`We remember their sacrifice'

Families of service members recognized as Patriot Honor Ride visits RI

By Kelcy Dolan
Posted 8/17/16

Retired Col. Gary West served in the Air Force for 27 years and was lucky enough to return home after all three of his combat tours and more than 130 combat missions. Now, he wants to do his part in giving back to those families who may

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`We remember their sacrifice'

Families of service members recognized as Patriot Honor Ride visits RI

Posted

Retired Col. Gary West served in the Air Force for 27 years and was lucky enough to return home after all three of his combat tours and more than 130 combat missions.

Now, he wants to do his part in giving back to those families who may have lost a loved one in the service or had a wounded veteran return home.

West is biking 2,500 miles from Lubec, Maine to Key West, Fla., through 15 states and Washington, D.C., honoring 16 heroes and their families by raising finances and awareness for Folds of Honor, what he calls his Patriot Honor Ride. The Folds of Honor Foundation provides educational scholarships to the families of fallen or disabled veterans.

“I came home after all my combat missions. My three sons were able to have a natural life with their father there for them, and I got to see them grow up without experiencing a major loss of their father,” West said. “My heart truly goes out to all the families that have lost a loved one or who have come home disabled from their service to our country, and I wanted to be able to do something for them.”

West believes there are a lot of organizations out there to help veterans, but “unfortunately” sometimes their families can be forgotten. He wanted to remind these families that they are “loved and cared for,” to bring attention to the “great sacrifice” they have also made for their country.

Alongside recognizing families, West wanted to provide an opportunity for citizens to give back and show their thanks, to have an outlet for them to donate.

Instead of founding his own organization, West partnered with Folds of Honor, an organization that “resonated with [his] spirit” for its dedication to the children of veterans.

Folds of Honor supplied West with the names of families along the East Coast who have been a recipient of, or were eligible for, one of their scholarships.

West then set out to bike through all 15 states and D.C. to honor those families. The 60-day trip hopes to raise $60,000.

Last Tuesday, Aug. 9, West and his team, made up of family and friends who both bike and drive along with him for his trip, made their stop at the Rhode Island State House to honor two families, one from the state and the other from Massachusetts, with the help of Cranston state Rep. Robert Lancia.

“Being a veteran myself, I have met those families struggling with the loss of a loved one,” Lancia said. “Something like this really hits home for me. It is something I’m passionate about. This is where my heart is.”

At each stop West raises an American flag in the name of the fallen or disabled serviceman or -woman, then folds that same flag and presents it to the children who have received the Folds of Honor.

“This ride has been overwhelming emotionally,” he said. “To watch each of these flags fly is really powerful. It has turned my dream into a reality.”

In Rhode Island, West was flying the flag for Rhode Islander and Air Force Capt. Kreg Palko, as well as Massachusetts native Navy Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) John Marcum.

Palko is a disabled veteran. He attended the Air Force Academy and was a star running back for the Fighting Falcons. He was a T-43 airlift pilot and C-141 instructor pilot. He began having mobility concerns and was later diagnosed with ALS. Palko is now confined to a motorized wheelchair. His daughter, Gabriella, received a Folds of Honor Higher Education Scholarship and is majoring in environmental science and policy.

West explained that families are always invited to ceremonies, but they can’t always make it. The Palko family did not attend the ceremony.

The second family being recognized, from Swansea, Mass., did attend and the daughter of Navy SEAL Marcum, who died in 2008 due to injuries sustained in an altercation with militants in Bagram, Afghanistan, accepted the folded honor flag from West. Madison Marcum was only seven when her father passed, and she received the Children’s Fund Scholarship from the Folds of Honor Foundation.

“We need to see more of people taking proactive action for our veterans. To see those flags flying on our State House moved me deeply. I was touched. I was moved to tears during the folding ceremony to see the young lady receive her father’s flag. It’s all very special, and I am proud to have been a part of it. This is the reality for too many of our military families,” Lancia said.

West said, “To be able to honor these families and personally tell them they are not forgotten, that we remember their sacrifice and care for them, means the world.”

For more information on Gary West and the Patriot Honor Ride, visit patriothonorride.com.

PATRIOT HONOR RIDE:

On Tuesday, Aug. 9, the Patriot Honor Ride stopped at the Rhode Island State House to honor two local families who have either lost a loved one in combat or have a disabled veteran. Gary West, pictured at center, decided to ride 2,500 miles along the entirety of the East Coast to honor 16 heroes and their families. (Beacon Communications photo)

NEVER FORGOTTEN:

West was inspired for his ride because he was able to return home safely after every combat mission throughout his 27 years of service with the Air Force. Last Tuesday, one of the families he honored was the family of fallen Navy SEAL John Marcum. West (right) is pictured with Madison Marcum, Marcum’s daughter. Alongside the two is Stacy Lema, Madison’s mom, with her two other daughters, Mackenzie and Marissa Lema.(Beacon Communications photo)

DEEPLY MOVED:

As part of the Patriot Honor Ride, a flag for each of the families being honored is flown overhead; in Rhode Island it was flown over the State House in Providence. This is the flag honoring Air Force Capt. Kreg Palko, a Rhode Islander, suffering from debilitating ALS. (Beacon Communications photo)

PARTNERSHIPS:

West partnered with the Folds of Honor Foundation for his ride, hoping to raise $60,000 for the organization, which provides educational scholarships to the families of fallen and disabled veterans. West has a team of family and friends following him on his ride in a decorated car.(Submitted photo)

MOVED TO TEARS:

Rep. Robert Lancia, pictured signing the Patriot Honor Ride car, said that he was moved to tears during the folding ceremony when the daughter of a fallen Navy SEAL received a flag in the honor of her father, John Marcum. (Submitted photo)

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