sedaliahog

I was excited to receive an email Friday, November 9,
generated by our Harley Owners Group to all those willing and
able to participate in the motorcycle escort for 25 of our
National Guard Soldiers, with the 20th Combat Aviation Brigade
returning from Balad, Iraq. What an honor to help welcome
home our returning heroes!

Such a beautiful day, Jerry and I leisurely cruised 50 Hwy in 60
degrees weather to Knob Noster. Without military clearance to
enter Whiteman Air Force Base we waited in the parking lot
outside the main gates. Around 2:15pm we spotted the
motorcade pass the front gates and hustled out to catch up
with them on 50 Highway headed for home, Sedalia!

We reached the rear of the motorcade and took position behind
the last escort vehicles and turned on our flashers. As soon as
the escorts realized we were stragglers catching up they pulled
to the side of the road and waved us in front of them to join the
25-30 other motorcycles escorting the “Red Carpet” bus of
soldiers. As we entered Sedalia it was heartwarming to see
oncoming traffic pull to the roadside in respect for the Soldiers
motorcade and State Fair Boulevard lined with waving patriots
and welcome home posters. We parked in the Matthewson
Center parking lot where it was announced that we were invited
inside to attend the welcome home ceremonies of local heroes.

It was a moving, emotional experience for me. Although my
Grandfather, my Father and both my brothers are Army
Veterans, and my son a Navy Veteran, I had never been a part
of such a homecoming. I felt a deep pride for my country, a
deep pride for our service men and heartfelt thanks to God for
this blessing.

As the Military officials and local dignitaries took their turns
with welcome home messages our troops and their families
waited patiently to kiss, hug, laugh and cry with each other
after this year long tour of duty. As the troops were dismissed
and they joined their families it was all I could do to contain my
emotions. I am proud to be an American, I am proud to be a part
of the Harley’s Owners Group who at the drop of an email can
manage to assemble such a group that truly appreciate their
freedom and honor those who sacrifice so much to make our
freedom possible.

After the ceremony as we meandered through the crowd and
thanked our troops personally, giving hugs and handshakes, I
had so many soldiers thank us for the help with the escort and
tell us how much they appreciated our presence. Imagine, they
were thanking us……………….

Saturday, November 10, we gathered at Yeager’s for our long
planned trip to the Warrensburg Veterans home. Many of us
have been gathering items all month requested for our
Veterans. With those items packed in boxes and loaded into
vehicles we assembled 30-35 motorcycles for this awesome
trek to Warrensburg in the warm morning sun. It was a perfect
day for a ride, but our mission was more that just a pleasure
ride today. It was to visit our Veterans in honor of Veterans Day
and to deliver items they were in most need of.

We stopped at the Arwood Furniture store to fall into formation
and assemble our flags in proper order. I was so pleased Jerry
was able to fly the Naval flag, as the youngest Veteran in our
family was a Search & Rescue Naval Airman. We were allowed
to park our motorcycles right up at the front door of the
Warrensburg Veterans Home. As you can see from our photos
we distributed the hats purchased by our HOG group for our
Veterans and visited from room to room. As each HOG member
seemed to attach to a Veteran, we made small talk and relived
some battles and motorcycle experiences. As I passed a
gentleman in a wheel chair talking to Jim Gregory I heard him
state “Well I guess there are women riders now too”. I turned
and said “yes…..would you like to meet one”? “I’m Susan
Horton, I said, I ride a Heritage Softail, would you like for me to
fire it up for you?’ Of Course he did! Jim maneuvered his wheel
chair through the parked motorcycles and we talked about the
different bikes as I introduced him to Betty and Cheryl’s
motorcycles as being owned by women riders. As I fired my
Heritage Softail and made a little noise for him, I saw tears
streaming down his face and I feared he was cold……..which
he denied. I think those were tears of joy! As Jim helped him
onto his motorcycle, Jerry held the Marine Vet’s flag out so that
I could take his photo in front of “his flag”. It wasn’t long until
our Veterans, like joyful little children, lined up in front of their
branch flag to have their photos taken. Joyful hearts, still
honoring their country and loyal to their branch of service.

My very wonderful boss, Dr. Gaunt, whose father, passed away
a few months ago was a resident at this Veteran’s home. The
Gaunt family could not have been more grateful for the care
and concern that their father received. My participation in this
event was more personal, in honor of my extended family’s
family, to honor my own military family, to honor the total
stranger who sacrificed so much to give me the gift of freedom.

What an honor for us to participate in such a heart warming
experience.

Thank a Vet!

Susan Horton