Honor Ride

You know how some days you come home from work, and it might seem like it'd take a beer or three or a long bike ride to feel "normal" again? Well, imagine coming back from work in places like Afghanistan or Iraq. I can only try, feebly, to imagine some of the challenges of coming home from work in such "strange", far off places; and after doing the difficult work that our armed forces do for us.
If there are any things that we can do as citizens to help returning vets feel more at home and return to "normal" back here in America, well I figure it is our duty to try to do those things, however simple. Even if it is just going out and riding your bike, and chatting away.

Ride2Recovery's mission:  Ride2Recovery is a national non-profit organization working directly with troops returning from Iraq & Afghanistan who have sustained mental and physical injury while serving their Country. Ride2Recovery uses the sport of cycling to help facilitate mental and physical rehabilitation for our nations healing heroes.

Thanks to Saris for putting on the Honor Ride, out of Middleton this past Saturday.
We had a nice route, with ample food/water stops, and a motorcycle escort draped in the American flag, Dane County Sheriff's controlling intersections for us, and at several spots along the route there were even folks cheering us on. When we crested the rise on Pioneer Rd on the way home and saw the massive American flag and the POW/MIA flag draped out over the road with the fire department ladder truck, it was a moving experience. Truly it was an awesome ride. It was like a double file social ride, with a police escort - and some serious meaning, too. For those folks able to stick around after the ride there was a healthy lunch and cold drinks. Then we were invited in to the American Legion Department Convention, and they had us ride our bikes into the convention! Crazy.  They showed a short film about Ride2Recovery, about their help for vets from Afghanistan and Iraq. Sal, who had been on the ride with us, gave a nice speech.  And then it was time for thank yous and goodbyes.

It was truly an honor to ride with the folks from Ride2Recovery.

I hope to have the chance to do it again next year.