Courtesy Photo | Members of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 pay tribute by honoring the...... read more read more
GULFPORT, Miss. - The Riemann Family Funeral Home arranged for 130 veterans, 12 of which were from World War II, to attend the National World War II museum in New Orleans on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013. “Appreciating Our Veterans has become an annual event,” said President Chad Riemann, “It’s just a small way to say ‘thank you.’ Without their sacrifice, we would not be here today.” This trip marked the second annual occurrence.
The event started at the Riemann Family Funeral home, on Three Rivers Road in Gulfport, with respects given in a speech by Chad Riemann and a flag ceremony conducted by several active duty members of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 74.
Departing the funeral home were five buses and four vehicles, filled with veterans of a variety of wars. A group of Seabee motorcycle riders, joined by a group of American Patriot Riders, led the veterans out of the parking lot and were escorted by the police out of Gulfport.
A police escort was also provided for the drive through Louisiana and into New Orleans, to the National World War II museum. It was arranged by Crusaders for Veterans Inc., a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide aid to those who have served.
Veterans riding in the convoy were excited to see traffic stopped on their account and felt honored such action was solely for them, out of respect for their service. Once on site, many of the elder veterans shared stories with their biker escorts and were surprised to find the majority of the bikers were a mix of veterans and active duty members. Each acknowledged respect and appreciation for one another.
“It was truly an event for the memories and I look forward to being a part of it next year with the Riemann Family,” said Kevin (Reb) Cuttill, president of Crusaders for Veterans.
Regarding the visit, museum president and CEO Nick Mueller said, “It’s their story and I know they have a little curiosity about how we’re telling it. We have to understand the price of freedom. We have to understand why 400,000 [U.S.] men gave their lives.”
With its home-port in Gulfport, Miss., NMCB 74 is 580-person Seabee Battalion currently deployed to multiple locations in U.S. Northern Command, U.S. European Command, U.S. Africa Command, and U.S. Central Command areas of responsibility, providing general and contingency engineer support to Combatant and Component Commanders in order to enhance their operational capabilities across the full spectrum of military operations. Operating Forward, NMCB 74 strives to capitalize on engagement opportunities and build lasting relationships, ultimately paving the way for future partnerships.
For more news and information on NMCB 74, visit the Command Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/FEARLESS74
| Date Taken: | 11.06.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 01.14.2014 20:43 |
| Story ID: | 119164 |
| Location: | GULFPORT, MS, US |
| Web Views: | 66 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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