Sabrina Bates, Chief Staff Writer
Posted: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 11:26 am

Jay and 7-year-old son Brandon Cole of Martin

During a unique ceremony held Sunday afternoon at the Martin Recreation Complex, members of the national organization Patriot Warriors stopped in Martin to pay tribute to Gold Star families from across Middle and West Tennessee.
The event was hosted by Chapter 6, the newest Rolling Thunder chapter recently formed in Weakley County.
Patriot Warrior member and United States Marine Corps Vietnam veteran Robert Delsi of Arizona presented various families with memorial tokens including seven-year-old Brandon Cole and his father Jay. Brandon is the son of United States Army Spc. Michelle Ring, who was a Martin native killed by mortar fire on July 5, 2007 in Baghdad.
Ring served with the 92nd Military Police Battalion.
The Patriot Warriors also recognized the families of U.S. Army Spc. Thomas Foley of Dresden; Spc. Dusty Carroll of McKenzie; Sgt. Dustin Laird and U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Brent Morel.
During the ceremony, Rolling Thunder Chapter 6 President Mike Morel donated a POW-MIA flag to Martin Mayor Randy Brundige to fly at the rec complex.
Patriot Warriors from across the nation are meeting with various organizations on annual "Ride to the Wall" in Washington, D.C. on Memorial Day.
Rolling Thunder is a national non-profit organization that recognizes veterans and works to promote the POW-MIA cause. They also lobby to Congress for legislation involving veteran's affairs.
WCP 5.19.09