Friday morning started out a bit different, that is recently. I woke up at 06:00, put on coffee, showered, shined my boots, polished my buckle, ironed my black dress shirt, grabbed some chow and hopped aboard my bike, that I had washed and polished the night before. In the parking lot of our local grocery store, I met up with 5 other riders to start our days journey. We were headed to Fort Harrison, in Helena Montana. The purpose of our trip was to escort the unclaimed remains of seven Montana Vets. As part of the Missing In America Project, we met up with about 500 other riders and were escorted by the Patriot Guard of America along with local police all along the course.
We met up with riders from the eastern side of the state as we merged onto interstate 90 in Livingston. From there, we made our second stop at the Harley shop in Belgrade. There we picked up another 40 riders and headed over the continental divide, to Butte, Montana.
As we ate lunch and waited, waves of riders continued to pour in and fill the lot as well as the streets surrounding the shop.
Every type of bike you could imagine as well as every Montana M.C. Club was represented. The lot filled and filled even more. Eventually we were called in and issued orders, we received a blessing and we mounted up. The remain of each of the seven soldiers were placed into the rear cargo area of seven different bikes, along with a properly folded American flag. The caravan was staged and as local law enforcement lit up the cherries and berries, we were properly escorted onto the highway. Riding in the largest group I'd ever been in, prohibited me from taking pictures during the ride, however, the sea of riders following the curves, up and over the mountains, was goose bump material. Riders flowing out of sight while my mirror was filled with, nonstop headlights from bikers bringing up the read, was a spectacle, for sure.
As we rolled into the city limits of Helena, we were instructed to close ranks and ride in parade formation with our flashers on. I was so impressed with the amount of people that pulled over, (in both directions), honked their horns and waved. They did it from the bridges, parking lots. shop entrances and lots of front yards. These seven vets were getting a hero's welcome after all these years!
The scene at the cemetery only begins to tell the whole story. The parked bikes, on both sides of the rode seemed to go on for ever. My panorama view fails to capture all the bikes in front of me and all the bikes out of the frame itself.
Aside from the bikes, the Army Cavalry rode with a riderless horse, the U.S. Military Honor Guard gave a 21 gun salute, the Indian Nation color Guard presided, a lone piper played Amazing Grace, and Taps was bugled.
I'm a big fan of reflecting..................... If you are an American, and you read this, those seven vets served for you. Take a moment to reflect. Close your eyes for a moment and just say thanks. If you read this, feel free to post your thanks in the comment section.
The fallen veterans are Jon William Ball of Kalispell; James Brodniak of Kalispell; Orville Clinton Hatch of Billings; Anthony Mills of Billings; Michael Lynn Shannon of Whitefish; Charles Shelton of Kalispell; and Charles Rollin Spears of Kalispell.
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