American Legion Riders KIA Run

The sky looked like rain, the traffic was light because it was Sunday morning, and for a little while sign-up looked bleak. Our Memorial Day KIA Run was on course to be a fail run when around the corner rode a large contingent of the Combat Veterans Association and behind them more American Legion Riders from posts in Iowa and Kansas and eastern Nebraska.

When the time came to begin our Missing Man Ceremony at Post 1 we had a good crowd of American Patriots surrounding the Missing Man Table for a moving service.

The first cemetery and stop was for PFC Terence Barney, KIA Vietnam, where we were blown away by a professional opera singer singing God Bless America. The second stop was for KIA Iraq, Corp. Matthew Alexander. We were honored to have Cpl. Alexander’s parents there with us for a very somber graveside ceremony to remember their son. The third and last stop was for Edward Gomez, a Medal of Honor recipient, and KIA Korea. Needless to say the story behind Sgt. Edward Gomez is amazing and had all the bikers’ attention when it was read aloud by "Bear."

We managed to slide past any rain and ended up raising a healthy donation for the American Legacy Scholarship Fund. The Memorial Day KIA Run participants had a Memorial Day that will not be soon forgotten. We are already making plans for the run next year.