Honoring a Vietnam Hero

My name is Paul Clever. I would like to invite members of your club to participate in a very special Honor Ride and Honor Guard Escort.

My Father (TSgt Louis Clever) and nine others were shot down near the Ho Chi MInh Trail in Southern Laos on February 5, 1969. A Laotian Special Guerilla Unit (SGU) located the crash site four months later and recovered comingled remains. The mortuary at Tan Son Nhat Air Base indicated the crew was not accounted and a return to the crash site by qualified recovery staff was needed. The Air Force denied the request and listed the entire crew as Killed in Action – Body Recovered with no evidence for the families.

In December 2012 my wife Nita and I went to the jungle of Southern Laos, searched and located the crash site, recovered remains, and brought them home. DNA Testing by the JPAC Central Identification Lab was successful in identifying three of the crew from these remains including my Father.

On May 21st there will be an Honor Ride from Desoto County, MS to St. Louis, MO. On May 22 my Father will be laid to rest beside my Mother (who never remarried) at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery south of St. Louis. There will be a Honor Escort and Silent Flag Line Formation for this internment with full military honors.

Attached is a flyer with details of the ride and internment. Contact with the Ride Captain (Johnny Rivera) can be made on the Facebook Event Page or let me know and I can make the contact for you.

After forty-five years it is my hope to bring my Father home to a Hero’s Welcome.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Paul Clever

MWRC Spring 2015 Conference

MWRC Spring 2015 Conference
To be hosted by MN IV
(Eagan, MN)
June 12 – 14, 2015
Host hotel is the Best Western Plus Dakota Ridge
3450 Washington Dr
Eagan, MN 55122
651-452-0100
Room rate is $89.99 per night plus taxes
Good for stay between June 10 – 16, 2015
Rate is good until February 28, 2015
Mention Blue Knights to get the special rate
Regisration is $75.00 per person until April 30, 2015
Starting May 1st rate goes to $85.00 per person
Click this link for a fillable Registration Form
T-shirts are available by pre-order only and
must be ordered by April 30, 2015
Sizes S – XL are $20.00
2XL – 5XL are $22.00 (depending on availability)
Mail check or money order payable to
Blue Knights MN IV
109B South Dr
Circle Pines, MN 55014
Registration includes but not limited to
Fri night meal, Sat lunch at area motorcycle dealer,
and Sat night banquet.
Hospitality room on Fri and Sat nights.
Lots of prizes to be raffled off, and 50/50 drawings each night.
There will be a special raffle drawing for a
Law Enforcement Edition Tribute Rifle
from Henry Rifle Company.
(There is more information on this rifle on the
MN IV web page at www.blueknightsmniv.org
and then go to the 2015 Conference tab)
Questions, contact Dave Smith at 612-202-8631
or email at [email protected]
For more Mid-Night News click here.

Fall MWRC Fall 2015 Conference

MWRC Fall 2015 Conference  
To be hosted by IA III
(Des Moines, IA)
September 11 – 13, 2015
Host hotel is the Holiday Inn Airport Conference Center
6111 Fleur Dr
Des Moines, IA 50321
515-287-2400
Room rate is $93.00 per night plus taxes
Rate is good 2 days before and 2 days after conference
Mention Blue Knights to get the special rate
Registration is $75.00 per person
After August 17th Registrations go up to $85.00 per person
Registration Form
Short sleeve T-shirts are available to pre-registered guests only
and must be ordered before August 17th
Sizes S – XL are $14.00
2XL and 3XL are $16.00
4XL are $18.00
Long sleeve T-shirts are also available
and must be ordered before August 17th
Sizes S – XL are $20.00
2XL are $22.00
3XL are $24.00
4XL are $26.00
Mail completed registration and check payable to
Blue Knights IA III
PO Box 37261
Des Moines, IA 50315
If you have any questions, contact either
Rick Fedson at [email protected] or
Mike Adams at [email protected]

Hannibal Ride

Ten bikes attended St. Charles PD’s annual Spring ride. Our route was Hwy 79 to Hwy W to Hwy 79 into Hannibal where we had lunch at the Mark Twain Brewery.

[acx_slideshow name=”Hannibal ride 051815″]

Officer Chris Wegman Saves Man’s Life on Side of I-70

by Shawn Campbell

KMOV.com
Posted on December 17, 2014 at 6:30 PMmaryland+heights+pd+generic

MARYLAND HEIGHTS (KMOV.com) – A St. Peter’s man that lost consciousness Monday en route to a doctor appointment owes his life to a police officer that just happened to be patrolling the area.

Evelyn and Randy Hutton were on their way to Evelyn’s doctor appointment when Randy lost consciousness due to a heart attack while driving east on 70 headed near Riverport. The couple’s vehicle drifted towards the center median and Evelyn turned to find Randy passed out at the wheel and slumped down in the driver’s seat.

“At that point I did not see anyway out because there were some cars ahead,” says Evelyn Hutton.

Evelyn was able to pull the key out of the ignition and slow the car down to steer it closer the side of the highway.

“Somewhere I remember these flashing lights,” says Evelyn. “I don’t remember where they came up.

Those flashing lights were the patrol car of Maryland Heights Officer Chris Wegman, who was just pulling from 141 onto 70 to get back on 270 south.

Wegman saw the car driving erratically and drove towards the car. The Hutton’s had already pulled over onto the southbound ramp by the time Wegman caught up to them.

Officer Wegman then rushed up to the car and saw Randy Hutton laying across the front seat of the car. Wegman pulled him out onto the shoulder and Evelyn Hutton began CPR.

The incident caught the attention of people driving by, resulting in some of them posting on Facebook and some calling in to Maryland Heights thinking that something else was going on.

With the help of other officers who rushed to the scene and a nurse passing by, they kept Randy going until rescue crews got there with a defibrillator. Rescue crews then took Randy Hutton to the hospital, where he made a recovery.

The Hutton’s say they are looking forward to saying thank you to Officer Wegman for his part in the incident.

Read more: http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Officer-saves-mans-life-on-the-side-of-I-70-286161711.html#ixzz3MInSKcZ4

BK International Conference, Waidring, Austria-Day 3a

Day 3
Today we are off to Ghent which is the second oldest city in Belgium. Our guide for the day is Erwin Van Durme and his significant other Tania Genetello of Belgium VI. We stopped at their home in Gavere on the way and guess what, we were offered a beer. Erwin had completely rebuilt the home from the inside out because the exterior could not be changed due to historic reasons. Of all the cities we visited if I had to pick a favorite I would have to say Ghent.

Erwin and Tania

Erwin and Tania

Once in Ghent, we had to stop in for a beer.
beer in Ghent

Belgians are serious about beer
These Belgians are serious about their beer. This place had so many they put them in a four ring binder. (pictured L-R: Koen, Erwin, Chris and Doug).

day 3 ghent tania erwin etcPictured L-R: Tania, Erwin Raqui, Koen, Susan and Doug

day 3 in ghent

day 3 in ghent-2

Continue reading day 3b.

BK International Conference, Waidring, Austria-Day 2

Day 2

Up and at it to see the sights; we headed into Brussels to see the city and meet up with Peter “Madnick” van den Block of Belgium VI, who was our guide for the day. Madnick is also the European Conference Safety Officer.

susan, doug, raqui, madnick

We had a slight delay due to a fatality accident on the Autoban. It would have been nice to already have our rental motorcycles so we could split lanes like the rest of them, at least until Susan beat me to death.
electronic direction board
The electronic direction board is almost as big as the car.
Once we arrived at Madnick’s it was the customary beer before we headed out. He took us on a driving tour and Chris did a great job keeping up especially since Madnick was on a motorcycle.
motorcycle next to 18 wheeler first stop

The stress is finally melting away.

The stress is finally melting away.

Automium

Automium

building with number 5 second part page 2

a great day to be motorman
A great day to be a motorman, but then every day is a great day to be a motorman riding in front of the King’s residential palace, the Royal Place of Laeken.
church part2 day2

church large part2 day2
In the next picture you will see some traffic cones next to Madnick, which is a restricted parking area in front of their Chamber of Representatives. Madnick spoke with the guard and the next thing I know, he is moving cones for us to park. Talk about VIP treatment.
moving the parking cones
susan and doug in front of little black car
blue vanin front of white building
green and black jacket guy
street scene black fiat
church day3

The western Europeans never met a potato that they didn’t want to French Fry.

The western Europeans never met a potato that they didn’t want to French Fry.

With so much to choose from it is hard to decide on a place to eat lunch.

With so much to choose from it is hard to decide on a place to eat lunch.

When in Brussels I guess the place to eat is an Irish Pub.  They must be short.

When in Brussels I guess the place to eat is an Irish Pub. They must be short.

Galeries St Hubert

Galeries St Hubert

Jeanneke Pis

Jeanneke Pis

la legende de jeanneke pi

Susan, I think it's illegal to photograph police

Susan, I think it’s illegal to photograph police

Le Grand Palace / De Grote Market

Le Grand Palace / De Grote Market

Town Hall

Town Hall

striped umbrellas

alder

pink backpack

adler van in front of ornate building

Manneken Pis

Manneken Pis

The 61 cm tall bronze statue on the corner of Rue de l’Etuve and Rue des Grands Carmes was made in 1619 by Brussels sculptor Hieronimus Duquesnoy the Elder, father of the more famous François Duquesnoy. The figure has been repeatedly stolen: the current statue dates from 1965. The original restored version is kept at the Maison du Roi/Broodhuis on the Grand Place.
There are several legends behind this statue, but the most famous is the one about Duke Godfrey III of Leuven. In 1142, the troops of this two-year-old lord were battling against the troops of the Berthouts, the lords of Grimbergen, in Ransbeke (now Neder-Over-Heembeek). The troops put the infant lord in a basket and hung the basket in a tree to encourage them. From there, the boy urinated on the troops of the Berthouts, who eventually lost the battle.
Another legend states that in the 14th century, Brussels was under siege by a foreign power. The city had held its ground for some time, so the attackers conceived of a plan to place explosive charges at the city walls. A little boy named Julianske happened to be spying on them as they were preparing. He urinated on the burning fuse and thus saved the city. There was at the time (middle of the 15th century, perhaps as early as 1388) a similar statue made of stone. The statue was stolen several times.

Another story (told often to tourists) tells of a wealthy merchant who, during a visit to the city with his family, had his beloved young son go missing. The merchant hastily formed a search party that scoured all corners of the city until the boy was found happily urinating in a small garden. The merchant, as a gift of gratitude to the locals who helped out during the search, had the fountain built.

Another legend was that a small boy went missing from his mother when shopping in the centre of the city. The woman, panic-stricken by the loss of her child, called upon everyone she came across, including the mayor of the city. A city-wide search began and when at last the child was found, he was urinating on the corner of a small street. The story was passed down over time and the statue erected as a tribute to the well-known fable.

Another legend tells of the young boy who was awoken by a fire and was able to put out the fire with his urine, in the end this helped stop the king’s castle from burning down.

World Cup Soccer is going on in Brazil, feels like the Baseball World Series around here

World Cup Soccer is going on in Brazil, feels like the Baseball World Series around here

You have to have Belgian Waffles in Belgium

You have to have Belgian Waffles in Belgium

Don Quichotte and Sancho Panza

Don Quichotte and Sancho Panza

The Royal Palace of Brussels (if I remember right it is his work palace)

The Royal Palace of Brussels (if I remember right it is his work palace)

Anheuser Busch's owner

Anheuser Busch’s owner

They have Coke and Coke Light too

They have Coke and Coke Light too

Like a moth to a flame.  This is the Federal Highway Police Station that Madnick works out of.

Like a moth to a flame. This is the Federal Highway Police Station that Madnick works out of.

Next we went to a Candy Factory Outlet store to get some Belgian Chocolate. Good thing out space was limited or that stop could have been all bad.

Guy made it back and we met back up with him, Valerie, and their son Gyel to go to Koen Huste’s home in the village of Zottegem for the next two nights. Koen is a member of Belgium VI and the European Conference International Representative.

My favorite picture of Koen.  (Your Papers!  Your Papers are not in order!) Very Scary dude

My favorite picture of Koen. (Your Papers! Your Papers are not in order!) Very Scary dude

This is the Koen that we know and love, in the Belgium VI clubhouse.

This is the Koen that we know and love, in the Belgium VI clubhouse.

After the customary beer at Koen’s house upon arrival we traveled into the village for dinner. He took us to a gourmet hamburger restaurant. Their version of a hamburger is different than I am used to but it was good.

Koen’s pet Turtle

Koen’s pet Turtle

Gyel stealing the show as always

Gyel stealing the show as always

Guy, Gyel, Valerie, and Koen

Guy, Gyel, Valerie, and Koen

I think Susan likes taking pictures of Gyel (the Ham)

I think Susan likes taking pictures of Gyel (the Ham)

Had to drink a Kasteel beer

Had to drink a Kasteel beer

kasteel bier sign

Then from there to a pub that Koen frequents. You would have thought it was Norm walking into Cheers. That ended our first long day of sightseeing.

Continue reading Day 3.