Arlington Flyer

Old Guard Riders Inc.

"The Old Guard"

Riding for America's Homeless & forgotten Vets

OLD GUARD RIDERS AND MISSING IN AMERICA PROJECT HONOR THREE TRUE AMERICAN HEROES

Johnnie Franklin Callahan - Silver Star

Johnnie Franklin Callahan’s dream was to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. On May 21, the Missing in America Project will escort Johnnie to Arlington for a full military honors burial. His family will also attend.

Johnnie served in the Navy during WWII on the USS Aulick. While at sea, a Japanese bomber dropped a live bomb onto the deck. Johnnie picked it up and threw it out to sea thus saving countless lives. For his heroism, Johnnie received the nation’s third highest award for combat valor, the Silver Star.

James William Dunn - Silver Star

James William Dunn served for 35 years in the US Army as a Medical Aidman.

While serving in the Republic of Vietnam, his base came under heavy enemy attack. James, without regard to his own safety, retrieved a number of wounded soldiers, administered life saving techniques and carried them to safety thus saving many lives. For his heroism, James received the Silver Star for valor in combat. He will be escorted to Arlington May 21.

Cpl. Isaiah Mays - Medal of Honor

Isaiah Mays, Buffalo Soldier served during the Indian Wars. In May of 1889, Isaiah was escorting the Army Paymaster when they were set upon by robbers. Isaiah was shot in both legs. The robbers got the money but Isaiah crawled for 2 miles to obtain help for the wounded. For his heroism, he received the nation’s highest award, the Medal of Honor. Later he applied for a pension and was denied. When he died in 1925 he was buried in a field in a pauper’s grave. 110 years later, he finally received a Medal of Honor headstone. But he was still in a pauper’s grave.

Recently, the Old Guard Riders and Missing in America Project obtained permission to disinter Isaiah and escort him to Arlington National Cemetery for burial with full Medal of Honor military honors. The Old Guard Riders Funeral Escort Team, carrying Isaiah's cremains, will meet up with the two other heroes in Topeka, Kansas.

On May 21, 2009, the Old Guard Riders Funeral Escort Team, the Buffalo Soldiers MC and other riders will leave Phoenix, AZ on a mission to escort the remains of Johnnie Franklin Callahan, James William Dunn and Isaiah Mays to their final resting place at Arlington National Cemetery. The service will take place at Arlington on May 29, 2009.

Route Information

The escort will leave from the Apache Junction Mortuary, Apache Junction, Arizona on May 21, 2009 at 1100 hrs.

Apache Junction, AZ to Holbrook, AZ - Night 1

Holbrook, AZ to Tucumcari, NM - Night 2

Tucumcari, NM to Dodge, KS - Night 3

Dodge, KS to Topeka, KS - Night 4

Meet with the MIAP Funeral Escort Team in Topeka, KS

Topeka, KS to Grayville, IL - Night 5

Grayville, IL to Beckley, WV - Night 6

Beckley, WV to Washington, DC - Night 7

Funeral Services will be at Arlington National Cemetery on May 29, 2009 at 3pm

Services will begin with a memorial in the Arlington National Chapel.