PGR and USFallen actions were sad and pathetic according to Toll Roads News

October 27, 2010 · By Jerry Castillo

turnpikeUSFallen.org received an editorial response from Toll Roads News regarding the handling of a fallen warrior. The bottom-line is he feels the PGR and USFallen.org actions are sad and pathetic for exposing OK Toll Authority’s lack of respect rather than protesting the war or the enemy.

Apparently, the article we ran exposed the OTA’s approach to getting paid has triggered a desire to frame the debate in a different light.  Below is our response to the editor and his opinion, which we found to be meaningless.

Open email response to the editor of tollroadsnews.com, regarding; Raw rage directed at Oklahoma Turnpike over charging for military funeral procession – OPINION

Peter Samuel

102 West Third Street Unit 1

Frederick, MD. 21701

Tel: 301 631 1148                                                              via email: editor@tollroadsnews.com

Dear Peter,

Thank you for sharing your editorial comments regarding the OK Turnpike Authority (OTA) and the funeral procession of a fallen warrior.

First allow us to clarify a couple of points and then we will address the questions you posed in your editorial.

The motorcycle club you spoke of is known as the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR), Patriot Guard, is a different group. My organization is USFallen.org (USF) and we are not affiliated with the PGR, but we do collaborate on missions especially those in our area of reporting, mainly North Texas fallen warriors and notable veterans.  We subscribe to their email service as a way of monitoring activities around N. Texas.

The PGR does far more than act as shield against hate groups at fallen warriors funerals.  They also participate in funerals of military veterans when requested by families.  They pitch in and help wounded warriors, they escort buses filled with troops going and coming from war, they escort WWII veterans to and from airports on their way to visit DC Memorials, and they participate in programs for children of fallen warriors.

Not all PGR members are military veterans, but many are Vietnam War veterans and they feel a sense of duty to ensure those who answer the call of duty are not mistreated as they were.

Our organizations do not necessarily agree on every issue and our missions are very different, but we do share a common objective, that is to ensure our fallen warriors and their families are treated with respect, dignity and honor.

We received an email notification that the PGR was collecting donations to cover the expenses for the toll road in order to spare the family the indignation of being asked to pay a toll on a public highway, USF not the PGR, was outraged.

When we learned the only solution coming from the OTA is how to bill the family, this is what motivated us to action. It was never about the toll, it was about the OTA lack of compassion and respect. Laws and policies sometimes require public officials to make decisions on how to best enforce them. OTA officials were unable to figure out an appropriate solution so the public is entitled to make suggestions.  If those suggestions made people feel uncomfortable or uneasy, it pales in comparison, to the pain suffered by the grieving family.

We felt it was our duty to inform the public and encourage them to express their concerns and make suggestions to the Governor and Director of OTA. This is not something new or targeted at a specific industry.  For example, when we discovered a Medal of Honor recipient’s grave was being turned into a dog park in CA, or when we discovered a life insurance company was withholding life benefits to families of fallen warriors we encourage our readers to contact these entities to offer alternative solutions.  Granted many of our viewers are active duty service members, veterans and retired military and they can be a bit aggressive, after all our government trained them to be that way. Since, dead heroes, warriors and veterans can’t talk; yet at some point they protected our rights to do so, we encourage our readers to speak up for them.

Your question regarding whether the PGR expected others to provide free services and products is an insult to the PGR and its members many of whom are Gold Star Moms & Dads (parents of fallen warriors). They not only pay for their own gas, equipment and meals, but they donate their time.  A trip from McKinney to Ft. Sill is about 5 hours plus 2 hours for the funeral service and some put in an additional 2 hours at the church service. Not to mention the other two days worth of activities such as, the homecoming and funeral home visitation. As a result, many stayed overnight in local hotels and paid all expenses out of their own pocket and the city and state enjoyed the benefits of added tax revenue. The PGR never ask for freebies nor do they expect them.

Having observed and documented them on numerous occasions they have clearly demonstrated to us they are goodwill ambassadors.  As such USF has donated services as a token gesture of appreciation for what they do.

As for our rage against the war and the enemy, neither organization is pro-war, but we are and will remain pro-warrior. The politics and policies are out of our control, but be rest assured as Americans, we do exercise our rights to express our opinions when and where it is appropriate do so.

Since, your opinion is based on incomplete and inaccurate information we find it meaningless.

America’s history is paved with the blood of its patriots and so are the public highways. If a toll is incurred then toll operators need to show a little compassion and figure out a way to bill the former employer; not the families.

Best regards,

Jerry Castillo

USFallen.org/Founder

His response was we did not explain how OTA was being disrespectful. Please feel free to contact Mr. Samuel and share your thoughts.

Tel: 301 631 1148                                                              via email: editor@tollroadsnews.com

3 Responses

  1. Tweets that mention PGR and USFallen actions sad and pathetic according to Toll Roads News | USFallen.org -- Topsy.com

    October 27th, 2010 at 11:43 PM

    1

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by USFALLENORG, AllMilitaryNews. AllMilitaryNews said: (USFallen.org) PGR and USFallen actions were sad and pathetic according to Toll Roads News: USFallen.org … http://bit.ly/bttuHv #Military [...]

  2. DLN

    October 29th, 2010 at 4:37 PM

    2

    Jerry, that was a great response, but some people, no matter how simply you explain things will never understand. Being the Aunt of Cody Board, I appreciate all that you, the PGR, & USFallen has done on his behalf & that of other fallen soldiers, active & retired miltary personal.

    Detta Nelson
    Aunt, Cody Board
    Daughter, Albert Daley, Retired, Sgt Major
    Sister, Doug Ferguson, active duty, Fort Sill

  3. Robert Underwood

    November 8th, 2010 at 11:13 AM

    3

    Jerry,
    I followed a link from the tollroads site, When I hit send it sent an error message, Here is what I had to say

    Sir,
    I read with some mild interest your post at USfallen.org. I found it curious as I read that the slant of your story seems to villify the Patriot Guard Riders. A group that you either misrepresent through ignorance or intent. I quote your statement
    ” A group called Patriot Guard led the campaign. Motorbike enthusiasts they regularly provide an escort for funeral processions and burials. Their formation was prompted by several cases in which leftist protesters exploited funerals and threatened to disrupt them in publicizing their call for getting our troops withdrawn, and letting the Taliban win.”
    The only thing you got even anywhere close to right in this statement was the formation of the Patriot Guard Riders in response to leftist protestors” The protestors were actually a fringe hate group that allegedly supports its thinly disguised church, founded and run by a family of attorneys, through litigation.
    Nothing about troop withdrawal or the Taliban is correct or relevant. You go on to suggest that the request to waive a 400.00 total toll bill is unreasonable

    You imply that they were responsible for “death threats” and “raw rage”. This, in response to an Internet posting that is open to anyone with a connection. You yourself posted on the USFallen site to invite comment. As I scanned your site it seems that the whole purpose of your site, and its sole reason for existence is to advertise for expensive toll systems and promote toll authority officials. I can see where you might feel threatened by any group that would ask for consideration.

    You go on to say

    ” No explanation here of how or why the Turnpike is showing disrespect to the deceased by asking for normal payment for services rendered.

    Did the gas station show disrespect by not waiving the gasoline bill for mourners attending the funeral? What about the McDonald’s or the Subway the mourners visited at a rest stop between McKinney and Fort Sill? Were they expected to provide free food as a mark of respect to PFC Board?
    For some reason, unclear to us, they choose to single out a road operator as the monstrous villain for not offering free service.

    Your slanted report infers that the OTA is a “monstrous villian” neither USFallen or PGR did. Lets put into perspective a few things. In a review of the minutes of the OTA meeting of June 16th, I chose June 16th randomly from a schedule provided online by the OTA. It seems noteworthy that the January February April, July, September, October, and November 17th meetings were cancelled. There was a Special meeting held on November 3rd. But, in the June 16th minutes item 4 directors report it clearly states that there was a budget approval of 24 million dollars in May and another 14 million in June. These meeting minutes are full of items I found interesting. for example in the August 18th meeting minutes Tab 3 there are 2 approvals for corridor studies one for 1,358,100.00 and a second for 1,439,825.00. And from the Special meeting of November 3rd. No mention of the result or if it was voted on yet

    TAB 4 9759. Consider, take action and vote for the approval or disapproval of the proposed Preliminary Annual Budget for the Oklahoma Turnpike System for the Calendar Year 2011 in the amount of $69,923,381 for operations and maintenance of the turnpike system. Also a $89,015,156 Capital Budget for 2011 is included.

    It just seems pretty petty on the part of the OTA to even have considered not waiving the toll of 400.00 for a native son who died in the line of duty, and further, even more ridiculous that you sir would attack the PGR, compare the OTA to a tank of gas or a sandwich, and try to redirect the blame to an enemy of this country thousands of miles away.

    Robert Underwood

    Father of a soldier serving in PFC Boards unit

«
»
Easy AdSense by Unreal