From the Team Captain

What Strength

This is our fourth year to ride, and in the previous years I would walk into the event not knowing what to expect. The endurance, stamina and overall selflessness of both riders as they endured the ride, and the survivors as they endured the beginning stages of moving forward absolutely amazed me. I would find myself in awe as I rode along witnessing the riders put recent injuries or surgeries in the background as they carried the names of the fallen officers to D.C. Or, to be speechless when a survivor would put a rider’s wellbeing before the pain of having lost their loved one. I literally walked around scratching my head, saying to myself “Wow! What strength.”

This year, I entered the event thinking that I could not see anything that could compete with what I had witnessed in the past. I mean, everyone who is there is doing this because they care and they want to help honor the fallen and support the families. The LEU organization and the participants have HUGE hearts and this event thrives on selflessness. But, how could this happen again?

This year I had not only the privilege to ride with some great officers who show that they care and refuse to forget the fallen and refuse to allow these families to go through this alone, but I was surrounded by even more. This year, there were about a dozen survivors who rode in the LEU event. Just as a few examples: there was a niece riding for her uncle and representing the family, a couple riding for their son-in-law, a son riding for his father, and a wife riding for her husband AND five other fallen officers from around the area she lives because the families could not make it. What courage it takes to walk into an event, surrounded by people you don’t know, not knowing what to expect from the other riders around you, and not knowing what you are about to experience. What sense of responsibility it takes to endure the three days of physically demanding work to carry the memory of someone so close to you. What faith it takes believing that there is some sense of closure awaiting at the end. What understanding it takes to see other whole families around you while you ride for the one who is no longer there. What love it takes. What strength

This year again demonstrated that this is so much more than just a ride from Virginia to D.C. More than a group event. More than just a bracelet with a name on it. It is a sacrifice that was made by an officer. A sacrifice that continues with a family as they move forward. It’s a group of people that care and surround these families with love and compassion to let them know they are not alone. It’s taking care of the logistics to get the families to D.C. to hear their loved one’s name called out one last time for final roll call. It’s also raising money to help the families get the support they need to move forward and for the surviving children to experience a kids camp designed just for them.

Thank you to all of those who donated their time and money to make this event possible. Thank you to all of those who have shared this experience with us by following along and supporting our efforts. Thank you also to our families who supported us in taking the time away to be there for other families. We are all a family and families take care of each other. Thank you to everyone.

Please remember your officers as they serve their communities. Please remember the survivors and add them to your prayer lists.

To my Father God: though I walk through the valleys of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me. To the evil doers: I stand firm and unwavering to protect these lives against oppression, against evil, against you. My life and the lives I protect do not come freely…Come and take it!

Anthony

Advertisement