A day of memories

Sunday, May 3, a week ago today -- wonderful, emotional, sad.  It was the first anniversary of the loss of three of my fellow motorcycle riders who died in a motorcycle/vehicle collision, May 3, 2014.  The loss was devastating.  Gone were three of our friends, Jim and Sabrina … a beautiful husband and wife duo, and Elaine … a kind, warm and very special woman to many of my friends and me. 

Elaine.

Jim and Sabrina, 2006 (photo by Dorothey McPherson, copied from Sabrina's FB page)

Elaine was an important part of my local Harley Owners family so her loss was exceptionally difficult for our group.  Her husband, Paul, another great friend to many, also went down, but thankfully he recovered. 

Three people … who were mother, father, parent, grandparent, sibling, daughter, son … well-loved and respected, contributing over and over again to the community, their families, their Harley families and friends in so many ways.

A ride had been organized in their honor, as well as a barbecue later at the Denali Harley-Davidson shop near Wasilla.  We gathered, a hundred bikes or more, to show support, to show respect and to celebrate the lives of our fallen.

The bikes continued to come in to join in the ride to the Valley.  Vehicles also came to transport other people and food for the event later at the shop.

In Anchorage small groups left at intervals, heading for the Glenn Highway and out to a school in the Valley to gather more riders for the final parade past the collision site, and on to the shop for the barbecue.  I was in the third group. 

As my group rode out of the east side of town, I could see up ahead the first two groups, separated by maybe a quarter-or-a-half mile.  There would be many groups on the road, and I was proud to be a part of something so special.  It was an honor to be riding for our friends.

I could see ahead that the second group had caught up to the first one, and just that quickly, the groups became one.  It brought tears to my eyes, thinking of how well our people ride, how well they understand the idea of honoring our fallen angels by riding for them.  And then it was our group’s turn, and we became one with the larger mass of bikes in front of us.  We moved steadily along the Glenn, slowing down when necessary to let traffic pass us, and to let other groups join us.  There were others of the motorcycle family on the overpasses photographing and videotaping the procession.  It’s an exceptional feeling to be a part of something that is so powerful, yet so heart-wrenching.

We rode 100-strong, cutting over to the Parks Highway and turning onto Trunk Road ending up at a school where additional bikers waited to join the group. 

Kym gave everyone memorial ribbons.

We were now ready to ride back to the Glenn Highway, where slowly, with motors revving and horns honking, we passed the collision site, where family members stood.  It hit you in the gut … the memorial sign, the crosses, the still grieving families.  I saluted and then we were past and headed to the shop.  It was difficult, it was painful, it was so incredibly moving.

We arrived at the shop and it was great to see so many there.  It was fun even while the reason was not. 

Cooking them dogs.

There was a line, as there usually is for food at a group where there are HOGs.

The weather could not have been any more beautiful.

Lauren and Becky.

Smiling faces were everywhere as we were celebrating the lives of our friends.

Grace and Vin.

And there was no lack of people at this party.

Valley and Anchorage chapters ... we were one for this.

Visiting with everyone is always a plus, even on this type of occasion.

Glenda had many of her family members at the ride.

Kara and Dennis.

The jugs had it ... iced tea, of course.

Frank, Frank, Frank.

Lovely ladies.  Supposedly not so serious.

Or a little serious.  Or not. 

Folks I hadn't seen in a while were there.

Michele and Michael.

There's always someone making it a real party ... bring on the whipped cream!!!

And it was not the end of the day.  The ABATE organization dedicated their motorcycle training range to Elaine, Jim and Sabrina, later in the evening -- the Three Angels Memorial Track, a beautiful tribute to the fallen angels …   

A beautiful way to memorialize our friends.

 

It was solemn, it was unique.

 

And many were there in support of the dedication of the ABATE range.