Tim gets a Long Deserved Thank You - Veteran's Day Ride to Lunch

November 11, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

THANK YOU VETERANS!

Tim has been riding to work all week with the flags flying.

We were eager to be out for a ride but our day started out gray and cold. About mid-morning, the clouds finally dissipated. Although it was chilly starting out, we took a short Veterans Day Ride over the dam for an early lunch at Vern's.

The lunch special sign included the words Thank You Veterans! The special today was a meatball sub which Tim said sounded good. I had a Longhorn Potato (stuffed baked potato, drenched in chili). YUM!




We noticed a group of people at one table nearby. Two of the men were wearing combat fatigues. The youngest was sporting an Airborne patch on his shoulder and wearing a cap that said ARMY. They were checking out about the same time as we were. Both Tim and I thought - don't let them get out of here without saying something. Apparently, they were thinking the same thing. We were wearing our Winter Park Veterans Rally shirts today, the ones with the POW-MIA patch on the front. Once the guys all determined they were Vets, both Tim and the older of the two veterans stuck their hands out at the same time. The man palmed a coin into a stunned Tim's hand with that handshake. It is a POW-MIA challenge or honor coin. The writing on it says Bring Them Home or Send Us Back. The other side says Duty Honor Country - Proudly Served. We spoke briefly with the two. The older said he had completed his tour of duty, the younger had just returned from Afghanistan. They posed for a photo.

Like I said, Tim was stunned. In all the days of his eight years of service, not one person ever sought him out and said thank you for your service. It was awesome and without a doubt this simple gesture made his day.


Here are a few photos of our short trip:

We took the roundabout, long way home, eventually taking a route through downtown Fort Collins. Before we reached downtown I made the comment that all too few houses were flying flags. I will usually snap a photo of a flag as we're riding by, so I notice that sort of thing. I also noted that it seemed to be smaller homes, trailer houses and rural domiciles, even fence posts flying the colors as if there's some sort of square foot maximum for flying Ol' Glory - say anything over 1200 sq foot is not required or at the least inclined to pay homage to our country. What's up with that rudeness?

As always, my camera was in hand. I thought a flag-lined main street might make a good photo for the day. I was disappointed and then thoroughly disgusted with the lack of patriotism displayed by downtown businesses in Fort Collins. I counted only four flags the entire considerable length of main street. Four flags.

I was so disgusted and just a wee bit angry that I came home and wrote the following letter to the editor of our local newspaper:

---

Letter to Editor of the Colorodoan (our local newspaper):

Veterans Day Neglect

It is Veterans Day. Today we rode our motorcycle – flags proudly flying behind it in honor of the men and women who serve our country past-present-future. We shook the hand of two young Veterans in the restaurant where we dined. We thanked them for their service. They echoed that thanks to my husband who is a USAF Veteran. One honored my husband with the gift of a POW-MIA challenge coin.

Our ride took us through downtown Fort Collins. I am disgusted to report, I counted only four flags flying on Main Street. Four flags. How can that be? Veterans are the reason businesses can open their doors and shoppers can walk the streets without fear. Veterans are the reason we enjoy any liberty in the USA. Worse – I noticed very few homes showed their colors today (or sadly, perhaps they were).

People sleep peaceably in their beds at night, only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.

We owe our Veterans a debt we can never repay except with gratitude, respect and remembrance…

For every moment of peace,
for every day of grace and greatness,
for every liberty we enjoy,
we owe a person in the service
of our country our heartfelt thanks.

How could you in good conscience NOT fly a flag today? For shame! Fort Collins. For shame!

If you flew the flag today, or any day, please accept our profound appreciation for your patriotism.

Vickie & Timothy
Proud Americans and not afraid to show it…