A recent ceremony in Hephzibah brought members of the Patriot Guard Riders to the aid of a local veteran.
The Patriot Guard Riders are primarily known for their participation in funerals for veterans, but they are also involved with “Wreaths Across America,” a program that involves placing wreaths on the graves of veterans in every state.
The group also coordinates another program to provide help to living veterans and their families.
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It is called “Help on the Homefront.” Leon “River Rat” McLamb, Georgia Captain of PGR, said they can take on almost any request under that umbrella.
“A few years ago in South Georgia, we actually put a roof on the guy’s house. There’s some loose guidelines, but basically, if it’s something we really need, or we feel like there’s a real need for we’re going to be there and we’re going to try to help or try to find another organization that can,” he said.
One of the operations is called a key ceremony, which McLamb said had its beginnings with the Home for Our Troops program and Gary Sinise Foundation. A home is either built or adapted based on a veteran’s needs. Riders stand a flag line when the home is presented.
One such key ceremony was held June 9 in Keysville.
McLamb said a local American Legion post learned of a veteran in need of better living quarters. They contacted Frank Quagliano, owner of Soldier Solutions, LLC in Connecticut, which helps veterans find work and veteran owned businesses to grow.
“He went on TikTok, and I’m not familiar with TikTok, but it’s some type of contest they do on who can raise the most money in a certain amount of time,” McLamb said. Adding Quagliano raised more than $16,000, enough to purchase an RV for the man to live in.
“Found this RV in the Atlanta area. Since it was moved in people have been cleaning it, getting it ready for him, kitchen supplies and things for it,” McLamb said.
Next was choosing a location to set up the RV. Bob’s RV Park in Keysville had space. Owner Bob Manchester, an 87-year-old Korean War veteran, said he volunteered thousand of hours with the Disabled American Veterans in New York before he retired and moved to Georgia, and he was glad to participate.
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With the RV prepared and location selected, the next step was to sign the papers and give the keys to the veteran.
“I thought it was pretty nice. I’m wheelchair bound. And I can’t even hardly get in a wheelchair anymore. So, I watched it on my iPad,” Manchester said.
The PGR volunteers lined up at the entrance to welcome the veteran home.
“We had lined the driveway with flags. We had approximately 25 people holding flags as he came in. And you could just see the smile on his face. You know, if we can brighten the day of a veteran, we’ve done what we should do,” said McLamb.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a general assignment reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
