The Kansas Patriot Guard

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The Reading
1100 hs (11AM) Sat, June 14, 2008
Kansas Expocentre
Topeka, Kansas

The Reading, an event designed to honor the memory of this country's men and women who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan fighting terrorism America. This is a call to all Veterans, their families, and friends from all states to join in paying tribute and honor to America's Fallen Heroes. National and local organizers of the June 14 memorial service are lining up volunteers to read the names of every member of the U.S. armed forces who has been killed in those wars. A bell will be rung as each name, and a bit of personal information, is read.

This event was started in January 2008, when a small group of Veterans and their friends met at the American Legion Post 28 in Grand Haven, Michigan to discuss the possibility of an event to honor all the Fallen Heroes who died fighting terrorism. It was decided it should be as close to the center of the United States as possible. Topeka, Kansas was selected as the best location. June the 14th is also Flag Day, United States Army's birthday (233 years old), and the day before Fathers' Day. American Legion Post 1 and American Legion Post 400 members Karen Cook, Reuben Sullivan a Vietnam Veteran and many others are helping the Michigan organizers make this happen. Reuben (cell 785-608-6676) and Karen are also American Legion Riders.

The list of war dead was at 4,563 names. A breakdown shows 4,070 of those deaths occurred in Iraq and 493 in Afghanistan. Fort Riley soldiers and other military personnel who trained there before deploying overseas represent 149 of the names on the roll of war fatalities. The Kansas National Guard reports that nine of its members have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Donations for the Reading will be used to commission a bronze statue to honor the Fallen Heroes of the Afghanistan/Iraq War, and to the Walter Reed Family Assistance Program to help defray the costs for the families to spend time with their injured soldier.

Send Donations: The Reading/Capital City Bank, P.O. Box 1433, Topeka, KS 66610-1433 www.thereading.us

PRE STAGING & DEPARTURE: for the Derby, Douglas, Mulvane, Haysville, Rosehill, Wichita, Andover, and south central Kansas riders and cages. Riders and cages from towns north and east can join along the way.

Reminder bring water, snack, sunscreen, & rain gear.

0530 hr (5:30AM)    Saturday 14 June 2008 - meet at the Derby Quik Trip 71st & K15
0600 hr (6AM)    Departure-take K15 to Turnpike 35 entrance at Boeing ( 7mile)
0700 hr (7AM)   1st Stop: - Matfield Green service area ( 58 mile) - meet more - Restroom/Coffee
0730 hr (7:30AM)   Departure Northeast on 35
0800 hr (8AM)   2nd Stop - turnpike service area north of Emporia (35 mile) Re-Fuel/Restroom/Coffee
0830 hr (8:30AM)   Departure to south Topeka exit, (45 mile) Total one way 145 mile.  Be prepared to pay approx. $6 at toll booth.  Go north on Topeka Blvd. to around 19 th -18th -17th streets and watch for parking lot crew to direct riders and cages to parking area.

0945 hr (9:45AM) Arrival at Kansas Expocentre, Topeka, Kansas. (West side of Topeka, Blvd. (runs north & south) from 21st to 17th Street (which runs east & west) after parking, follow directions to flag line or to go inside the Expocentre.

1100 hr (11AM) Reading of the Fallen Heroes names start.

If you can please take time and go to Topeka, KS and hear names of America's Fallen Heroes.

Weblink to Expocentre:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/Expocentre:Topeka+KS/#a/search/l:::Topeka:KS::US:39.048302:-95.677803:city:Shawnee+County/m::12:39.041421:-95.681376:0:0:/so:Expocentre:::d::25:::::/e

Respectfully,

Terry "Darkhorse" Houck

Cregg "Bronco 6" Hansen,

Greg "Ebay" Hansen