MILTON — Naval Air Station Whiting Field on Wednesday hosted one leg of a 48-state Patriot Tour, where one American flag travels by motorcycle group over 100 days through all contiguous states, starting and ending in Wisconsin.
The event runs from May 28 to Sept. 3.
The Tallahassee Harley Owners Group received the flag and stopped in Marianna, then DeFuniak Springs, before delivering it to NAS Whiting Field.
During the flag ceremony at the NAS Whiting Field command building, color guard sailors removed the command building flag and temporarily replaced it with the Patriot Tour flag.
Patriot Tour participants and others recited the Pledge of Allegiance and bowed their heads for a moment of silence for fallen service members. The Patriot Tour flag came back down and was delivered to the next rider.
Dave Grabow, the Nation of Patriots’ regional commander for Florida, read the oath and the next flag bearer, Bob Booth, of the Northwest Florida HOG chapter, accepted.
Reading the oath, Grabow said, “By accepting this duty you are accepting all that is embodied within the colors of this flag. You will proudly represent the nation’s past, present, and our future. You will represent the many that have stood to the call of duty; many that have served today, families, and above all, Rider, you will bear the memory of those that have fallen defending what is represented in these colors.
“Standing before your countrymen a free and proud American, do you accept this flag and promise to represent your country in a manner fitting to her grand legacy and swear to uphold the duty of the official flag bearer?”
Booth answered, “I do,” and received the flag.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: (Video, Photos) NAS Whiting Field hosts Nation of Patriots riders