After over a month without even cranking up a bike, I finally through a leg over my T100 Monday night and yesterday. Cold weather and playing nurse and chauffeur combined to keep me from riding.
We had a PGR mission for a 22 year old soldier, an Orlando boy, who was killed in Afghanistan. His dad is an Orange County deputy sheriff. I was Ride Captain for this mission. Monday night was visitation and 40 of us braved the cool night temps to stand a flag line at the entrance to the funeral home. This was the largest turnout of PGR for a visitation I have seen in the Orlando area. I would estimate close to 300 guests came to the visitation (wake). Needless to say, the turnout from the SO was tremendous, including the Sheriff, himself. I had the opportunity to spend a little time with the young man's dad and mom in private. We shed some tears together.
Yesterday was the funeral and an escort from Orlando to Florida National Cemetery for the interment and military honors. We had 55 PGR members standing the flag line ant the church, a good turnout for a weekday. Fifty-one of us escorted the the hearse and the family using the turnpike and interstate - highway speeds. The LEO's did a superb job of escort, blocking entrance ramps, using a rolling roadblock at the rear of the procession and clearing the highway ahead of us. At time we did 80 mph. Loved going through the tool booths toll free! We had 59 folks standing the flag line at the cemetery. The US Army firing squad was right on the money with their three volleys. All three volleys sounded as they should - like a single shot. The best job I have seen in a long time. As usual, Taps got to me and many of us. I presented plaques to the mom and dad and choked doing so - as usual. It's hard.
It was a sad, but a good day. We laid a hero to rest and honored him and his family. Altogether yesterday, I rode 190 miles in beautiful weather. It felt good to get back on two wheels.
We had a PGR mission for a 22 year old soldier, an Orlando boy, who was killed in Afghanistan. His dad is an Orange County deputy sheriff. I was Ride Captain for this mission. Monday night was visitation and 40 of us braved the cool night temps to stand a flag line at the entrance to the funeral home. This was the largest turnout of PGR for a visitation I have seen in the Orlando area. I would estimate close to 300 guests came to the visitation (wake). Needless to say, the turnout from the SO was tremendous, including the Sheriff, himself. I had the opportunity to spend a little time with the young man's dad and mom in private. We shed some tears together.
Yesterday was the funeral and an escort from Orlando to Florida National Cemetery for the interment and military honors. We had 55 PGR members standing the flag line ant the church, a good turnout for a weekday. Fifty-one of us escorted the the hearse and the family using the turnpike and interstate - highway speeds. The LEO's did a superb job of escort, blocking entrance ramps, using a rolling roadblock at the rear of the procession and clearing the highway ahead of us. At time we did 80 mph. Loved going through the tool booths toll free! We had 59 folks standing the flag line at the cemetery. The US Army firing squad was right on the money with their three volleys. All three volleys sounded as they should - like a single shot. The best job I have seen in a long time. As usual, Taps got to me and many of us. I presented plaques to the mom and dad and choked doing so - as usual. It's hard.
It was a sad, but a good day. We laid a hero to rest and honored him and his family. Altogether yesterday, I rode 190 miles in beautiful weather. It felt good to get back on two wheels.
