The short time spent in Ontario is filled to the brim with activities. From information and planning meetings, to registration, to the Quartermaster issuing all of the things leadership needs to get the job done there is an unending buzz of activity. Amongst all of the preparation efforts there is still the focus on the mission.
Tomorrow a contingent of riders will visit the Riverside National Cemetery. The enormity of RNC is imposing on its own but add to it the National Medal of Honor Memorial, the POW/MIA Memorial and the Veterans Memorial and you have a weighty feeling even in the midst of the peaceful water features and lush green grass. Knowing the Central Route’s FNG meeting coincides with the departure of riders to RNC, I took two of the FNG’s I invited on the Run to RNC today. These are the words Glenn wrote about his experience,
“This morning three of us rode out to Riverside National Cemetery, the largest cemetery in the National Cemetery System, which was created in 1862 to create military burial places. Riverside National Cemetery (RNC) was created in 1976, covers 1,250 acres,and is beautiful and peaceful. While we were there, at about 10:00 on a Monday morning, we witnessed one funeral procession, heard a 21-gun salute, and heard ‘Taps’ floating to us across a beautiful pond. I’m told RNC is the busiest cemetery in the National Cemetery System, and I believe it. RNC contains three national monuments; the Medal of Honor Memorial, the POW/MIA Memorial, and the Veterans Memorial. They were all somber, powerful and impactful, but the POW/MIA Memorial just wrecked me emotionally.”
Glenn is not alone. We saluted or held our hands over our hearts as the funeral procession passed by, then did the same when we heard the 21 gun salute and taps. When they were complete, there was not a dry eye among us. What followed as we approached the POW/MIA memorial was even stronger. There is no way to not be “wrecked” by the image so carefully sculpted to depict the suffering and hardship those in captivity endure. We are so very blessed by those who have gone before us to secure our freedoms.
We ride for those who can’t is not just a motto, it is a way of life. We look for opportunities to actively draw men and women under the umbrella of the mission by speaking to people about their service or the service of their loved ones. Today, just before leaving RNC, Glenn, who I quoted above, asked if he could go back to the Medal of Honor memorial to take a few more pictures. We had plenty of time so of course we said yes. Glenn rode back to the memorial ahead of myself and the other rider who went with us as we hadn’t yet fully geared up. Upon parking near the memorial I witnessed a woman standing over a grave marker where she’d just placed fresh flowers. Her posture was one we all recognize, it was one that demonstrated a heavy heart and loss. I felt the need to approach her to tell her of our mission and to let her know that she is not alone. Jan, we will carry your burden with us, you are not alone. The loss of Carol is recognized and honored. As Jan and I spoke she told me that her sister was supposed to join her at the cemetery but had a conflict. Jan felt she needed to come anyway. As we were parting, she said “now I know why.” Indeed, I would not have approached if Jan were not alone. Nobody should walk out their grief alone. We ride for those who can’t. We listen, remember, and join hearts so that people like Jan and her mother Carol are remembered and are not alone.
The afternoon concluded with me witnessing my daughter, who recently graduated high school, becoming officially pinned as an FNG (friendly new gal) and experiencing the tremendous gift of the Combat Veterans Bike Build. This year, there were two bikes built and given to veterans who have themselves given much. Tomorrow is the last day of preparation, Thursday we ride.
A quick note about photos. I will generally add a few photos to the daily SitReps but I am not the Central Route Photographer. I’d like to point out that in the Central Route Hub on this website you can find a link the the images the official photographer will post. I encourage you to click through those to better “see” what I’m doing my best to describe to you as we cross the country to complete our mission.
