After the Luverne Christmas parade and toy run, we pulled back around to the old Armory to put our helmets on, before heading back to the peanut shed for the Biker Appreciation Day.

Randy and I both had our PGR banners on the windshields, and Randy was also flying his American and PGR flags. While we were talking a bit, an older fellow walked up and asked who was riding with the Patriot Guard Riders. I stepped towards him and said that Randy and I both rode with them. He held his hand out to shake mine, and when he did, he put some money in my hands.  He said, “here’s a little something to pay for the next tank of gas; I appreciate what ya’ll do.”

I told him that we really didn’t do anything, and he looked at me and said, “I’m an old Viet Nam vet, and I know that ya’ll keep those scumbags away from our boys’ funerals.”  I told him he was the one who had really done something, but he just smiled at me.

I’ve always considered it an honor to escort a soldier, whether he’s coming home, or whether he’s going to his final resting place.  It always amazes me to have someone thank us for doing such a small thing, for someone who’s given so much.

The veterans who rode motorcycles met in the parking lot at Sam’s in Montgomery; they had a police escort from there over to the Farmer’s Market near the Coliseum. Before they left out,  keychains with Viet Nam beads were handed out.

After they reached the Farmer’s Market, they joined up with the rest of the vets, who would be riding golf carts, cars or walking to rest of the parade route. They were also given t-shirts designed for the event, and pins.

The parade was led out by the Huntingdon’s Scarlet and Grey Marching Band.  Lt Gen. Hal Moore (who wrote We Were Soldiers Once… and Young) followed, saluting the crowd as he rode his jeep into the fairgrounds.

Over 85 vets on motorcycles were next, followed by at least that many more on foot or in cars and golf carts.

The outside part of the ceremony included patriotic music and a flyover by a C-130. Then we moved into the Coliseum where we watched as the colors were posted, and a group from the Sons of the Confederacy presented the colors in full costume.

Lt. Gen. Moore spoke on the service that veterans and their families gave to our country, and the Gold Star Mother did a presentation.

The Grace Notes, a singing group from Montgomery, sang a medley of service songs- each branch’s members stood and sang along with their song.

One of the most touching parts of the ceremony had us all standing in complete silence, while five vets brought in a base, military boots, dog tags, a helmet and a POW/MIA flag; these were assembled into a monument for all those who served. These five vets remained at attention while a wreath was laid at the base of the monument.

Echo Taps was played by four trumpeters – that was almost more than I could take.   Everyone remained silent for another few minutes, then the MC invited everyone to stay for the free concert by Yard Dogs. The ladies at Sam’s put together a beautiful 14 foot high cake that was shared by everyone.

Randy and I were so glad to be able to be a part of this- our friend Steve rode up with us, and we were glad to be able to honor him along with all the other men and women who served.

I’d like to say a special thank-you to Paul “Penguin” Reynolds, who played a big part in getting this celebration together-he and the rest of the committee worked very hard to get everything together, and it was an awesome thing.

I took a ride yesterday I will never forget – I saw things on that ride that made me proud to be an American (I know how corny that sounds but it’s true). I’m also proud to live in a part of the US where it’s a normal thing to show pride in our country and it’s heroes.
We met in the parking lot of the Travel America truck stop in Marianna, Florida. Bikes were everywhere- I don’t think I’ve ever seen that many in one place.
The local high school jazz band was there and made a very nice addition to the day. They played a nice mixture of patriotic tunes and songs from the 60s/70s. One young man did an excellent job with his solo in “What a Wonderful World”.
There was a short briefing for the riders, then we started out about 10 – the trailer hauling the wall itself was led out by the bike pictured here. I don’t know who the bike belonged to but it was amazing to see- it was covered with scenes related to the Viet Nam war. After the trailer rig got on the road, it was followed by several dignitaries.
The local LEOs made sure we all got out in one group, which I’m sure was an undertaking- someone said there were over 300 bikes, but Randy said he felt there were closer to 500. I also heard that the line of bikes was 2 1/2 to 3 miles long and it was a pretty steady line with very few big breaks.
There’s no way I can tell you everything I saw, but here are some of the things that stick out in my memory.
We’d been seeing folks stopped on the side of the road, waving at us, all along. But at one curve in the road, a man stood by his bike, standing at full attention- I have no doubt he held that until every last bike went by. I don’t know whether he was wearing sand camo or whether it was very worn olive drab, but I do know he held himself like a hero. That’s where I first broke down…
The ride took us through several small towns- most every town had people standing beside the road in groups; some were waving flags, some were holding ‘thank you’ signs to the vets in the crowd. Flags were everywhere- from the very tiny ones stuck in the ground along the road, to the HUGE ones hanging from cranes over the streets we were riding.
Entire schools of children were standing by the roads, wearing patriotic shirts, waving flags, yelling and cheering. Some groups were even standing in the street, holding out their hands, wanting to ‘slap’ hands with us.
Vehicles pulled over while we drove by- one lady sat with her hand over heart while she smiled.
A whole group of veterans from the nursing home, sitting in their chairs, but sitting up straight, wearing their red, white and blue shirts, waving flags and cheering.
Policemen, state troopers, sheriffs and deputies at every intersection, holding traffic and saluting.
Junior ROTC from the local high school, in their uniforms, standing at attention on every corner of one town.
Drivers and passengers in every vehicles giving us a ‘thumbs up’ or a peace sign as they watched us drive by.
Whole families standing in groups, holding large signs with their military hero’s picture and name on it. Some of those pictures were very old…
Fire department members standing on their rigs, waving flags and saluting.
A very old gentleman, standing in his yard, saluting us while he held onto his walking stick with the other hand.
This went on for ONE HUNDRED MILES. For a hundred miles, people cheered, waved and saluted the Viet Nam veterans who were riding among us, saluting the flag they’d defended, saluted us for being a part of that great ride, but mostly saluting our country and the great place she still is. She’s got her faults, she’s got her problems, but she’s still one of the few places you can still live like you want to. We’ve still got the freedom to speak out against her when we want to, without worrying about who might hear.
I know how much taking this ride touched me – I’m not a vet and neither is my husband. Our middle son is serving in the Army, and so is one son-in-law. My husband’s dad, my grandfather, an uncle, at least one cousin, my brother and several brothers-in-law have served, but Randy and I did not. I cannot imagine what it must be like. I do know what yesterday did to me, and I hope and pray that the vets who were there were able to receive comfort from it.