Today’s ride started in Wentzville Missouri, the site of the first Vietnam war memorial in the United States. We staged at a local church then were escorted by a contingent of police motorcycles to the memorial a few miles away. There we participated in a wreath-laying and some emotional words from the local VFW Commander and the Wentzville Mayor. The heartfelt Welcome Home and recognition given to the Vietnam Veterans in our group was powerful and encouraging. We are grateful for you, Welcome Home. Our nation was founded by men of character, fought for by men of honor, and stewarded by people from all walks of life who love her. It is our veterans who bear the visible and invisible scars of sacrifice required for the protection of our heritage. For those wounds that take so long to heal, thank you, thank you so very much.
After the ceremony, we rode to a park from which we could clearly view the St. Luis Gateway Arch. The arch was built to commemorate the Louisiana Purchase, which occurred in 1803, and the role of the city as the gateway to the westward expansion of the United States. The arch stands at 630 feet making it more than twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty and 75 feet taller than the Washington Monument.
The Arch photo op was a great moment for us riders to take in the scenery which we often miss as we focus on the mission at hand. It also took us a bit more time than we expected so we arrived nearly an hour late for our planned lunch stop. Regardless our hosts in Graville, Illinois were overwhelmingly gracious. There were many members from the community and other riding organizations present. They all waited for us and blessed us immensely with pulled pork sandwiches, enough desert to start a bakery business, and such warm kind-heartedness that made each of us feel the warmth this small town has to offer. It is the selfless, patriotic actions of people like those in Grayville that bring restoration and healing to the veterans in our group, and those in their community. Mr. Gillard, thank you for coordinating such a fantastic reception for us, and thank you to the many hands from across the community who pitched in when asked for assistance. Our hearts are full and our spirits lifted by your generosity.
After lunch, we rode out of Illinois and into Indiana for our overnight stop in Corydon where I met two ladies who were eager to bless us by taking a group photo and then providing our evening meal. I left after thanking them for their kindness but didn’t participate as my passenger was feeling the effects of the day’s heat and humidity. However, I want those ladies and the people of Corydon who helped them support us to know that I am very much honored by your gift to us even though I had to choose a different path for my evening.
Below you will find some images from the day. I want to write about two of them. First, the young boy with whom I’m photographed holding a flag. This young man dropped that flag and was very sad that it hit the ground. After speaking with his mom, I called him over to me and we talked about how we protect the flag from touching the ground as an expression of honor. I then asked him if I could take it to the Wall and leave it there. He said “yes”, so we got a new flag for him and his flag is on my bike, bound for DC. The second image is of the Wentzville police patch. Just before we departed, one of the motorcycle officers who escorted us came down the line of bikes and said “I have just one more if anyone wants it.” I quickly turned and replied yes, but one of our riders had raised her hand first. He began to offer the patch to other person but she honored me with it instead. I’m not sure which hit my heart more, the kindness of the officer to offer a memento of our journey, or the gift of the rider who gave it to me instead of accepting it for herself. There is such generosity on the ride. The riders become family, our hosts, extended loved ones who nurture the flame that drives our mission, and the first responders, clergy, and community leaders shepherds to our spirits and safety. We couldn’t complete this mission without each and every participant, no matter how small their role. You can click on any image to make it larger.
