Community Gathers To Say Goodbyes To Three Recruits

OFF THE WIRE NEWS
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The sound of encouragement filled the air outside the Armed Forces Career Center in southwest Bakersfield Monday morning.

Dozens of motorcycle riders came out to escort three new recruits headed off to start their training."Oftentimes we forget those people are over there, oftentimes we get complacent and we don't remember they are over there fighting in Afghanistan right now so nobody will fly an airplane into a building where somebody I love is," said Ben Patten of Bakersfield Harley Davidson.

Michael Echeverria who is off to infantry training for the Army spent the morning saying goodbye to his family.

"There's no fears right now. I have God behind me, so there's no fears, no fears at all. As long as I'm able to serve my country, there's no fears," he said.But the same couldn't be said for his parents, Miguel and Connie Echeverria."Every parent's fears is not seeing their child again, you know, but our faith will get us through it," said Connie.Mark and Kathy Mcgary took part in the ride Monday. They know exactly what these families are going through having to say goodbye to their loved ones. It was just a few weeks ago when they took part in a similar ride and had to say goodbye to their son."Sending your child away, you know they will never be the same when they come back. It's a good thing but it's very hard, but if you get through that first week, you got it made," said Kathy.

Original article...

http://www.turnto23.com/southwest_county/22572740/detail.html