The last time they road it was a Harley Dealer who made it possible at the last minute. Maybe they opped out for DT to ride this time.
Such an experience for any one. All to pay tribute to the Veterans
One of my dearest friends is buried in a Vet’s cemetery about 45 minutes away. This cemetery started having a wreath-laying ceremony for Christmas. I attended the first year they did it & I think riders from the Patriot Guard showed up. Wow - a sight & sound you don’t forget that was only about 10 bikes. A lot are Vietnam Vets & the guys who showed up looked about that age group with a younger one or two. After the ceremony (presenting a wreath for each branch of service), they headed out across the cemetery in smaller groups with wreaths for their buddies. I cried a lot that day - just got overwhelmed with their sacrifice & of those that died. I had made a wreath for my friend’s grave - he loved the outdoors so I always make him one with pine and/or cedar, dried berries from plants in our garden, etc.
The caretaker for that cemetery is a Marine. I found out one day when I was having a tough time graveside - he was mowing nearby & noticed so he moved to a different section and gave me time & space. I flagged him down to thank him as I was leaving. That’s when he told me he was a Marine (no ‘former’ Marines ... always a Marine). He told me he took care of his buddies as best he could when he was still in the service & he finds it a great honor to continue to care for them in their final resting place. He and his wife live just down the road (maybe a mile) and at dusk, they like to walk around the cemetery (a very rural setting) when the deer & rabbits are visiting & the owls are ‘talking’ (I’ve hear the owls myself). The Vet’s cemetery has been a real surprise for me - I find a lot of comfort & peace there and having a guy like that around, still taking care of ‘his buddies’, helps a lot.