Update June 6, 2006

Ride of Honor - June 10th, 2006

11:00 am American Legion Post 778
11:30 am Butler Diamond Park Memorial Service

Bikers Hit The Streets To Show Troop Support
By LEIGH PROTIVNAK

THE FIRST ANNUAL MEMORIAL AND HONOR RIDE WILL BE HELD SATURDAY, JUNE 10.

More than 2,000 motorcycles will be traveling up the western side of the state next Saturday
to raise awareness and support for U.S. troops serving in the Iraq war and for the Western Pennsylvania Families of Fallen Heroes Foundation.

"We're doing this to honor the fallen soldiers and let the military and their families know the silent majority in this country are behind them," Ron Rumbaugh of the local Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education motorcycle organization said.

A.B.A.T.E., along with several other motorcycle groups and families of fallen soldiers, will participate in the first annual Memorial and Honor Ride Saturday, June 10. The ride will span from Lyndora to Erie with participants from Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania.

The organization behind the ride, the Western Pennsylvania Families of Fallen Heroes Foundation, was founded by Bill Tomko of Harrisville in 2004 after his nephew, Sgt. Nicholas Tomko, was killed in action.

Tomko started the foundation to help families get through their loss and be in contact with others who understood what they were going through.

A Vietnam veteran, Tomko didn't want to see soldiers' memories tainted or their families discouraged by anti-war sentiment and apathy.

The ride was organized to help show families of fallen soldiers just how many others care about their loved ones' sacrifices.

"It seems like sometimes the only way to get things done is to call on people with motorcycles," Rumbaugh said.

And what better way to make a loud statement than with hundreds of roaring exhausts.

About 150 bikers will meet at 8:30 a.m. next Saturday at the old armory on Route 8 in Franklin to take part in the Franklin leg of the journey.

The cavalcade will head to Franklin's Bandstand Park, where a ceremony conducted by local veterans, families and the Veterans Entombment Testimonial Service Honor Guard will take place.

Iraq veteran Lance Cpl. Nathan Sommers will read the names of Pennsylvania soldiers who have been killed in action in the war on terror, and the honor guard will present flags, set up a field memorial, perform "Taps" and conduct a 21-gun salute. Vietnam veteran Jon Peterson will offer a prayer.

After the ceremony, the group will ride through Harrisville, Slippery Rock and Grove City, where another ceremony will be conducted at noon in Grove City's Memorial Park.

Then, riders will continue to the Hillcrest Memorial Park Avenue of Flags and War on Terror Memorial in Hermitage. At 2:30 p.m., a ceremony will take place including the reading of names, prayer, honor guard, 21-gun salute, and a parade of bikes in missing man formation.

The larger trip will have three major stops - Lyndora, Hermitage and Erie. The smaller groups will all converge in Hermitage before continuing to Erie for the main ceremony and picnic.

A missing man bike formation will be used in some of the parades to signify the lost soldiers.

At least 2,500 bikes and other vehicles have signed on to participate in various parts of the ride, and Tomko said he expects as many as 5,000 to attend the ceremony in Erie.

Any biker or family member of a fallen soldier is welcome to participate in the ride, according
to Adam Kernohan, the ride coordinator and a foundation board member. The public is also welcome to attend any or all of the ceremonies.

There will be a $10 per car charge for any vehicle that participates in the ride, and donations will be accepted during the services. All funds raised during the event will go to the foundation.

The foundation provides charitable funds for families of soldiers who have lost their lives in Afghanistan or Iraq. The foundation tries to help families long after the military's responsibility is exhausted, and the group also raises money to provide personalized mementos of lost loved ones.

Above all, the group aims to help families cope with loss by showing them they are not alone.

More information is available by calling Kernohan at 814-217-0642, or by e-mailing kernintl@adelphia.net, or Tomko at 724-735-2966 or wt@zoominternet.net.
 

Update May 1, 2006

Beer Mugs, Pint Glasses and T-Shirts On Sale!

The Alpha Company 1/112th Mechanized Infantry decal is imprinted on both the shirts and glasses. T-shirts are$5.00 and are Desert tan in color and XL in size. Glasses are $3.00 each. If you would like to purchase any one of these items, please contact  SOS Butler at sosbutler@zoominternet.net , and we will give you information as to whom/ where to mail
your payment to.

Update April 21, 2006

TF 2-7 OIF III Yearbooks Orders are no longer being taken. The order process is
closed.

2-7 (the Army unit that Alpha Company, 1/112th was connected to during the OIF III deployment) will be selling yearbooks that their battalion is producing to commemorate
the OIF III deployment. These yearbooks will include pictures and articles about all of
the companies that were involved with Task Force 2-7 (including our company).

The cost is $30 each or $35 if you would like your name engraved on the yearbook.

If you are interested in purchasing one of these yearbooks, please approach
Captain M. Padien, of 2-7, at the "Welcome Home" party on February 11th,
as he will be in attendance and collecting payments at this time.

Please Note: If you will not be attending the "Welcome Home" party, and would like
to purchase a yearbook, please contact SOS Butler at sosbutler@zoominternet.net ,
and we will give you information as to whom/ where to mail your payment to.

Update January 6, 2006

Invitation to a "Welcome Home" party

It has been brought to our attention that some of the invitations to the "Welcome Home" party have the incorrect telephone number, for the Butler Days Inn, printed on them. The correct telephone number for the Days Inn is: 724-287-6761. Sorry for any inconvenience that this has caused.

Invitations to this celebration were mailed out by SOS Butler on January 6, 2006. Please
know that every reasonable attempt has been made to contact every soldier, attached
to Alpha Company, 1/112th Infantry, and send him an invitation to this celebration.
Unfortunately, some soldiers in the unit do not have their current contact information
up to date at the Armory.

If you are a soldier from Alpha Company, 1/112th Infantry and have not received a written invitation by mail, please contact SOS Butler at sosbutler@zoominternet.net and we will
gladly update our records, and get an invitation to you immediately!

Update, December 20, 2005

"Important Request"

A request has been made that ANY soldier, from Co. A, 1/112th, that has recently moved
and has a change in mailing address and/ or phone number, to please call the Butler
Armory and update your contact information. There are over 30 individuals from the
company are not receiving important mailings (including their LES) because of incorrect/ inaccurate mailing addresses that are on military files.

Take a few minutes, CALL THE ARMORY at 724-789-7894, and UPDATE YOUR
CONTACT INFORMATION.

Update, September 21, 2005

Welcome Home Celebration

SOS Butler members are currently planning a celebration to welcome home the soldiers
of Co. A, 1/112th, upon their return from their tour of duty in support of OIF III. Many details
of this celebration have yet to be announced, but a few facts are known: The celebration
will be held on Saturday, February 11, 2006, at the Days Inn on Route 8, Butler. Dinner,
drinks, entertainment, child care and prizes will be provided at no cost for all those in attendance. Overnight stay will be available; SOS Butler will have a block of rooms
reserved at a discounted rate. Again, please watch your mail and check out SOS Butler's website frequently for further announcements and details regarding this event. Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 11, 2006, and plan on attending! This is sure to be a
joyous celebration for all!