Veterans, Patriots Show Support For Troops, Family

Times Tribune of Corbin - Corbin, KY, USA

Published: December 30, 2008 08:57 am

By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor

They never knew Lance Cpl. Thomas “T.J.” Reilly Jr. in life, but more than 100 veterans and patriots flanked the entrance of London Funeral Home Monday to honor the 19-year-old Marine in death.

More than 20 members of the Fleming County-based chapter of Task Force Omega stood along London’s Main Street for two hours before Reilly’s funeral, holding American flags while passing drivers honked in support.

“Task Force Omega represents the advocation of releasing information on POWs and MIAs,” said member Paul Louallen of Fleming County. “We’ve just come to support the family, the troops that are fighting for our freedom.”

Louallen’s chapter of Task Force Omega is part of a national organization which was incorporated in 1983 to address the interests of prisoners of war and those missing in action. The majority of Task Force Omega’s members are motorcycle-riding Vietnam veterans — but some served during the Gulf War and the Iraq War, some haven’t served at all, and some don’t ride bikes.

“We’re not all veterans, we’re just concerned citizens,” Louallen said. “We ride motorcycles, but it’s not about the motorcycles. You don’t have to ride a motorcycle to be a member... The POW/MIA issue has been written off by our government for a long time and all we want is closure for the families.”

Louallen said he served aboard the USS Hancock during the evacuation of Vietnam in 1974-75.

“We need to thank this veteran, this marine, and his family for our freedom,” said Danny Belcher, who formed the Fleming County chapter of Task Force Omega in 2004. “Whether you agree with the war or not, what they are doing is a great thing. They are defeating an enemy overseas instead of here.”

The Patriot Guard Riders, which were formed in Kansas in 2005 after protesters began appearing at soldiers’ funerals, also attended Reilly’s services.

Though no protesters were expected at Monday’s funeral, Steve Patton of London, assistant state captain of the Patriot Guard in Kentucky, said “We would be here regardless. We’re here to honor the soldier who gave the ultimate sacrifice, his life, so you and I could be standing here doing what we’re doing today.”

The Patriot Guard followed the Marine’s final journey, starting Saturday at the London-Corbin Airport and ending Monday at the A.R. Dyche Cemetery in London.

“We’ve got riders here from all over Kentucky. We’ve got them from Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina,” Patton said. “When one of these missions is posted on our Web site, they come from all over.”

Patton estimated about 80 Patriot Guard Riders were waiting to escort Reilly’s body from the airport Saturday; about 60 stood in vigil during the visitation Sunday, and about 80 were present for Monday’s funeral services.

“We were asked by the family to come in to help honor him and shield the family,” Patton said.