At morning meeting, we found yet another veteran was brought home after 40+ year. Sorry do not remember the name. Remember, this was in the mission statement: to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action. We want to bring them home. We have seen this now twice since we have started the ride.
We have the pledge, prayer, acknowledge blue and gold star members and active duty. Today, we have the honor of meeting a WWII veteran who was in the Navy. He was to ride with us a little today. What an honor. He is 80 and was ready to roll.
In case you were wondering on miles. As of Monday night we had gone 1997 since leaving CA and 4407 since leaving Loveland OH.
As of this morning, we had 540 registered on the central route. This does not mean we have that many riding as many only go for a few days. WOW 540!!
I stated that Larry and I road in the "Missing man formation". I thought I would explain the formation:
Route Coordinator State Coordinator
Larry and Jean Blank spot - for person we are riding for
Missing man Coordinator Head Chaplin
I wand to share a need sticker I saw today: "And on the 8th day, God created a Veteran." They are all great men and women !!
First stop of the day was the first Vietnam Memorial in the nation. This is in Wentzville, MO. It was a beautiful ceremony. A band played Star Spangle Banner. And we heard Taps. Not many dry eyes. It was beautiful.
Whither thou goest, I will go.
Group shot !!!! It took 2 to get us all in.
Leroy's bike. He is very much enjoying the ride and cannot wait until DC
Here is his license plate, Very nice!!!!!
Hopefully you can see the middle of the picture. This is our escort thru Missouri. If you have ever seen the movie "Mighty Ducks", this looks like the "Flying V". Again remember the highway is shut down all the way thru the state. This is really nice.
Thanks again to all LEOs (law enforcement officers) on our way in every state.
I love this guy. He is at every exit we take. Check out the hands.... cannot miss themHere is what we saw going into the Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, MO
Here was a lot of kids watching as we rolled in.
Larry and Dave handed out bracelets and sticker.
Greeting and thanking our veterans.
Leroy had the honor to start the Pledge.
TAPS!!!
I love these bridge over pass. We see them all day long. They could have 1 or 101 people on the bridges. Look and the support we have in every state we roll across.
More pictures of this beautiful country. Land of the free. Remember:OOPS!!! one of the gas pumps is not working....not good
Next stop lunch. I will have to run double in my soccer game to run off all the GREAT food we get. Waterkotte Harley
21 gun salute
Taps. More tears
Mr. Vargo, Larry found your bike !!!
This is the welcome we got just coming into a gas stop!! AMAZING
Here is the platoon staging master. He has a tough job making sure all the bikes are lined up tight to we all get into the allotted space. Not sure how we have not knocked him down yet.
Larry, Boiler Maker, and Papa Smurf relax for a few minutes tell jokes.
Our platoon leaders
As we got into Indiana, we finally see some hills. Beautiful!!
Heading into Corydon, IN for the night and for dinner.
Pretty cool these kids. I love when kids show support.
This is Cindy Stonebraker. Her father was killed in Vietnam, MIA 10/28/1968 when she was young. She never new her father and really wanted to. After 40 years, she met someone that said he know him. She asked lots of questions and began to wonder if this guy was real, or just trying to make her happy by making something up. Then he asked her "How did you like your doll house on your birthday from you dad?" She wondered "how" he know about that. He answered because I was with him when he purchased it. He said, her dad was very meticulous on the one he wanted to send. It had to be just right. She asked how he remember something like this after 40+ years? His comment was, this is not the normal thing you do in Vietnam. And it was shortly after that he was killed. A few years ago, her father was give a marker in Arlington.
After 12 days on the road thru rain, hail and gravel roads, it was nice to have the bike washed. Having someone else do it was even better. The kids had a great time. Not sure what had more water on it, the bike or the kids. They did a great job!!!
NEVER FORGET!!
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