I want to share with everyone and give recognition to the “tribute to fallen soldiers memorial torch motorcycle ride “.
The Tribute to Fallen Soldiers Northwest is a volunteer-based organization that honors and pays tribute to our nations fallen soldiers. Warren Williamson is the Director/creator of this group and with the help of many volunteers, he does a phenomenal job of honoring the families of fallen soldiers.
They have a memorial torch that Is on a trailer that is shaped similar to a coffin and has a beautiful mural wrapped all the way around that pays tribute to our military. Rising out of the top of the trailer there is a torch with a transparent wind shield in front of it to protect the flame. Along with the torch, the trailer has a beautiful brass bell on it and it is rung every time they honor a soldier and the name is read. This memorial torch is pulled by the tribute motor home (tribute cruiser) which is also a mobile billboard covered with banners that are honoring and paying tribute to our fallen soldiers.
This year the journey began on July 9th in Eugene Oregon. The opening ceremony was held at the Texas Roadhouse restaurant. The torch was lit and would remain lit until the completion of the mission at Arlington. At the completion of the opening ceremony, The memorial torch and tribute cruiser were escorted by a group of Patriots on motorcycles. Along with the torch, a wreath also accompanied the procession and was displayed at each stop where Gold Star families were honored to acknowledge their service members passing and was eventually placed at the tomb of the “unknown soldier “ in Arlington National cemetery. Over the next four weeks the torch and riders made 68 stops and honored 68 families on their journey through 13 states. They spent many nights at regional American Legion posts, Elks, and Eagles lodges, and often received police escorts along the way.
On the 8th day of the memorial ride, they began in Casper, Wyoming and rode to Cheyenne, Wyoming where they visited and had lunch with the Governor and his wife at the Governor’s residence before continuing on to Sidney, Nebraska for the night. As the tribute ride continued through Iowa and Illinois, they battled temperatures of 105 degrees and over but they didn’t let the heat interfere with their mission even though the generator on the tribute cruiser quit working and the air conditioning failed to work.
As the procession entered Watseka, Illinois, the were greeted by the Watseka Fire Department with a large flag hanging from an extended ladder on their ladder truck hanging out over the highway. Another similar welcome with another large flag was displayed in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. and again in Delaware as well as other points along the route. Multiple T.V. News channels aired stories and ran special broadcasts about the mission and brought awareness to the tribute ride. While in Boston, the tribute was invited to Fenway Park for another honor with a gold star family.
The mission was completed on August 7th at Arlington National Cemetery as the bell was rang for the 68th time and the flame was distinguished during the closing ceremony. The wreath was laid at the tomb of the unknown soldier.
This group of volunteers that gave up their time and took personal responsibility for fuel and travel expenses deserves a huge thanks for honoring our military fallen and gold star families. Thank you and thanks to all of our Veterans for your service – both living and fallen.