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Group renovating bus as service to soldiers
Published 2/10/2012 in Local News
CORRECTION: The original version of this article incorrectly reported who donated the bus. The bus was donated by Kevin Parks.
By JOSEPH JACKMOVICH
jjackmovich@gctelegram.com
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Laurie Sisk/Telegram Kevin Parks stands beside a bus he is refurbishing to transport soldiers home.
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Laurie Sisk/Telegram A mural of a bald eagle adorns the front of the bus which will be used to transport soldiers home.
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Laurie Sisk/Telegram A mural offers a message of gratitude to troops on a bus that will be used to transport them home.
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Laurie Sisk/Telegram A mural of a bald eagle adorns a side of the bus which will be used to transport soldiers.
Showing support for members of the military is not always a simple task, as three local residents are finding out.
Kevin Parks, Garden City, along with Chris and Kimberly Parker, Holcomb, make up Team Return and Deploy (Team RAD), a group they formed to show support to returning and deploying military members. The group currently is trying to renovate a 1980 MCI tour bus to make a spectacle for the service members it will transport. Team RAD focuses on the Garden City area, but would expand its service to anywhere in southwest Kansas or eastern Colorado if that's what was required.
Chris Parker came to Parks in October 2011 to assist with troops that were returning home from Iraq and Kuwait. Parks, who owns and operates the Old Fashioned Limo Service company, provided transportation for the returning troops, along with support from two motorcycle groups, the Patriot Guard and American Legion Riders. Parks and Parker originally just needed money to pay for fuel, but after asking for community help, the two raised enough money to take the military families out to dinner, as well.
It was after this event that Parker and Parks got the idea to use a specialized vehicle for the service instead of a limousine. So Parks donated an old tour bus, and Team RAD was ready to begin its next phase of support.
Parker said that the reason he went with the idea is to show support for the troops, which he said has been waning since the beginning of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"We want to be able to show troops and their families that we care about them," he said. "Going overseas, there is a chance they may never come home. We back them 110 percent."
The bus, which currently has patriotic images of aircraft carriers and eagles on the exterior, will have its interior completely finished by the middle of next week. Parks said that the project has been difficult and more expensive than planned, with about $8,000 put into the project on top of the $5,000 estimated value of the bus.
"My bills are way behind because I'm putting money into this thing," Parks said. "But I'm finishing it no matter what."
To help pay for the renovation costs, Team RAD built an 18-foot car trailer with an attached rig sleeper to raffle off. Tickets for the raffle originally were priced at $50, but were lowered to $10 to drive more interest. However, since the trailer was completed, the group has only received $300 from ticket sales along with a $200 donation from an area individual.
With an estimated value of $5,000, Parks said that he has to scrap the idea of raffling the trailer off at the upcoming RV show in March, stating that he likely will have to extend the deadline of the raffle until the end of the summer.
Local business sponsors also have helped with the bus renovation, Parks said. He said that C BAR H Farm & Home Supply provided the batteries for the bus, and Appliance and Furniture Mart provided the seating at cost, along with help from several other local businesses.
Parks, who said he has a weakness for helping out members of the military, said that he keeps at the project to show how much their service means to him and the community. He said that he never wants to see a repeat of the poor treatment veterans received upon their return from Vietnam.
"We ain't gonna let that happen again," Parks said. "If it's one person or 20, we'll take them where they want to go."
Along with rides for returning and deploying service members, Parks said the bus could be used for any number of events related to the military. For example, he said, the bus could be used for events run by the American Legion or in parades around the area.
The most pressing issue for the group moving forward is selling more raffle tickets and finding more sponsors. Parks said that while the inside of the bus will be done soon, the timeline to totally complete the project is dependent on financial support. Some of the more expensive future repairs for the bus include a rewiring of the ignition system, a new transmission and new tires.
When the bus is complete, Parks said, people will know who is coming home even if they don't know the individuals inside. He asked that if anyone has knowledge of soldiers departing or leaving to let him or Parker know so they can arrange something to assist with transport.
"I love doing this," Parks said. "If you would see the faces of these soldiers when they see us coming in limos, you'd understand why we are asking for money."
Parks also provides a horse-drawn hearse free of charge for military funerals, along with reduced rates for members of the military who are getting married.
Raffle tickets can be purchased at various locations around the area, including Mia.H Salon, Baker Boot Co., Crazy House, Western Kansas Broadcast Center, Garden City Motor Sports, Kansas Truck Parks and Service, and the Garden City Travel Plaza.
For more information on Team RAD, visit www.teamradusa.com or call Chris Parker at 805-9468 or Parks at 272-6906.
Found 12 comment(s)!
Incredible!
WOW!!! I really don't understand the incredible rudeness of some people. I am probably the most proud person in the world knowing that (My) brother has found something of such great responsiblity for any person to do, and through all the criticism and constant downgrading of what him and my sister-in-law are doing for the great Soldiers of our Country, they still continue to try and make our protectors a grand welcome home letting them know how much what they do is appreciated. I know personally that if even one of my 8 children were in the service, I would want Chris,Kim, and Mr. Parks to be the ones to help me celebrate the return of my child. This is not because he is my family, but because when he is able to bring families together again after being away from one another for so long, you can just see the glow in his eyes that, He has done for someone else that he himself has never had or will have do to an injury that keeps him from being able to serve. He told me once, (Though I am unable to serve and protect my family and my Country in the service, I am going to try and do even better and make sure that all the men and women that do know exactly how much they are appreciated!) I am definitely a supporter of what TEAM R.A.D. stands for as well as other groups that are helping to show appreciation for our Troops and personally feel that if you have negative thoughts towards what they are doing, maybe you should consider what you would do if your loved one or friend was in the service and was unable to come home to see you do to no mode of transportation to get them there. I know that the bus itself may not need to be used as often as they had originally thought due to not as many service men and women coming home at once, but that is not what they are about. They have it for when it is needed, and I am sure they will use other forms of transportation as well to suit the amount of soldiers that are coming home. Thanks for reading my post and I hope that others may realize that this is only being done out of the kindness of this groups hearts and it is not about publicity.
Posted by: Amber on 2/16/2012
Really?!
Wow. I was not aware there was such intense competition to see who could do the most good for our military!!
It's easy to criticize others when all you have time to do is sit back and judge.
Whomever is taking money out of their pockets and donating it to such a great cause as bringing the troops home-kudos to you!!! I work for the county and was involved in the Veteran's Day Parade, Mr. and Mrs. Parker were there with their bus to support our Veteran's. For them to take their time and money and donate it to such a fantastic cause is amazing!! I've followed this group from the start. It seems as if there's always someone making snotty comments about them. Shame on you! If you think you can do better, do it! This couple goes above and beyond to support our active duty military as well as our Veteran's. They have put their time, money, heart, and soul into this project. If we all devoted this much of ourselves to supporting our military, the things that could be done for them and their families would be phenomenal!!
I also happen to know this couple and others in a small group of people helped a woman get her son home for Christmas, rounded up donations of furniture and toys so her family could have Christmas. All because she had fallen on hard times and they wanted to assist. They also got the donations (along with a large sum of money they put in themselves) to have a very nice TV for raffle at the Savoy Family Benefit.
Acts of kindness are becoming more and more rare. I wonder if it's because of the criticism and suspicion you fall under for trying to help someone?
Posted by: Jess on 2/16/2012
TEAM R.A.D.
I just wanna clear up a few things here... Team R.A.D. USA is a group that was started by my wife and I for our local troops to show our thank you for what they do for our country... All this started out of the pockets of my wife and I. Our big welcome home oct. 23rd of last year was all organized by my wife and I! I hired Mr. Parks and his limo service to go get our troops and bring them home at a cost of only fuel for his vehicles... a few other businesses wanted to make this a success so they donated and took care of the fuel for me... after Mr. Parks seen how much our soldiers appreciated what we did for them he decided to offer this bus to me and help with any transportation needs that arised... Mr. Parks Has Put Up His Time And Money Into This Bus To Make It A Success And For That I Thank Him Dearly!!! I Have Been Praised By Many For What My Wife And I Have Started By The Public And By Many Military Members... All I See In Your Comments Is hypocritical And Disrespectful Of What My Wife And I Take To Heart In Organizing For Our Soldiers.... Its Comments Like That That Make All The Generous And Caring People Give Up Hope... As President Of Team R.A.D. USA I Wanna Say Thank You To All Of You That Have Been A Part Of Our Mission And To All That Have Sponsored My Team!!! And Again Thank You Mr. Parks For Going Out Of Your Way To Help Make My Team A Success!!!
Posted by: Parker on 2/16/2012
PARTY BUS?
I think the focus of this story is more about an individual and not about the veterans. Another local limo/bus service went all the way to El paso Texas and brought back over 50 local service men and women from Garden City, Liberal and Dodge City for Christmas and then turned around and took them back after the holidays. The trip was sponsoered by Thunder on The Plains Motorcycle Group from Dodge City. All meals were provivded during the trip (thanks to Thunder on The Plains) with family and friends waiting on their arrival home. No news media was present on their arrival home. Thank the veterans for their service.
Posted by: local on 2/16/2012
Troops!!!
These ppl are not just for & or from Garden City. Nor is it just for the National Guard. The last time he went clear to Salina,Ks. to bring several ppl back, and 1 of them lived in Colorado!! YES they may party, they have earned the right to, but it is with family! and NO BOOZE!! FAMILY who could not have gone to bring their loved ones home otherwise. So it is not just bringing 1 or 2 ppl home, it is takeing a whole family to get or send off their loved one. And for what these service members do for us while they are gone this is a VERY small way to show our Thanks. And may God Bless those who have not been able to come back whole because they gave their ALL!! R.I.P. C.R.U
Posted by: Linda P. on 2/14/2012
for troops or parties?
I have a hard time believing that Mr. Parks will be using this bus strictly for our deploying & returning troops. The 161 National Guard unit no longer has a base in Garden City. This is the unit that Mr. Parks is basing his need for this bus because of their deployment last year. However, once they are all home in the next few weeks, there will only be individuals coming and going, which could be transported in a much smaller vehicle. When a charter bus was needed a few years ago to transport troops from Southwest Kansas, the veteran's groups were having a difficult time coming up with just the gas money needed. How is Mr. Parks going to deal with the upkeep, insurance, and other costs. This is not a project where you put it together and then there are no other expenses. I will save my money to donate to veterans groups rather than a new party bus for Mr. Parks' limousine service.
Posted by: Troop Mom on 2/13/2012
NONPROFIT...
We Are A Registered Non For Profit Organization With The State Of Kansas But We Are Not A Tax Exempt 501c3...
Posted by: Parker on 2/10/2012
Nonprofit
This is a great idea, however I think people might be more comfortable contributing if they create a nonprofit organization. That way at least there is some hope that donations will have a paper trail to make sure that they're going to what they were given for.
A great cause, without a doubt.
Posted by: Supporter on 2/10/2012
Donated tour bus.
Great concept for our troops. Wonderful way to Thank them for protecting us at home. I see mistakes in article however, The tour bus was donated by Kevin Parks and this is not a raffle it is a donation.
Posted by: Corly Matthews on 2/10/2012
ERROR
To Clear Up A Couple Issues In Our Story... Mr. Parks Is The Generous One That Has Donated The Bus To Team R.A.D. And Also As Far As Our Trailer Goes... For Every $10 Donation Made To Our Team You Receive One Entry For A Chance To Win This 18' Car Hauler Trailer Just As An Added Bonus For Supporting Us... This Trailer Is By No Means Being Raffled Off!!! Thank You All For Your Support!!!
Posted by: Chris Parker on 2/10/2012
Great Job!
It's nice to see people giving back to our service members. Too bad the community isn't supporting you with donations to get this bus finished for our troops. The old days of pride in our service members must be gone in Garden City; not enough can be done to say Thanks to the ones lucky enough to come back alive.
Posted by: Linda P. on 2/10/2012
Thank you
Thank you Mr. Parks and Mr. and Mrs. Parker. You guys rock. God Bless you!!!
Posted by: TurtleMaster on 2/10/2012