I am a volunteer ride captain for the Patriot Guard Riders here in Bay County. On July 12, I had the distinct honor to organize and lead a group of fellow PGR members from this area and to Tallahassee where we joined up with numerous other riders for the sole purpose of standing in honor for an American hero. This hero's name is Master Sgt. Shawn Simmons. He was an Army Special Forces sergeant recently killed in action in Afghanistan and was from the Tallahassee area. The PGR ride captain from the Tallahassee area, Mike Donohoe, had the duty of organizing this "mission," and we were there to participate and lend support as needed.
Before each mission, we conduct a briefing for everyone to outline the details. It was during Mike's mission briefing that he informed us of Tallahassee's policy not to provide any type of police escort for a funeral of any kind in the city. Mike said he had been told it was because of insurance reasons.
Now, folks, I know we might be spoiled a bit by the outstanding support the PGR receives from all of the law enforcement agencies here in Bay County, but this seemed to be totally outrageous. An American soldier, overseas, defending this great county in armed conflict, is killed in action and the political leaders of Tallahassee deny him and his family the honor of a police escort for his funeral.
I cannot begin to tell you how "terrifying" it was for a group of approximately 55 motorcycles and an estimated 75-100 automobiles to traverse Tallahassee from the south side of town, where the funeral was held, to the northeast side where the cemetery was located, without a single law enforcement vehicle leading us. This procession went straight through the heart of Tallahassee, a good eight or nine miles with heavy traffic the entire way. Mike Donohoe and his people did an outstanding job of getting us all there in one piece............(Go here to read the rest of the story)
And we still wonder when the politicos will answer, "FSU Football or Servicemen?"Add to Technorati Favorites
Here's the latest on escorts for fallen hero's...
ReplyDeleteFirst the Sherrif and Police Dept. tell us (after Mikes local news TV interview) and had it all published in the Tallhassee Democrat that they would from now on have law enforcement escorts for our KIA hero's. Then Campbell went and added a contition a day or two later...they would escort unless there happened to be an FSU football game,that because the traffic would be so bad that they would be needed there...When I heard the condion I was oh so mad.
I contacted Congressman Thaell with this news...Thaell ask me if I could just advise the fallen hero's family if they could just postpone the funeral until the next day if there was a game...I was livid and ask him if he had lost his mind...That there would be no way I would ask a family such a thing, I would sooner call Bobby Bowden and ask him to postpone his stupid game...or better yet for Master Sgt. Bowden to take the Nole's football team and go to Iraq to fight for our country...I also told him that the Patriot Guards don't just "show up" at funerals of the KIA...we are asked or invited to attend. By then the family have already made the funeral arrangements. Not that it would make a difference cuz we still would not ask a grieving mother or wife to wait till the next day because of a football game. I told Thaell that this wasn't just gonna blow over, that we were not going to settle for the crums the law enforce drops...that we are about to get loud, very loud. That if necessary we would go back to the local news with another interview like Mike did the first time and to the Tallahassee Democrat as well. I told Thaell that I was livid and that there was nothing more important in this city than to honor and show respect to a fallen hero. I ask him why the campus cops can't take care of the football games...he replied that there wasn't enough of them...I then told him that on these very important game days (sarcastically) that they could still provide at least to cops on bikes and that our blockers would still help as they've had to do it alone thus far. Thaell asked me to let him talk to Sherrif Campbell and he would get back to me...and he did...very quickly I might add...I was out when he left me the msg. that he had "good news" and asked me to call him. I was able to reach him this morning and he told me that Sherrif Campbell had agreed to have at least 2 bike cops on these game days or any other special goings on, no matter what...Now understand since Campbell agreed to do it the first time but then turned around and put a condition on it a day later...I asked Thaell if I could get that in writing...since I don't trust any of them...(I didn't tell Thaell that part) He sounded very annoyed by now and told me that at the very moment we were talking he was traveling out of the state with is family for vacation and would not be available for a couple of weeks...and that Campbell was a "man of his word" and if I wanted it in writing I'd have to contact the sherrif's office myself...I know that by the time I got through with that man, he must have needed a strong drink or at least a valium, LOL...
Bet he sure is sorry that he gave me his cell phone number...but one thing I really must give Thaell credit for...AT LEAST HE RESPONDED and did make the call to Campbell (who by the way is up for re-election for Sherrif again...GOOD THING I don't live in Leon County...
God Bless you Master SGT Shawn Simmons,you are still making a difference for the country even in your grave. For after seeing that you got no respect and no honor from our local law enforcement made my blood boil...and I'm not the only one to see that this never happens again for your bothers to follow...I think we should refer this new change the MASTER SGT. SHAWN SIMMONS ACT...You rest in peace now...your job is well done.
HOLLYWOOD