RFTW Day 2: Not enough words.

Today we rolled out of Williams AZ bound for Gallup NM.  The scenery was magnificent and the people I met were more so.  From our hosts in Holbrook to the First Nations people who honored us greatly in Gallup. I can’t stress enough how incredibly difficult it is to put the things we are experiencing into words.

It’s absolutely breathtaking, yes literally breathtaking to be traveling in the middle of the desert with nothing visible for miles but freeway, sage, and dirt, to see standing at attention, a lone solitary person holding a flag and saluting. Sometimes that one individual is 20 or 3o standing on an overpass. It’s sometimes a farmer with his flag in the middle of a field.  Folks, our country is not dead. Contrary to the cacophony of inputs we experience daily, which are trying to communicate misrepresentations for their own gain, our nation is not dead.  For every one of these islands of patriotism I pass, I say a pray of thanks, and a prayer of multiplication.  We need our country to stay strong. We need more of these heros.

Our entry into New Mexico and Gallup was amazing.  The NM State Police met us at the border and wow it was an orchestra of movement.  I was riding as the Missing Man Escort so my position in the pack of 300 some odd motorcycles was 3rd. Yup, way up at the front, so I had a great view as about a dozen motorcycle officers coming from the opposite direction on the freeway took off across the median. This was not your ordinary paved, or grassy median, it was a good 50 yards wide, down a steep embankment and not paved. Essentially, it was natural NM desert. I couldn’t believe any sane person would ride a motorcycle through it. My mind was blown.

When we entered Gallup for the parade through town my mission as Missing Man Escort started in earnest. We rolled 10 miles through Gallup, nearly all of which was lined with bystanders eagerly waving, saluting or standing at attention. I challenge any of you to ride through that and not get choked up. It’s impossible. US Army, SSG Jason Reeves, KIA, Afghanistan, you have now received the Welcome Home parade you should have gotten. Thank you for your sacrifice. You are not forgotten.

After we were all parked, the Navajo Nation and representatives from some other First Nations People gave us a ceremony that was very special. They blessed us with dances, and had a Flag Ceremony.  They sang several songs and First Grandfather, and Grandmother from each were present. A group of Navajo Veterans rendered a 21 Gun Salute and played Taps in honor of our POW/MIA/KIA Brothers and Sisters. Having spent a little time with our friends, Chief Ben and Denise Charles, at the Lummi Nation in Washington I know just how special this was. I hope the others in our group understand the significance of being honored with a Warrior’s song by these amazing people.

The final moment of the day came as we were gassing up our bikes for tomorrow. Dad and I were parked side by side at the pump sharing the hose when a Native American woman approached us asking for gas money. Since I’m on a mission of praying for healing as we cross this great nation, I gave her some money but under the condition that I be allowed to pray a blessing over her. It was so sweet to have her take my hands and see her bow her head as I asked God to bless her People with provision and to bring healing to her and her family. She was moved by the gift and the prayer and gave each of us a big hug and a huge smile which is still painted clearly in my mind’s eye. It’s a great scene to go to bed with. I wonder what amazing opportunity God is going to present to us tomorrow.