A Hero's Welcome

5/18/12 Welcome Home SSgt. Richard J. Kocher, Jr. USAF Phoenixville, PA

Maria — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:14:40 +0000

A Little More info on our HERO:

I got more info from SSgt. Kocher’s wife, and the attached pic. What a cute couple!

Richard was deployed to Kandahar in Afghanistan since November for 6 months. Prior to that, he completed training at Fort Dix, NJ in October with his team (270th out of Willow Grove). This was his 2nd deployment in support of Operation Iraqi/Enduring Freedom. While on active duty in Aviano Air Base in Italy in 2005, he was deployed to Q’atar/Iraq/Afghanistan.

Our good friend Sean Carpenter received a request from Mrs. Kocher who would like to give her husband a grand welcome home. She plans to meet at the family home and then escort our Hero to dinner at Iron Hill in Phoenixville. Lets show this Hero how much we care and escort him WWR style!

Staff Sergeant Richard J. Kocher, Jr.: Active duty Air Force from 2002-2007 Currently Air National Guard- 270th EIS Pursuing a Masters in Education from Eastern University.

Teaches for Central Texas College in deployed location. We are also participating members of Hope Community Church, King of Prussia, where Rick serves in many capacities, including greeter and substitute Sunday school teacher. Rick is a former football coach at Ursinus College, Member of Valley Force Patriots & BruClear Club of Pottstown. Married 10 years, with our first child due this summer.

RC: Carpents (Sean Carpenter)

Rally Location: Center Street, Phoenixville, PA

parking may be at a premium as the Phoenixville Dogwood Festival will be on.. There is a baseball stadium a block or two away from our destination – see the map here:

http://g.co/maps/jzrft

Rally Time: 5:15 PM (no earlier as our Hero may still be in the area)

Please call me at 610-327-2916 for more info or additional information.

A Hero’s Welcome So-Cal 5/24/12 Navy Lt. Luis Alvarez at Los Angeles Airport (LAX)

aheroswelcome so cal — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:34:01 +0000

We have been contacted by the wife of Lt. Alvarez wishing to give him a GRAND welcome, actually his first ever!! Lt.Alvarez is returning from his 6th deployment! If you are a local to the LAX area, please spread the news as this will be Lt. Alvarez 1st official homecoming, let’s really make him feel the honor he so deserves!

RALLY: LAX Terminal 4, lower level baggage claim for American Airlines.
RALLY DATE/TIME: Thursday, May 24 at 4:15pm
*His flight will be arriving to LAX from a Panama layover in Miami.

Bring your flags, signs, and kiddos to give honor and welcome our fellow Hero!

A little background on Lt. Alvarez:
LT Luis Alvarez is currently deployed to Central American on the USS MCCLUSKY under Operation Martillo. He has been deployed a total of six times traveling to the Middle East, Sri Lanka, and now Central and South America. He recently received orders to become a science instructor at USC for the next few years.

If you are a Southern California local, and would like to stay posted with military welcome homes for Ontario Airport, Or Los Angeles Airport, add us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002473711945

5/23/12 Welcome Home Captain Steven Baldino, USMC Wilmington Train Station

Maria — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:30:40 +0000

We’ve been contacted by the mother of Captain Baldino to give her son a “Hero’s Welcome”. Steven doesn’t like too much of a fuss so there will be no escort but.. we can still make him feel like a ROCK STAR!!! Let’s do this right and get Captain Baldino home in style!!! Please watch for updates / rally location is still being planned but for now, we’ll meet in the parking lot of the Wilmington Train Station.

Rally Time: 5:00 PM (watch for updates)

Rally Location: Wilmington Train Station

100 South French Street
(Martin Luther King Boulevard & French Street)
Wilmington, DE 19805

Short bio

Captain Baldino is a Naval Academy graduate (2007) and graduated from the Salesianum High School in Delaware. He was awarded for outstanding achievement in music among a class of 263 graduates. Salesianum High School Jazz Quartet (2001-2003). Various paid performances at country clubs, museums, hotels and restaurants!

Steven is with the Combat Engineer Battalion, 1^st Marine Division as Assistant Operations Officer and deployed to Afghanistan during 2011 and 2012. He has also completed a deployment to Iraq in 2009.

Our Hero will be returning from Afghanistan, arriving on May 23 at the Wilmington train Station and I was hoping to have a hero’s welcome for him. He does not like to be the center of attention so I don’t want it to be too much, but maybe just a few military who have been in his shoes would be great. Can you make some suggestions for me? His name is Captain Steven Baldino, US Marine Corps. Thanks so much,

All my best,

Donna Baldino

5/19/12 SEPA Armed Forces Day Bensalem Twp.

Maria — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:26:06 +0000

I spoke with Larry Rubini who is the volunteer program coordinator for the Armed Forces Day in Bensalem. He is very happy about WWR’s interest in participating in this event. He told me that the core planning group is also very enthusiastic for WWR to attend. Events will start approximately 10:00 am before the formal program at 11:00 am. WWR will ride in at approximately 10:00 am for the start of the events. The formal program will be in the amphitheater, which is a walk on event. All vets, especially Iraq and Afghan, are invited to the March- On. There will be veterans from WWII through the present. Let’s show our servicemen and women how much we appreciate their service to our country.
This is going to be a big event for our troops and a great opportunity for WWR to spread our message of what we do. If you are able to make this event, it would be a great encouragement to the all of our veterans.

Rally point: Kohl’s on Knights Rd
Rally time: 9:00 am
KSU: 9:45 am
Destination: Bensalem Amphitheater

RC Howard K

5/20/12 Honor Fallen Hero’s Flag Line / Bala Cynwyd, PA

Maria — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:24:49 +0000

We have been contacted by Steve Weber, Deputy Chief of the Union Fire Assoc to see if we would stand colors for them during this service. This area in the Cemetary has been set aside for the families of fallen Veterans, FD, PD that would other wise struggle to have a proper place to be laid to rest. The request came in as follows

Request:
We do a remembrance every year for our fallen Police, Fire, EMS and Military we have some Vets and current Military that are in attendance we would like to see if you would be able to provide a flag line that day.

Rally Location :
GSB Bldg
1 Belmont Av
Bala Cynwyd Pa. 19004
City Av. and Belmont Av.
Parking lot / Belmont Av side.
Rally Time : 1:00 PM
KSU : 1:30 PM

Flag line at 2p in cemetery grounds.
Short ride from rally point to cemetery, about 1 min away straight down Belmont ave.

RC for this mission will be wj26 (Wil), Thank you for stepping up

5/19/12 Candlelight Vigil for fallen Police Officers, Bethlehem, PA

Maria — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:22:49 +0000

Saturday May 19th, Bethlehem, will be having a Candlelight Vigil to honor police officers killed in the line of duty. Warriors Watch will proudly add our support to this event. Ecorted ride through town to the Vigil.

The Rally point was choosen because this intersection is where officer Rice was killed while on duty, riding across the Faye bridge named in honor of officer faye also killed on duty.

when we arrive at the Bethlehem Police Memorial, there will be an awards ceremony. Immediately afterward will be the Candlelight Vigil

Rally Point: Bon Ton parking lot, Schoenersville Rd. & West Gate Dr. Bethlehem.
Rally Time: 5:30 PM
KSU: 6:30 PM

5/25/12 20th annual Kiwanis Patriotic Celebration at Reeves Park, Phoenixville,Pa

Maria — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:20:35 +0000

We have been ask by Adam Deveney who we met at Barkley school back on Vetrans Day to take part in 20th annual Kiwanis Patriotic Celebration at Reeves Park, Phoenixville,Pa. (Rain location Barkey school auditorium) Rally: The Phoenix diner 785 starr st. Phoenixville,pa.19460 Rally time:0900 ksu 0920 RC needed The kids have no idea we . . . → Read More: 5/25/12 20th annual Kiwanis Patriotic Celebration at Reeves Park, Phoenixville,Pa

5/16/12 UPDATE!!! Welcome Home TSgt. Randall P. Main, Jr. Willow Grove to Cheltenham

Maria — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:20:18 +0000

NO MEDIA AT THE REQUEST OF THE FAMILY!

TIME CHANGE!!! NEW RALLY TIME IS 6:00 PM

This T Sgts wife, Patricia, served with him during his first (of three) deployment – they were both Marines.

We have a request from Patricia Main for her husband, TSgt Randall P. Main Jr. (Air National Guard, Willow Grove)
He deployed November 10, 2011, this is his 3rd deployment but first to Afghanistan and the longest deployment. They are so proud of him, he is their hero, as Patricia told me. They want to give him the welcome he deserves. I have been told that he will be arriving May 16th and Patricia is supposed to pick him up at 1600 on May 16th.

Let’s get out and show our Air National Guardsmen how much we appreciate his service to our country!!!

Rally: 400 Block of Jefferson Ave.. Cheltenham, PA 19012

Rally time: 6:00PM

RC:Navy chief Thanks George for stepping up

5/19/12 Candlelight Vigil for Fallen Police Officers, Bethlehem, PA

Maria — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:34:06 +0000

The Rally point was choosen because this intersection is where officer Rice was killed while on duty, riding across the Faye bridge named in honor of officer faye also killed on duty.

when we arrive at the Bethlehem Police Memorial, there will be an awards ceremony. Immediately afterward will be the Candlelight Vigil

Rally Point: Bon Ton parking lot, Schoenersville Rd. & West Gate Dr. Bethlehem.
Rally Time: 5:30 PM
KSU: 6:30 PM

5/16/12 Honor Mission for WWII Army Vet Karl Esler, Blackwood, NJ

Maria — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:32:34 +0000

May 16 Wednesday

WWII Army Vet. Karl August Esler 92yrs old

U.S. Army PFC. Karl August Esler served in the South Pacific during WWII
Was on Honor Flight two times to Washington D.C. for the WWII Veterans

Was a Lifetime member of the Lambs Terrace Fire Company,Volunteer Fireman
Belonged to the NRA and Free Masons

We have been asked to stand a Flag Line to Honor this WWII HERO, then to escort this WWII Army Veteran to his final resting place at Hillcrest Cemetery, Sewell.

Rally @ 1015
Flag Liine-1030-1130
Earle Funeral Home
122 West Church Street
Blackwood 08012
Following the 1200 noon Service we will escort U.S. Army PFC. Karl Esler to his final resting place.

RC is available.