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SR Day 7 – Meridian, MS to Chattanooga, TN

Tue, May 19, 2026

Meridian, MS

Lauderdale County Agri-Center

We picked up our clean laundry that was dirty when we dropped it off last night.

What do you want for breakfast?  How about coffee, orange juice, fruit, biscuits & gravy, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon and pastries?  The real challenge is not to eat too much before starting the next leg of your run.

Missing Man Formation

Johnnie “Bravo 6” Huddleston told us about our Why We Ride candidate for the first leg of today’s run: Marine Lance Corporal Casey Casanova who died for this country on May 3, 2008.  She was an only child, an only grandchild and the only female from Mississippi to die in Iraq in 2008. Her grandmother died later from a broken heart.

Tuscaloosa, AL

Pilot Travel Center

We made a quick stop to get gas and then went on to the VA Medical Center with minimal staging.

Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center

Registration and Finance guru Shirley “Top Sarge” Scott let us know at the breakfast meeting that she had purchased ball caps with an American Flag that  she wanted us to give to a veteran.  Of course this was also an opportunity to talk to and get to know a little about the veteran.

I had the opportunity to talk to Korean War veteran, John Byram.  John was looking forward to his 92nd birthday in August.  Mr. Byram joined the service in 1952 and was trained as an Electrician.

Me:  The Korean War; I have heard that was hard duty.
John:  I never went to Korea.  I served in Iceland.  That was hard duty.

Gadsden, AL

Petro Travel Center

For the final leg of today’s run, the Missing Man Formation rode to remember Johnny Mata and all of the fallen soldiers of the 507th Maintenance Company a U.S. Army unit originally based at Fort Bliss, Texas.

Two of our riders were involved: Joe “Gump” Hudson and Patrick “Big Spoon” Miller.  I believe these warriors are experiencing healing in their minds, spirits and souls on this run.  Tomorrow I expect to  introduce some of the Missing Man Team leaders who are facilitating that healing.

This SitRep is a work in progress.