9-11 Ride with some new Spyder and Victory lovers!

[Lamonster]

http://www.9-11remembranceride.com

This was a very emotional day for me. I started off watching all the news clips about this day 10 years ago and not only did it bring back some bad memories but it reminded me what life use to be like before 9-11 and it angered me to think how many lives were loss on that day and 10 years later we are still fighting a war on terror. That day I picked my boys up from school and tried to explain what had just happened and that our lives from this day on would never be the same. Little did I know at the time that this day would shape my boys future in that they all decided to join the military right out of high school so they could do their part in defending our great nation. Yes it still is a great nation even though we have some serious issues to deal with right now. I'm still thankful to be an American.

This picture was taken on 9-11-2001.
On the left is Nathan who is currently serving in Afghanistan as a Marine. He's working on helicopters at camp Leather Neck. He's pretty safe there right now. He'll be there for 9 months.

In the middle is my son Lance who after serving 5 years as a Marine is now living in Boston and is in the Marine Reserves. One of his jobs in Iraq was running a sweeper team that would clear IED's so the Army could setup shop. That was a very hard time for us as parents.

On the right is my son Alex. He's currently stationed in FL training and working on C130's for the Air Force. He'll be going to Afghanistan sometime next year. All three boys signed up for 5 year programs right out of high school during a time of war. As you can tell I'm very proud of them and all our military men and women.




This ride came together after I saw a post in the TN chapter of SpyderLovers. To be honest I didn't even know this was going on and I am so glad I went. I wound up meeting three new Spyder friends and two Victory guys at the Micky D's for breakfast and from there we headed to Knoxville to gather for the ride.

This Gardner with his Victory, Cathy is behind him with her red RT then Denise and Jim with their black RT's


Heading to Knoxville




When we got there we were some of the last folks in line and we weren't late. It turned out perfect because we were parked right where all the action was. They had folks from the Fire Department, Police Department and every branch of the military. There were some very moving speeches and I'm not going to tell you how many times I cried when they spoke of the hero's that ran into the buildings while everyone else were running out. I'll never forget how my heart sunk when the first tower collapsed because I knew there were still fire fighters and rescue personal in that building at the time and I just watched them give their life live on TV. I'm still effected by that memory.









This was mainly a biker event but at that time it was an American event. Nobody cared what you were riding or what club you were in, we were all there as Americans showing our support for those police, fire fighters and rescue workers who freely gave their lives that day and those who continue to do so today. It was a mixed group for sure and there might have been a few nervous folks there when they brought out the K9 drug dogs but it was cool to be a part of this group.



The most moving speech for me was one made by Brigadier General Smith. This man really made me proud to be an American and he was the embodiment of the American Spirit. If you go to this link you can read about this man at the bottom of the page. I was able to shake his hand and thank him for his service and I told him a little about my boys and what 9-11 meant to me and he passed on his thanks to my boys. If the day ended there I would have been blessed but we still had a ride to go on.





After the last speaker (preacher) we mounted up and got ready to ride. Last year they said they had a little over 600 riders, this year they were well over 1000. It was a great group.

Waiting for the front of the line to get fired up.


Lot of bikes but only one other Spyder, it was a yellow RS


Folks hitting the head before the ride.


This was a great site to pass under.


The ride was close to 80 miles and even though we were toward the back of the pack I could never see the front of the line or the back, it was just one big line of riders and we had police escorts the whole way. Folks were stopped on the freeway and at every light but they all seemed very happy to see us. It was quite the reception.



Riding into thunderheads but we never got rained on.


This was the way it was the whole way.






The end of the ride was at the Quaker Steak & Lube and it was wall to wall bikes but we still had room to park even with the trailer.


This 9-11 day ended with a good ride with good (new) friends and a good meal and a renewed appreciation for those who server us today so we can live in a free country and enjoy the simple things in life like going on a ride with 1000+ new friends.

Click the link below to see all the pics from this day
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/a...p?albumid=1664

[Lamonster]

Here's a video from that day

[joe schmoe]

Man, Lamonster, you must have your hands full when they are all on leave at home! 2 Marines and 1 Air Force WOW!!!

Tell them; THANK YOU FOR SERVING!!!

It was a moving day, personally, the Navy sailor' story got me, yes Brigadier General Smith had a good story, but I was touched by the sailor story....What a blessing it was to be there and hear all their thought provoking stories!

It was nice to meet everyone, Jim, Denise, and Lamonster, you all made it a wonderful day and ride...We covered 3 different counties. We started in Knox county, then made it over to Blount county, then back into Knox county, and then over to Anderson county and finally back into Knox county. Thanks for the pictures and video, I'll post some up once the editing is over...

Let's do it again next year!

[GloryRyders]

Lamont............pass along my "Thanks for your Service" to your sons also ...........especially the one in the Air Force, my favorite branch since I was in way back when!

[dancogan]

Lamont,
Thanks to your sons for their service, and thanks to their parents for whom waiting can be the toughest job! Thank you all, and you'll be in our thoughts and prayers.

[DocRags]

Lamont,
Thanks to your sons for their service, and thanks to their parents for whom waiting can be the toughest job! Thank you all, and you'll be in our thoughts and prayers.

(That's Erags and DocRags agreeing!). You must be so proud of your sons...thank you for raising such fine men. We will keep you all in our thoughts and prayers. What an emotional day we all had on 9-11 this year...makes you wonder when the politicians are going to take the war on terror more seriously and secure our borders. Looked like a fabulous ride...too bad we don't live closer (not that that keeps Erags from taking off for a ride!) God Bless the USA and protect her troops around the world.

[flamingobabe]

Lamont...thank your sons for their service....I remember when Lance first signed up and you were so proud...but afraid....we pray for your boys and all the service men and women who keep us safe...thanks

[SteveMac]

You should be proud, as should all parents of those who are in the armed forces. Those are some good looking boys in the pic. Prayers for their safety.

Kudos out also to LEOs, firefighters and all who put their lives on the line for folks they don't even know.

[bullant12]

Looks like it was an awesome day!! And Thanks to you and your boys!!saluting_the_flag-2457.gif

[C3517C]

What an oustanding group you have raised. I pray for their safety. You are truly a family of patriots.