The PGR Pony Express

Just another reason I’m so proud to ride and stand with the men and women of the Patriot Guard Riders.

After each PGR escort mission that we attend, the PGR presents a plaque to the family of the slain family. Sometimes, because of the short notice we have for some missions, the plaque is not ready on the day of the funeral. In these cases, the PGR will deliver the plaque to the family once it is ready.

However, in some cases, we have to go a bit beyond…

From the SE Pennsylvania Ride Captain:

I have been in contact with the Patriot Guard Riders in Texas. I have here in my hands the plaque for Shirley Chitjian, wife of slain soldier Adam Chitjian.

Shirley and Adam were married in Texas while he was stationed there at Fort Hood. Shirley is from that town, Adam is from Philly. ADAM WAS A TRUE HERO, KILLED IN COMBAT BY ENEMY SMALL ARMS FIRE with only a month remaining on his SECOND tour in Iraq. THE SOLDIER WHO WAS WITH ADAM WHEN HE DIED ESCORTED THE BODY BACK HOME FROM IRAQ AND STOOD AT THE FUNERAL. THAT SOLDIER KILLED THE ENEMY COMBATANT WHO HAD KILLED ADAM.

Mrs. Chitjian returned to Texas immediately after the services and is now home in Copperas Cove. I cannot mail her plaque to her because WE JUST DON’T DO IT THAT WAY. Not us Patriot Guard Riders. ADAM CHITJIAN’S WIFE DESERVES MUCH MORE.

I have been in telephone contact with the Texas Ft. Hood area ride captains and we have agreed to do a Pony Express handoff. Here is how it will work:

Normally the plaque would be laid on the grave of the soldier before starting its journey. Adam was cremated however, so instead I will take the plaque to the funeral home in NE Philadelphia where we held the mission. There is a large flag pole on the lawn there. On the day of the mission we lowered that flag to half mast and we parked an Army camoed Hummvee under the flag to honor Adam.

I will ride to that flag pole and, with the plaque in my left hand, render a hand salute to the flag. Then I will mount my “steel horse” and I will ride to Delaware.

I will take the PA turnpike to I-476 to Rt. 202. Then I will travel down route 202 from West Chester to Delaware, and there I will hand off the plaque to a Delaware rider. The Delaware rider will then take the plaque to Maryland and hand it off to that state, and from there to Virginia (or West Virginia, depending on how they choose to do it.) and so on until the plaque reaches Texas.

Texas is taking care of contacts in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. I will take care of coordinating here, in Delaware and Maryland.

I will begin this mission next Saturday, November 17, early in the AM. I expect to reach Delaware around 11am or so (more details will follow.)

I need only two things.

1. PLEASE JOIN ME. Anyone who wishes to ride with me that morning to ESCORT THE PLAQUE is WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO DO SO. Just step up and say so. You may ride with me from the funeral home to Delaware, or meet me anywhere along the route.

2. I need someone from Delaware to step up and be prepared for the hand-off. I also need that person/persons to arrange and coordinate the hand-off to the next state.

A finer bunch of Americans you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere…