I’m not sure the “deep tunnel” project is going to reduce flooding much.  Its main purpose is to prevent the discharge of raw sewage during heavy rain in areas where sanitary sewers and storm sewers are not separate.

 

 

I gave myself two hours to make a one hour trip.  I live north of the airport so I was southbound on I-294 as I passed I-90.  That was my last chance to exit before Downers Grove, but I didn’t know it at the time.  So, after miles of stop-and-go, I was northbound on I-355.  By the time I got to the hanger everyone was inside except these few:

 

 

Even thought the big hanger door was open, it was very quiet inside the building.  My rubber-soled shoes squeaked on the glossy floor so I couldn’t take a place in the flagline.  This was as close as I got.

 

 

So I was first out the door.  The snipers wanted to hurry ahead of the main group and were right behind me.

 

 

Our group would have been much larger had it not flooded, but I was caught up now.  Fortunately many other good PGRiders had made it on time.

 

 

Including my friends Mark & Cyndi,

 

 

and Rob,

 

 

and Brenda,

 

 

and Al.

 

 

We suited-up for the escort.

 

 

My high-speed 4-by-6 had taken a beating during the 100-miles escort to Polo.

 

 

But it had become frayed in service to another fallen hero.

 

Question:  When is it okay to tear up the American flag and put it to a pedestrian use?

 

 

Answer:  When it is use as a battlefield bandage.

 

 

And so, with most of our flags in good order, we crossed the Fox at St. Charles and turned north.

 

 

Most people know to pull off to the side for flashing red lights, but sometime they are not sure how to react to the bikers following.

 

 

This day, everyone on highway 31 was very respectful all the way until the hearse carrying Anibal passed.

 

 

At the funeral home, we dismounted quickly and stood by respectfully.

 

 

The snipers had long been waiting.

 

 

Then they went in and we left.

 

 

I tried to head north but this is the type of sign that draws my motorcycle into the parking lot.

 

 

My server,

 

 

and the girl in the next booth who’s life overlapped Anibal’s by only one month.

 

 

I returned to the funeral home two days later.  The Elgin Chief-of-Police was there.

 

 

The snipers were there.

 

 

Anibal’s brother was there.  (What a family!)

 

 

Stars denote multiple awards.  “V” indicates some were earned with valor.

 

“valor” according to Merriam-Webster:  strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness

 

 

Eight years ago, Elgin’s largest office building housed Saftey-Kleen.  Now it is the Harvest Bible Chapel and a Christian school.  Some of us took positions at the parking entrance.

 

 

Other PGRiders escorted Anibal on his trip from the funeral home to this forested church.

 

 

Nine days ago, Anibal had been injured in eastern Afghanistan.

 

Eight days ago, Anibal died in Bagram, Afghanistan.

 

Now he lay inside a church, surrounded by his family and his fellow soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment with PGRiders standing just outside, holding flags.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         on to the Anibal’s visitation

 

         back to the Santiago Mission

 

back to ALL MISSIONS