Wheelchairs at PIR

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Permalink Reply by Kathy M on April 12, 2008 at 11:10am

Hi again, Dianne,
If I remember correctly, there were wheelchairs available at GL. We got one for my mother. I think they even assigned a recruit to wheel her for us. I'm not sure about the handicap hanger, since those are usually issued by the state you live in I'm not sure it's valid in Illinois but it can't hurt to bring... it doesn't take up any space. You are not going to believe how polite all the recruits are on the base!!!

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Permalink Reply by Dianne C on April 12, 2008 at 2:35pm

Thank you so much. I was so worried about him walking all that way. He has rhumatoid arthritis and wears special shoes. Did you have to let them know ahead of time? How did you do it?

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Permalink Reply by Kathy M on April 13, 2008 at 2:36pm

We didn't let them know ahead of time. Probably when we got to the gate we asked. You may want to be sure to get there early just in case there is a limited number of wheelchairs. Be sure to tell them he is a vet... or have him wear something distinguishing him as a vet. He deserves accolades every bit as much as the graduates. My father in law is in one of my pictures with a hat complete with scrambled eggs on the bill. I wish my dad had lived to see his grandsons in the Navy. You have a great time at the PIR and be proud of your son and your dad and thank them both for all of us.

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Permalink Reply by Dianne C on April 13, 2008 at 4:23pm

Thanks so much Kathy. My dad is so excited. We lost my mom in 2005 and he needs to be with us and see this. I am glad he is still with us too. We will for sure announce that he is a Navy veteran. I'll see if we can find something that he can wear to show that. Maybe he has so metals somewhere. I don't know. Good idea though. Thank again!

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Permalink Reply by Barb Pruitt on April 14, 2008 at 8:50am

Hi, we just went thru our last PIR March 21st. The airport if you ask in advance will have one to help you thru the airport, and yes they have a few at the base I don't know how you go about getting one, we brought ours, beware they don't hold spots for chairs. We had my sons grandmother in one, they only have so many spaces so it is first come first serve. Make sure you are at the base and lined up to get in by 6:15 am. The cars start to line up then, it gets you in the very first wave, and you will get better seats, if you don't get in early enough you could end up upstairs way away from your father. They don't always have someone to push them also, but the path you have to go down is not bad. Good luck, it did make it much faster for us getting thru the lines with a wheel chair.

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Permalink Reply by Bette on November 22, 2008 at 12:00am

For those of you who need a wheelchair they do have them at GL, you should call ahead, they will tell you when you go thru the gate to let them know you need one, they should accomodate you there and if you bring your handicap placard they should allow you to park near the drillhall where the graduation is. : ) my son's PIR is 11/26/08, i called ahead and was told all of this, so after we go I will get back on here and let everyone know!

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Permalink Reply by Ronda (lemonelephant) on November 23, 2008 at 9:57pm

Yes, bring his handicapped placard. It can be used at any place that has handicapped parking and is not state specific. Be sure to have it where it can be seen when you are parking for the PIR. The car ahead of us had theirs hanging from the rearview mirror and was directed to parking closer to the entrance for PIR. We didn't and my daughter didn't make a pint of pointing it out to the sailor doing the directing and we had to park a ways down, but it wasn't too bad since my daughter and son's friend are young and were able to push my wheelchair. The parking lot was pretty smooth--even though the path to the hall wasn't so smooth at times. We also had some interesting detours to get to ramps, but I don't think if we'd been parked in the handicapped parking that would have happened, but I'm not sure.

Since you will be needing a wheelchair provided by the RTC, you will definitely need the closer parking. I think there was something in the flyer that we got ahead of the PIR that mentioned about arranging for a wheelchair. Watch for that.

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Permalink Reply by Joanne on November 24, 2008 at 12:03pm

I used a W/C and I did not need any handicap plate; it's a lot of walking & they had plenty of chairs; you also get to sit on the floor & can see perfectly - but be sure you sit in the correct Division

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Permalink Reply by Dianne C on November 24, 2008 at 12:06pm

I have to tell you when we went to PIR, dad brought along his handicapped hanger from Kansas. We put it in the rental car and used it everywhere we went. My sailor son informed the officials that his grandfather would need a wheelchair. When we came through the gates to the barracks and went through the security line for cars we were directed to the lot behind the drill hall. A sailor was stationed there with a wheelchair waiting and came hustling out with it as dad got out of the car. He pushed him in and waited for us to be checked off the list of invites. He then pushed him to the front row of the section with my son's division listed. It was wonderful. Just have your sailor tell them ahead of time and by all means take that handicap hanger with you.

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