Memorials

I’d arrived in Phoenix last night, but today, March 30, was meeting up with my friends, Toolbox of the Combat Vets, and Dewey from the Yukon.  Joe rode with me and we headed up to the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, about 40 miles away.  We didn’t participate in the formal escort ride, but arrived at the entrance just before it came into the cemetery, and pulled in to ride behind it as it went on in. 

The parade had two hearses, and we all continued down a lane that was lined with Patriot Guard riders on either side holding flags in honor of the veterans who were arriving from their final journey.  It was an honor to be a part of the ride, even for a short way.

We were here in memory of those who served … for a memorial ceremony for unclaimed veterans’ cremains as they were honored and laid to rest.  The event is organized by the Missing in America Project (MIAP).  I had no idea what that was, so I asked someone.  The members of this group find and identify, as part of the Veteran Recovery Program, unclaimed cremains of American veterans, including those that are at civilian cemeteries. They move them to an honorable final resting place, and provide a ceremony that bestows respect and dignity to those that have fallen, giving them the recognition they rightly deserve. 

MIAP works with private, state and federal organizations, including the American Legion, local funeral homes, state and national veterans’ agencies, to find veterans who have been forgotten, residing in an urn in a mortuary or a storage facility at a crematorium.  There is a chapter of MIAP in all 50 states, and the work they do was evident from what we saw.  While I don’t know how up-to-date these figures are, the website says progress is 1,961 funeral homes visited, 13,031 cremains found, 3,006 veterans cremains identified and 2,735 veterans interred.  And it appears this organization only began its work in 2006.

Some of the cremains arrived in a beautiful black motorcycle hearse and others in a white hearse.  They were precisely positioned between folded American flags, and handed from the hearses oh-so-carefully as they were given to ROTC members to carry to a table.  A second ROTC person preceded every urn carrying a flag for each veteran.

The motorcycle hearse was as polished as could be, and loaded with chrome and some very fancy gas-lantern-style lights.

Veteran cremains were carefully positioned in indentations in a form in the hearse, and then surrounded by American flags.

I could read the name on this one ... HN Lee Reynolds, Navy Korea, 3/27/1931 - 2/22/1985.  He died more than 30 years ago and was now receiving the honor he had earned.  And he was only one of those being honored today.
 



Each veteran was carefully handled as they were carried to their last ceremony.

This young lady cradled her vet's cremains, and I believe this photo shows the high dimension of honor and respect being paid to these veterans as they were taken to their final resting place.

Those being honored were saluted by many as they were carried by.


 

The urns were methodically placed and the ceremony began.

Once the 43 urns were in place there was a beautiful ceremony that included a bagpiper, a flyover with the missing man formation, a flag-folding ceremony, a 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps.  Each veteran’s name was read aloud and a bell sounded in their honor.  The veterans on this day ranged from some who had more recently passed to a few from the Spanish-American War. 

I love bagpipes, and always enjoy them when they're a part of a ceremony.

The Missing Man is truly missing as I didn't get him flying away ... but was so glad this was a part of the ceremony.

The bell sounded for each and every one.

Our flag being properly folded.

Throughout the entire process, the Patriot Guard Riders of Arizona stood with flags bordering the ceremonial area. 

Proud flags.

The ceremony was emotional and touching.  One family member had been located in Tennessee and she was there to accept a flag in honor of her fallen veteran relative.  The process MIAP goes through to reach this point is time-consuming as they must follow local, state and national laws in the identification, claiming process and interment.  It may take a year or longer to reach this point, but it is such a worthwhile project as all veterans deserve to be laid to rest with honor, showing that America appreciates their service.

After the MIAP ceremony there was a ceremony honoring Vietnam veterans -- a Welcome Home Ceremony, that also included the bagpiper.  Another emotional ceremony honoring those who have not received the respect they deserved. 

A color guard began the Vietnam Veteran ceremony.

There was a wreath in the veteran's honor, "VA proudly commemorates our Vietnam Veterans."

And a touching, "Welcome Home" speech.  It wasn't a long ceremony, but one that was sincere, welcoming and meant to help heal wounds that have festered for more than 50 years.

We then headed off to Camp Verde to participate in escorting one of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Walls to the Posse Grounds Park in Sedona.  The Wall that would be displayed is the largest of five walls at about 80 percent size of the original one that is displayed in Washington, D.C.  A traveling wall has been moving about since 1984 and is intended to give those who cannot travel to D.C. the opportunity to respect and share in the experience of honoring our heroes. 

The Wall is contained in this trailer, and this is what we'd be escorting to Sedona.

One very cool trike.

One of the police bikes that escorted us -- just like mine, mostly.  I would have worn a helmet if they'd just given me some lights and a horn to put on my bike and let me help escort.

There was a police bike and vehicle escort and roads were blocked everywhere for about 30 miles.  We rode along slowly, usually between 25-30 mph, taking in the flags being flown, the signs thanking the vets.  The path we rode on into the Sedona Posse Grounds Park was again lined with the Patriot Guard holding up flags, some of them saluting. 

Escorting the Wall (Photo courtesy of Joe.)

Shooting behind him as we escorted the Wall.  (Photo courtesy of Joe.)

The Combat Vets Chapter 32-3 riding in.

Other riders in the escort.

There were a lot of other vehicles, including a Purple Heart one. 

I always like to see big, military vehicles.

I’ve been fortunate enough to see the Wall in D.C., as well as a traveling one that came to Anchorage a number of years ago.  Original or traveling, they draw your attention with their simplicity and bring emotions to the surface that one like me didn’t know existed.

Some of the Combat Veterans.

The Wall trailer is a "stand out" kind of trailer, noticeable no matter where it goes.

Some really good guys, these.

The entire day was an emotional one; I cannot begin to know what all of the people involved with the organization of these ceremonies or those that were a part of any of the wars went through.  But I do know that I was honored to be a part of it.

These are some very special guys and I was glad to make some new friends.

Joe, Dewey and I joining our new friends for a photo op.

On Saturday, April 2, Joe, Verlie and I headed again to Camp Verde, this time to take part in the “Welcome Home, Ride to Remember, Vietnam Veterans Day” ride.  It was another long parade and there must have been more than 150 bikes of all different sizes, makes and colors.  Again we were escorted and roads were blocked.  This time not only were there people holding up flags and signs of welcome and thanking the vets, there were fire trucks parked alongside the road with firefighters standing at attention. 

The firefighters were standing at attention as we rode by on our way to Sedona.  (Photo courtesy of Verlie.)

The ride was something, with bikes stretching both ahead of us and behind us.  (Photo courtesy of Verlie.)

I saw a car stopped and a young man standing next to it saluting those in the parade.  There were others who gave a thumb’s up, or held up Welcome Home signs.  It was moving, and the emotions were flying high again.  We arrived to a sea of red, white and blue as the Patriot Guard stood at attention.  Tears once again welled up to see patriotism alive and well in this beautiful state.

Riding into the park.  (Photo courtesy of Verlie.)

The United States Marine Corps flag was proudly flying in all its beautiful color.  This one is also for you, Biker Bill.  (Photo courtesy of Verlie.)

The Mayor of Sedona spoke in honor of the Vietnam veterans who were not well-treated upon their arrival home, and welcomed them to the city.  It was a very nice speech, and the backdrop, with the traveling wall and the mountains, was perfect.



The Traveling Wall.  There were 57 Alaskan lives lost in this war. 

The Purple Heart wreath.

The Prisoner of War / Missing in Action wreath.

The Mayor of Sedona.

The Fallen Soldier Memorial.  The fallen ranged from 17 to 62 years of age, with 2,654 Air Force, 38,209 Army, 7 Coast Guard, 14,838 Marine Corps and 2,555 Navy casualties.  Most died in combat (38,572), while others died of wounds, or while missing or captured or other non-hostile reasons.

There were wreaths set up and the Fallen Soldier Memorial.  I dropped a House of Harley poker chip into one of the boots … as a sign of respect from the Great State of Alaska.  I meant no disrespect but knew that Biker Bill had fallen comrades and I thought this could be a way to honor their memory since I knew I couldn’t find any of them on the wall as I didn’t know their names.

Toolbox lost several friends in this war.

 Another event today was with the Combat Vet group that I was around.  They were inducting three new members.  I was glad to be able to meet some of the guys from this chapter and to take photos to share with them. I also had more House of Harley poker chips that shows a bearclaw and I gave each of the inductees one.  It was a small token that I could share.  It was a nice ceremony, and again, the backdrop of the wall made it perfect. 

The ceremony.

And the swearing in of three new members.

These displays of honor on these few days bring tears to your eyes, even for someone like me who has never served.  I felt like an imposter who was infringing on things that maybe should have only been for those who had served their country.  But I was there to honor and show respect.

As I walked around I remembered the name of one of Biker Bill’s fellow Marines that was lost in combat in Vietnam.  I went into the area where they had the computers set up to help you to locate your person on the wall so you could make an etching of their name.   I asked about Lawrence or Larry Andersen.  I believed the spelling to be “en.”  We didn’t find but a few, so we checked with the spelling of “on.”  Bingo.  We found nearly 200.  The guy behind the computer said, “Okay, let’s narrow it down.”  I didn’t know where Larry was from, but I had an idea of dates … 1966-1968.  We found five.  We narrowed it further … there was only one Marine.  Yep, a hit.  I got my piece of etching paper and pencil and went out to find Larry Anderson.  Toolbox helped me find it and I had Dewey photograph me making the etching that I would take home to Biker Bill.  I felt proud I could do this for him as I know these things mean a lot to him.

The old knees have a hard time of it, but we did it. 

The etching for Larry Anderson was complete.

The House of Harley poker chip was placed under his name for honor.

I wasn't the only one leaving something in memory of someone.

Later in the evening I phoned home and told Biker Bill what I’d done.  He asked, “Who’s Larry Anderson?”  And he burst into guffaws of laughter … that didn’t stop.  It appears that initials that I thought stood for Larry Anderson stood for another person, and he didn’t know any Larry Anderson.  Oh well.  Biker Bill got a great laugh, and I paid tribute to Larry Anderson from Spokane, Washington.  May he rest in peace, and thank you for your service, sir.

And this one's for you, Biker Bill.  Thank you for your service.