Last weekend the weather cleared enough that I decided to get the motorcycle out and partake in some much needed ride time. I have several different favorite weekend ride routes that I call “loops”. The loop that I decided to ride was the Loraine. It is about a 3 Hr. Loop that takes me south through some backroads with some twisties (curvy roads) and some cool little towns before it heads west for several miles of rural country roads and then north again as it leads back towards home.

This particular route took me through a small town called Cottage Grove. The quaint little town is known for many things but most famously for its rich gold mining history. It is also the filming location for the Hollywood movie “The General” As I rode through the sleepy little community anxiously looking forward to getting back to the scenic mountain road and twisties, I seen a roadside memorial and something inside me said I had to stop and take a look at it. It was positioned in a tiny little park setting along with a scaled down version of a covered bridge. I followed a short concrete path to the middle of a grassy spot where the monument stood. There was a large rock about 3’ tall with a flagpole coming up out of the center. It stood about 20’ tall with the American flag flying proudly at the top.

Just below Old Glory, a P.O.W. / M. I. A. flag was blowing in the breeze. On the rock base below, there was a simple plaque with a cross in the center that read “VETERANS MEMORIAL”

“DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF OUR DEPARTED COMRADES “ DEDICATED NOV. 11, 1960 .

As I read the memorial message I became a little emotional. I was reminded of all those that fought and gave their lives to ensure our continued freedom. These Americans bravely and unselfishly made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could enjoy the everyday freedoms that we have and many of us so often take for granted.

Then as I read the dedication date (Nov. 11, 1960) I realized it was dedicated on Veterans Day.

I started thinking about all of my friends , family, and loved ones that served and risked their lives for their country. I began to think about my twin sons who both proudly served in the United States Marines and fought in the Iraq war. One of my sons was critically injured and was awarded a Purple Heart and my other son was medically discharged due to injuries he also received during his service. I remembered the early morning phone call from a Marine Sergeant telling me that one of my sons had been injured when the Hummer he was traveling in ran over an I.E.D. (Improvised explosive device) I was told that he had been air lifted to Germany and was in surgery. The suspense was terrible while waiting to hear the outcome.

I thought about all of the families that were not as fortunate as we were when they learned the fate of their family members. I admittedly got a little more emotional. Before I left, I took a few pictures of the memorial and said a prayer thanking God for keeping his hand on both of my boys and bringing them home alive.

As I swung my leg over the seat of my Harley, I had to take a moment to wipe the tears from my eyes before starting the engine and heading back onto the road.

The next time you see one of these memorials, I encourage you to stop and pay reverence to all who served.

I have a patch on my vest that reads- “we don’t know them all but we owe them all “