Organizers of this year's Operation Bugle Boy event are asking Mid-Missourians to honor the sacrifices of America's Gold Star families by lining a motorcade route and waving American flags Thursday evening.
This year the honorary guests for the event include the parents of three Navy SEALS killed in action in Afghanistan and the parents of a local Marine killed in action in Iraq.
More than 500 military veterans are expected to attend the dinner held Thursday evening at the St. Martins Knights of Columbus Hall.
The motorcade route will start at the Candlewood Suites Hotel on Amazonas Drive. It will then turn left on Truman Boulevard; right on Country Club Drive to Business 50 in Apache Flats; right on Pioneer Trail Drive; left on Rainbow Drive and back to Business 50; right on Business 50 to Route T; right on Route T in St. Martins; left into the St. Martins Knight of Columbus Hall parking lot.
Participants are asked to line the route between 4:15 p.m. and 4:50 p.m. Thursday.
Event organizer Chris Jarboe said he's hopeful a large crowd of patriotic supporters will come out to honor the families whose sons made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
""Wave "Em if You Have "Em' is an opportunity for Mid-Missouri to show the honorary guests of Operation Bugle Boy how we feel about our Gold Star families," Jarboe said.
The Navy SEALS to be honored were a part of Operation Red Wings, a mission that took place in June 2005 in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Afghanistan. Four men were dropped into one of the most dangerous parts of the world to capture or kill an al Qaeda leader and associate of Osama Bin Laden.
The mission was compromised and a desperate battle followed against more than 150 Taliban fighters, resulting in the deaths of three men of the four-person team, Jarboe said. Despite fighting overwhelming numbers in the worst possible terrain, Petty Officers Matthew Axelson and Danny Dietz, and Lieutenant Michael Murphy, inflicted tremendous casualties on the enemy before they died.
The surviving SEAL, Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell, recounted the story in his book entitled, "Lone Survivor," which was later made into motion picture of the same name.
The motorcade will include Murphy's mother, Maureen Murphy of New York; Axelson's parents, Cordell and Donna Axelson; and Dietz's parents, Danny Dietz Sr. and Cindy Dietz-Marsh.
In addition, Sandy and Dale Deraps - parents of Lance Corporal Leon Deraps, a Marine who was killed in action in Iraq - will also be honored Thursday.
The families will be picked up in limousines at the Candlewood Suites Hotel and escorted by officers from the Missouri Highway Patrol, Jefferson City police and Cole County Sheriff's Department.
"We want as many people as possible to participate," Jarboe said. "We are flying in these parents from three parts of the country. This is a heck of an opportunity to show respect for the families who have loved ones who have died for our country."