Funeral Flag from Connecticut to Mississippi
It's always nice to be contacted by our old friends - such is the case last week. We recently had the pleasure of handling a dog tag return for Lee in Norwich CT - which she had found about 15 years ago and she is now seeking some help in having her uncle's funeral flag delivered to her father down in Biloxi, MS.
Her Uncle Ronnie Lecara, an Army veteran, died in CT after a pretty lengthy illness at the New London Rehabilitation center in Waterford, CT. Ron served with the Army Airborne 101 division known as the Screaming Eagles from 1954 to 1957. In July of 1957 he became a member of the 10th Special Forces Group Airborne. A significant amount of his time was spent in Germany and he was honorably discharged from Fort Dix, N.J. His military experience sparked a lifelong interest in the history of World War II and the well-being of his fellow veterans
Ron was very close with his brother, Phillip – Phillip is really broken up about the loss of his brother. Unfortunately, Phillip, due to COVID, was unable to come up and see him before he died or attend his funeral. Phillip, a Vietnam Army veteran, lives in Biloxi, MS. Phillip really would like to have his brothers funeral flag/shells, but didn’t want Lee to send them in the mail as he is afraid it would get lost.
Knowing that our friends of the Nam Knights of America MC go down to Washington DC every year for Memorial Day Wknd, we reached out to them to see if they could lend a hand. The Nam Knights of America MC are a Veteran and Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club with over 50 chapters nationwide, making the hand off a possibility - from a northern chapter to a southern chapter while in DC. And once again, they have come through to help.
The Central Massachusetts Chapter stopped at Lee's house in Norwich CT on May 23rd to pick up the funeral flag/shells. They transported to Washington DC, signing the back of the flag case before handing off to the Independence Chapter .
The Independence Chapter (PA) President, "Sarge", and other chapter members, signed the back of the flag case and handed it off to President "Psyop" of the Ft Walton, FL chapter.
UPDATE July 9th, 2022 -
LONG BEACH, Miss. (WLOX) - On Saturday, a motorcycle club by the name of Vietnam Knights traveled seven hours to present a U.S. flag to a veteran.
Phillip LeCara couldn’t be present at his brother Ronnie’s funeral last year due to COVID-19. On Saturday, he was presented with a flag, transported from Washington D.C. to Long Beach, on behalf of his brother.
Allan Porter, president of the club, says it’s an honor to be able to deliver the flag.
“With things happening in the world and the veterans not getting, I guess one hundred percent like they should from the past,” said Porter. “It means a lot, and actually I believe Phillip is actually a Vietnam veteran like myself and other people in my chapter, so it means a lot to us.”
TO VIEW NEW VIDEO - https://www.wlox.com/2022/07/10/vietnam-knights-mc-presents-us-flag-veteran/
(* although news coverage does not eloborate, the flag was actually transported from CT to DC by Nam Knights MC Mass Chapter, and then from Washington DC to Long Beach by Nam Knights FL chapter)
