Hello Everyone,

Minnesota has joined in with forty other states around our nation as we honor our Gold Star Families. The Department of Motor Vehicles is now offering “Gold Star Family” License Plates. They will be available to any surviving spouse or parent of a soldier who has given the ultimate sacrifice. Applications for the plates can be made by mail, at any state Driver and Vehicle Services registrars office, or through www.mndriveinfo.org. The license plates will be issued starting October 1st.

The Gold Star Families organization dates back to World War I as a way to honor service members killed during the war. In 1928, a group of 25 mothers living in Washington created a national nonprofit called the American Gold Star Mothers Inc.

As the holidays draw near, remember to keep a special place in your hearts for all of our service men and women who are serving our country at home and abroad. At any given opportunity we should let those who have served and are stilling serving along with their families know how much their commitment to our country means to us as they protect our freedom.

Recently a Seattle man began a Gratitude Campaign to thank soldiers. Many feel it might be uncomfortable to approach someone unknown to them and shake their hand in thanks. This is a gesture we can all use…

The gesture starts with your hand on your heart as if you're about to do the Pledge of Allegiance. And then you just bring the hand down and out in front of you. It actually means thank you from the bottom of my heart.

To all of our Veterans… Thank you.

Best Regards,

Chairman
Minnesota Memorial Riders

PATRIOT DAY (September 11th)

Patriot Day is observed on September 11th, designated in memory of over three thousand Americans who died in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Most American’s refer to the day as 9/11.

U.S. House of Representatives Joint Resolution 71 was approved by a vote of 407-0 on October 25, 2001. It requested that the President designate September 11 each year as “Patriot Day”. President George W. Bush signed the resolution into law on December 18, 2001.

Initially, the day was called Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims Of the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001.

On this day, the president directs that the American flag be flown at half-staff and displayed from individual American homes, at the white house, and on all U.S. government buildings and establishments, home and aboard. The President also asks Americans to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 am, the time of the first plane crash on September 11, 2001.

Minnesota Memorial Riders will observe a moment of silence in remembrance of all the men and women who were lost that day and days after as well as those who have given their lives since the attack on September 11th, 2001. As part of our tribute to these brave people we are hosting a “Remember 9/11” event at Route 65 in E. Bethel on Friday Sept 11, 2009 from 7-9 PM. We hope you can join us.

Certainly we can all remember where we were at the time the first plane crashed into the Twin Towers, I know I do.

Chairman,
Minnesota Memorial Riders