Busy day today, started with a radio interview on local station early am. Great interview with Panama and the listeners in the Reno area. Followed by a Starbucks appt with Senator Williams. He is a state Senator in the Sparks area and was extremely supportive of the Honor and Remember mission.

We moved from there onto Caron City the capitol, where I had a scheduled ceremony with the governor. Christie had arranged a small meeting and flag presentation to two families in his office. One to  the Dragulich family in honor of their son killed in Iraq and the other to Mrs Drury in honor of her son killed in Vietnam in 1971. We had a limited time but the ceremony was extremely moving for all involved. I know it meant alot to the families to have the governor particulate in reading the certificates.

After a quick lunch with everyone I headed to Sacramento for the evening.

Tomorrow: Begin Hawaii trip,  more to come

Blessings, George

Meetings did not work out as planned. Had housekeeping to do with postings and preparing for tomorrow. I want to thank Christi and Ballard for taking amazing care of me while in town. Christi is a terrific cook and surprised me at every meal. Ballard was a great companion as we ran the necessary errands each day.

Today we were also able to take the time for a local news interview.

KOLO News Channel 8

Tomorrow: Ceremony with Nevada Governor and Gold Star families; on to Sacramento.

Blessings, George

Today is yet to reveal itself. Rest and catch up.

Tomorrow: Potential meeting with the Nevada TAG and author Boone Colter.

Blessings, George

Put Patty on a plane at 530 this morning and then headed out for the long drive back to Reno with the Larsens. The weather was great, in the mid 60′s, and the drive beautiful. We arrived safely 8 hours later. Patty did arrive back in Norfolk safely, around 530pm eastern time. Unfortunately on her drive home she was in a car accident on the interstate, airbags deployed and her vehicle totaled. Everyone is ok thank God, but shaken up. It was a purely fluky thing but nonetheless life throws some wicked curves sometimes and I am 3,000 miles away. Please keep us in prayer as you think about the journey and the potential hazards ahead.

Tomorrow: I have a couple of days in Reno area to catch up and then Wednesday ceremony with the Governor.

Blessings, George

A day spent walking with Patty, Kenny and his two friends from LA. Seemed like miles and it probably was. There is way too much to describe and we only visited probably 3 hotels. I will leave my opinion at the door, but there is an amazing display of money pouring into every form of entertainment and distraction. I will post some pictures of the landscape. There was no way we could make a dent in the amount of places to go and things to see. And that doesn’t even include the gambling, where you could probably get lost for hours. FYI I did not even invest even a penny in any game of chance. It is an overwhelming experience some may never see and everywhere you turn someone or something is vying for your attention.

Had a great time with my youngest son and that made it all worth while. I only get to see him usually twice a year. he will also be with me in Lompoc for the Dennis Miller event Sept 11..

Tomorrow: Patty flies home, head back to Reno.

Blessings, George

Today was a long travel day as we head to Las Vegas for the Hannity Freedom concert.  left the RV at the Larsens in order to save about 1000 miles of wear and of course the 6 miles to the gallon. It was better of course to get to know them and share stories of our kids. Very barren yet beautiful countryside as we headed south. One of the highlights of the drive was when my eye caught the flying of an Honor and Remember Flag at a veterans post (Order of the Eagles) right along Route 395. It was a real shocker to see the flag blowing proudly in the wind, we stopped but no one was about to thank. Possibly we will stop again on the way back Sunday.

Seven hours later we rolled into Las Vegas. If you have never been, it is wall to wall advertisements with hotels and casinos everywhere.  Quote spectacular and with every entertainer you can imagine performing somewhere.  Even the long in the tooth acts are all here.  The Hannity Freedom concert you may have heard about, but its  a fundraiser to raise money for the families of Fallen Heroes, primarily for college scholarships.  This foundation was started by Ollie North. Its a wonderful event and there were thousands there. I had scheduled myself to attend this event back when I first put my itinerary together and I had hoped for some kind of stage time. But you know that is all wishful thinking. I have been trying to reach Sean Hannity for quote some time with this message but with no luck. Not any acknowledgment whatsoever.

I did find out that tickets were available for Gold Star families and that there was one left for me. Later, another was acquired for Patty. When we arrived we were able attend the VIP room and get some food and speak to other families there. I had a quick picture with Col North but no conversation. later Hannity came in but wasn’t able to speak with him either. Believe it or not I do still have some shyness in me.  Jen the coordinator there did do one thing, she took a few of us to a private meeting with Michael W. Smith. Well known music artist. i was able to share briefly the message of the flag and he was very interested. I gave him an Honor and remember bracelet and he actually wore it on stage. I will have photos posted in the album gallery.

The concert was truly amazing as many acts performed, beginning with the Oak Ridge Boys, Charlie Daniels, Comedian Terry Fator, Michael W. Smith and then lynyrd Skynyrd. It was a great night of entertainment. Part way through the evening our friends the Larsens and another Gold  Star couple were led onstage and acknowledged for their sons sacrifice. It was wonderful to see them given tribute. When Sean asked Ballard to say a few words. He said we came here with George Lutz a man traveling around the country to establish a remembrance flag. Sean asked when was I coming through and he said I am here now. Sean asked for the house lights and said George where are you.  I stood up and shouted “here Sean”, the audience applauded and that was my one brief moment. I am hoping this will be yet one more reminder to them that we are out there working on getting public awareness of military sacrifice. Its a start.

Our son Kenny is driving in from Los Angeles at 4am, so excited to spend time with him tomorrow. Patty flies back home on Sunday morning, its been great to have three weeks of her summer. I will be back on the road Monday on my own.

Tomorrow:  Not a whole lot but gawking at the glitz, enjoying my son.

Blessings, George

Had a great meeting this morning thanks to Robert Hildebrand, with the Lakeview County Commissioner along with VFW representatives.  They unanimously endorsed the flag and I left one for them to start flying right away. We said our goodbyes and headed on the lengthy trip to Reno, about 5 hours with the remaining 500 miles to Vegas on Friday. Met with Gold Star parents Christie and Ballard Larsen for a short visit. We will be traveling to the concert with them in the morning.

Tomorrow: Seven hour drive to Las Vegas and Freedom concert.

Blessings, George

Had a great evening at the Gibsons with Jon and the family. Also Shawn their son was their and he is in the glass repair business with Safelite. I showed him my windshield and he is going to arrange for it to be fixed when I get to Sacramento next week! I will be able to have a clear view again.

Headed today to visit the Eugene memorial in Skinner/Butte and then to Lakeview, where we were invited to pass through and share the vision. The Oregon memorial is in the final stages of completion, today they were preparing the stencil template for the names to be sandblasted. Linda has been instrumental in having this memorial prepared and is working on a special dedication Sept 11. I will be posting pictures in the gallery. It was amazing to see this stage of the process as I have now been from the granite mines of Vermont to the cutting and polishing factory and now on-site to witness the addition of names. What an honorable tribute to experience.

Next a long but beautiful 7 hour drive to Lakeview, OR where Robert Hildebrande invited me to pass thru and meet town officials.  After some early morning meetings we will head to Reno for the night.

Tomorrow; Travel to Reno for the night then Las Vegas for the Hannity freedom concert.

Blessings, George

Last night I met Paul and his sister Michele. Paul moves at about a hundred miles and hour and has been feverishly working on pulling together the best ceremony possible. He had been in touch with the veterans affairs office, legislators, Gold Star families and the PGR. It is an all consuming effort to pull people and places together and have it all work out smoothly. Paul was a bit concerned along the way at the lack of response in many directions but I will have to say it worked out most beautifully.

The event was held at the Iraq/Afghanistan memorial just south of the Capitol. It was very well attended by many many participants I would have to guess maybe one hundred including; legislators, Gold Star families and an amazing group of PGR.  The setting and the weather was absolutely beautiful. The venue was perfect. After I was able to share the message of my mission I was honored to bring tribute to two particular families. Mrs Pat Lucas in honor of her son killed in Iraq in 2005 and Mrs Betty Welsh in tribute to her son killed in Lebanon in 1984. It was extremely emotional to be able to remember these two lives in this way with so many onlookers bearing witness to this experience.

The PGR added such an amazing blessing to all, as they embody, in my opinion, the patriotic example this county needs.  Thanks to all who attended and shared this moment, thanks to the legislators who were touched enough to want to establish this in Oregon and to Paul for his amazing work in pulling this together. One side note please say a prayer for Paul because at the event he inadvertently ripped a ligament in his leg and ended up in terrible pain. He has since gone to the hospital but no word on the prognosis.

At the event today I met Linda and John Gibson, Gold Star parents to Sgt Brennan Gibson KIA 12-10-2006 Iraq. I will be headed to their home in Eugene for the night. I also met Jon Belona, who is the founder of Run for the Fallen. Jon and I have been corresponding for two years and he honored me by attending today and we will all be hanging out for the evening. looking forward to the fellowship!

Tomorrow: Travel day to Lakeview, OR

Blessings, George