and then moved to Woodland Park and joined Northeast Teller Fire District as a Firefighter. He served there for eleven years. Gary retired as Captain of the volunteers. He then worked at Fort Carson as a contractor (Quality Assurance/Safety) for three years.  He currently works at Schriever Air Force Base as a contractor for Northrop Grumann and now for Jacobs Technology.  He is a Mechanical Engineer and does statistics a couple days a month. He resides in the Northwest side of Colorado Springs. Gary has been a Colorado PGR member for ten years. John Weisgerber John was born and raised in Alliance, NE. Within a month of graduation from High School, in 1971, he enlisted in the US Air Force. He went to Lackland AFB for Basic and MOS Training in Special Police, Law Enforcement and Accident Investigation. During the early 70s, he had substantial Security, Police and Investigation Training at both Military and Civilian Academies. John was discharged from the Air Force in 1973 on Operation Palace Chase and joined the Reserves for twice the time left on his enlistment. He served in the the Cheyenne Air Guard as Security Policeman and the Army Guard, in Alliance, as an Artilleryman and then a 155 Howitzer Commander Driver. In April, 1974 he began a 39 year career with the BNSF Railroad, retiring in 2012 as a Brakeman/Conductor. John married his wife, Roberta (Bobby) in 1976 and moved to Sterling in 1977. In 1978 he helped start the BNSF Santa Train that traveled through Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming and he played Santa. He has played Santa every year since, both locally and as a professional mall Santa. John has had a passion for muscle and classic cars since the age of 15 and has owned a dozen of these cars over the years. He currently owns a 1972 Buick GS Stage 1 Convertible, one of only 81 that were manufactured that year. He attends car shows all over the Region, from May through October. John joined the Colorado PGR in 2015 and he loves honoring our Veterans and their families. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Jay Weisgerber for serving as an Eastern Plains Ride Captain for the past several years. Jay recently relocated from Sterling to Rapid City, SD. Best wishes to Jay.