Day 2 found us riding from Williams Arizona to Gallup New Mexico. The wind was out in force, but we were not deterred from our mission of remembering those whom we have lost. We were also reminded today that about 83,000 men and women have not been accounted for from past conflicts. They too are why we ride.
The ride into Gallup had me emotional. It was this leg that I rode in honor for one of our fallen heroes when I rode with another group on this route five years ago. We entered town that year at the most westerly end and paraded through town some six or so miles to our stop. From beginning to end the streets were lined with cheering, flag-waving patriotic people. You can read my post from that day here. Today there was no parade, and there was no reception by our Native Warrior brothers and sisters. However, there was a veterans organization staffed by loving and kind people who welcomed us to Gallup. They set up food trucks and sold their amazing Native influenced t-shirts. They also held a raffle for a clock created especially for the Remember Our Fallen Ride. One lucky winner will have that clock waiting for him/her upon returning home.
We enjoyed lunch in Holbrook where these kids were awaiting us on the curb. I asked permission to take a photo and post it to the web. Just one of the kids was not allowed to be included, so sadly you don’t get to see his smile because I was asked to remove his face. They were all warm and friendly, each one giving me high-fives and welcoming Crysten for the photo-op. Thanks so much to the VFW Post that prepared and served us lunch.
Shortly after our departure from Williams, we were escorted by the Winslow Police to the famous Standin’ On The Corner park. The statues, bricks, and massive Route 66 emblem painted in the middle of the street are all meant to commemorate both the city’s historic significance as a town on Route 66 and also to remember “Take It Easy”, a song made famous by the Eagles. We had a great time chatting with the locals, posing for pictures and meeting the LEO’s who escorted us into town.
Reading this blog each day you might think we are on a joy-ride across the US on a motorcycle. If that is the message I’ve left you with, I’ve not achieved my goal as a writer. The mission is very important and it is why we ride. Twenty-Seven veterans take their life each day. According to Statista.com 1,282,184 US Military lives have been lost across all conflicts in US history. Among all those who have served the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency lists 83,114 service members as unaccounted for. It is for these heroic men and women along with the veterans who we’ve been fortunate to know and love who are no longer with us that we ride.
Tomorrow we ride from Gallup to Eagle Nest, NM. This day is special as we get to visit the Angel Fire Vietnam Veterans Memorial, established by the David Westphall Foundation. A few images from the day and our route map for tomorrow are below.
