Tribute to the Troops

This weekend Dave and I are going on a remembrance ride with Tribute to the Troops.  Many of this group are already members of the Patriot Guard, but wanted a bit more.  The Patriot Guards mission is to honor the family by surrounding and protecting them at the funeral, but they are not allowed to approach the families, the Tribute to the Troops visits families each year to comfort them and to remind them that they will never forget.  The ride this weekend will re-visit some of those families.

Last fall we were one of the families visited for the first time.  We had been invited to the Tee it up for the Troops event in Mendota Heights, but because this group was coming, declined.  JB, the founder of the golf benefit proceeded to tell us that the Tribute riders stopped at his event, and we were the first stop of the weekend.  That is how we ended up at the Capital to ride to our own visit, apparently the first family to ever do this. 

We didn't know anyone as we rode in, but with our gold star flag on the back of  the bike, we got directed to the front of the line.  After signing in there was a picture of the group on the steps of the Capital, when we were introduced, many people were surprised, not knowing we were going to be there, and we received many hugs, a gesture we would receive many of that day.  For a Friday the attendance was incredible, over 100 bikes with about 140 riders total.  It was overwhelming to think that this many people just genuinely care and took time off to show it.  After a stop at the golf benefit, we rode with the group to Rochester, only breaking from the group to get home to watch the sight of that many motorcycles enter our neighborhood.  As we waited, we could hear the roar of so many bikes several blocks away, even though we knew what was coming, it was still a sight to see.  After a presentation and some kind words, we received a hug from every one of the riders.  There were many tears, but they were not all tears of sadness, it felt good to meet these outstanding people.  We didn't ride to the rest of the visits that weekend, we didn't think we were ready for that, but Emily and Dave rode to Camp Ripley with the group on Sunday and we all attended the banquet and concert that followed.  That too turned out to be incredibly emotional and inspiring.

After that weekend Dave and I knew this is a group we wanted to be part of.  Even with the threat of rain this weekend, we will ride with pride.  These families deserve the best of what we can offer.  When it is said, we will never forget, this group puts words into action.