612 Name Tags
On the day of the dedication of the 612 Memorial (May 17) in Coventry, CT, there will be motorcycle riders, each with a name of one of the 612 men who died in Vietnam from CT attached to his/her bike. The bikers will be riding in memory of their particular soldier. If you are interested in riding for a soldier please e-mail us through the “contact us” link, or visit the rest area on 91 North in Middletown at 8 am on the day of the dedication. Please be prompt. We will leave the rest area precisely at 9:30, which only gives us an hour and a half to pass out the name tags for bikers. Also, you can pick up name tags at Patch & Leather in Norwhich, call Al at 860-204-0032. Any member of the patriot guard can get one from Greg Young of Prudential Realty. You can reach him at(1-860-395-1551). We will then proceed to the Highland Park Market parking lot in Coventry. At that time we will meet up with other riders, led by the Coventry Police Escort team. They will be followed by a motocycle color guard which will be followed by a contingent of riders made up of one member of each group to show solidarity for this project. So, please pick a person to represent your club. After that contingent, the rest of the groups will follow in line. We will leave the parking lot precisely at 10:45 and continue to the memorial site to line up the bikes with the names attached to the handle bars. Again, Please be prompt. There is no room for error. If your group or you decide to ride as an individual and would like a partcular name, you need to contact us NOW so that I can save the name or get it to you before the event. You must also gaurantee taht if you get the name in advance, you will show up. The Coventry police will be shutting down the major streets to the memorial site at exactly 11 am. All transportation services after that will only be done by shuttle bus from designated parking areas. If anyone would like a 612 t-shirt they will be available for $10 each. Directions to rest area from New Haven area: 95 North to exit 48-91 North approx. 15 miles on right. from 84 Waterbury area: 84 East to 691 East to 91 North approx. 4 miles on right. From Old Lyme: 95 South to route 9 North to 91 South to exit 17, turn around, get back on 91 North to rest area. Anyone who already has picked up a nametag, can go directly to Highland Park Market Parking Lot in Coventry. Directions to Highland Park: 91 (North or South) to 84 East, to 384 East in East Hartford to the end. Stay left to 44 East to Bolton Coventry approx. 2 miles to Highland Park. From Willimantic: route 32 North to Route 31 North at Mansfield Drive-in theatre to route 44 West approx. 2 miles to Highland Park Market. IT iS ESSENTIAL THAT EVERYONE BE ON TIME!!! On Friday the 16th at 2 pm, the biographies that were done by the cheshire high school kids, of the 612 men, will once again need to be set up and guarded throughout the night. The biographies will be housed in 5 tents. If you would like to help, contact us or show up Friday at 2, at the Coventry Seniors Center Park next to the Band-Shell. Any questions, call Joe DiPietro at (1-860-983-5021).