* Patriot Guard Rides, 1 and 2
(February 17 & 18, Arizona, USA)
Friday and Saturday Pops and I rode our first missions with the
Guard. Friday was nearby, a total ride of about 40 miles. The Marine, Orville
Gerena, was from Puerto Rico, they were planning to move to Phoenix permanently.
The very young widow is all alone here, the 40 or so riders were invited and
very welcomed at the services. Mercifully, there was no sign of fruitcake fred.
Saturday's funeral was in Safford, ~200 miles SE of here for Brandon Schuck,
Marine. Pops and I left the house at 4:45 o'dark, got to Apache Junction at 6am
to meet up with the 20 or so other Phoenix area riders. It was about 40F, which
is real cold with a 75mph wind in your face. Our Gang of Two wore electrix
(vest&gloves) and Hardbite, our wonderfully competent road captain, doled
out foot warmers - little packets that stick to the bottoms of your sock toes
and actually prevent frostbite. Morning comes the sunrise over beautiful Globe,
AZ (after riding through Miami in the dark, it FELT like a longish ride, I had
no idea: Miami. Pops assures me, as did the temperature, that it was not
Florida). Then, over the Gila Mountains, an almost unreal string of rock spires
and sheer cliffs, and 70 miles across the desert to Safford. A very, very nice
little city of 2.9K. Kids, I am happy to report that wonderful hometown Maybury
still exists. We met up with riders from as far away as Las Cruces, NM and
Tucson. And we were escorted in by the police department. The whole police
department (Perhaps 20 officers; all Very friendly, courteous and professional).
And the fire department. And the mayor. All of whom and which were real glad to
see us, because fred the fruitcake had applied for a protest permit (and been
turned down. Not just NO, but "Hell No!"); all bodies were most welcome in the
Common Defense. Thank goodness the Fruitcakes didn't show up. Fred. If he caught
fire, no one would piss on him to put him out, but the Safford Fire Department
allowed as how if he burned a flag, they'd cheerfully turn the hoses on him.
Out of kindness, I suppose. ;^)
We were very proud to stand flag duty
for the family at the church and graveside services. A large percentage of
Safford turned out to honor their son. After the graveside services, the local
"biker gang", the FFF Fraternal order, kindly invited us out to their clubhouse
for a great BBQ breakfast (at 1PM, OK, it was lunch but our first MOTD - 200
miles before breffus is rough on those of us who Ride to Eat and Eat to Ride).
We were absolutely treated as family. And, it should go without saying, the FFF
will ALWAYS have family, roadside assistance, a place to stay, food and drink in
Phoenix. Thanks, y'all!!
Then we turned around and all rode back. Got home
before dark, The Old Broad and Lola ran strong and fast, the weather was fair,
if a little windy, (Western Honda has *healed* Lola's little gasket problem) all
was good. Thanks to all of the Patriot Guard and the City of Safford and the FFF
and especially to Hardbite, most excellent road captain, for a great well
organized ride (and Harold, on the Indian, for packing his rain gear. That simple act kept
it
from raining.)
God Bless our troops.
* For those unfamiliar with the
Patriot Guard Riders, we ride to honor our Fallen Soldiers. Politics aren't an issue.
This is about respecting our young people who have given their lives for us, and
honoring and protecting their families.
Please consider joining. Freedom isn't free, but joining the PGR is.
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modified 2/18/2006