Aaron of Graves Cycle, charged me, in cash, $821...I "tipped" him 5% or $40 for a total of $861.
I received $2145 that was donated and gathered by Fred with a net $1284
What I did was pay my vehicles insurances (Odyssey, Camry, Yammy)...April 1 - Sept 30 bill of $944
$344 in hand, so then I made a purchase from the PGR store:
PGR 3x5' flags -> are presented to the CO of a unit departing for the combat zone...PGR members at the departure ceremony sign it and get a pic of the flag with the CO...we ask them to email me a pic of the flag flying at their HQ or on a vehicle...then we take a pic of it home safe at their Welcome Home Ceremony. I always make the joke for the 1st Sargeant to handle the tasks as he knows how to get things done !!!
It is presented to the entire unit...usually a company...for them to keep.
Never Forget Flags -> presented to the family of a KIA or Killed in Action son, daughter, husband, wife, father, mother...at the funeral services. I have ladies who will embroider the name of the deceased on the flag's white border.
PGR Challenge Coins -> a coin if presented to any flag officer present at a mission & the senior enlisted...or anyone else I'm led to do so...
Mission Accomplished Pins -> a pin is presented to any new member at his first mission...he then can purchase a pin for each mission he attends thereafter
recently, a casuality of war by suicide was laid to rest...his wife received his casket flag, but his Mother and Father were so distressed, I couldn't stand it. Since he was, ah is, a Marine, I felt led to give his Mother and Father two items, Challenge or Memory Coins and Mission Accomplished Pins...I always always always explain/emphasize the Mission Accomplished was his becoming and serving honorably as a Marine. The Marines are arguably correct that their service is the most challenging of them all.
For Army, I either purchase or sometimes receive donations of "Soldier's Angels" dog tags...of course, there are only one set of tags that a son is wearing when he dies. The Military Mortuary in Dover, DE takes great care with those tags and the local Commanding General to the funeral sight presents a set of the deceased hero's award ribbons along with this dog tags (rarely they are destroyed and are substituted by the spare set in the deceased footlocker).
and lastly, those are the tags that were presented to me by Gold Star Familys in memory of their sons. I gulp when they tell me I am one of the good things that came of their personal tragedys. I wear them with great honor and remembrance.
