Memorial Ride with West Coast Thunder

This was the first time I have ever been to a Memorial Day event. In times past , Memorial Day was about the 3 day weekend to Rosarito,Vegas, or just another day to party. But being that J.P. is a Veteran of the U.S. Marines, he insisted we attend the West Coast Thunder ride, hosted by Skip Fordyce.

I heard there was about 5 to 7,000 bikes in attendance. The parade route was from Skip Fordyce to the Riverside National Cemetery. At one point in the day, I was so moved by the youth speaker, I was speechless, tears running down my face. It really was a sad day for me. J.P. said, it's supposed to be. I guess that is what happens when you grow up.

The average age of a soldier is 23. Close to 5,000 soldiers have died since the Iraq war started and that doesn't include the 100,000 wounded, whose life will forever be changed. These men and women sacrifice their life for our freedom. Their families suffer so much, wives lose husbands, husbands lose wives, and children lose their parents.

Add them in your prayers when you pray.

Some of these pictures were taken while I was riding on the back of J.P.'s bike.

The starting line up.