The Way Home

Saturday night I plotted a ride to take me by nine Tour of Honor auxiliary memorials. Auxilary memorials are additional themes to the normal seven memorials in each state. This years themes are Doughboys, War Dogs, and Huey helicopters. Doughboys are the statues that were placed all over the U.S. following World War I and many have become part of larger memorial groupings over time. The War Dogs theme is to visit various memorials dedicated to our canine friends who have supported our war fighters as well as our fist responders.

Leaving New York I left the hotel a few minutes before the Main Ride to Lower Manhattan. The route I chose to take me to the Lincoln Tunnel routed me in a way that I crossed the Main Ride's path and unfortunately got stuck for 15 mins or so as the ride made its way. Once the ride cleared I got out of New York in a light drizzle just to come out on the New Jersey side in a moderate rain on the other side of the Hudson. I was off to stop and see Anthony, the step son of my older "brother" Joey Belotti who had passed while I was still on active duty in the Navy. A cup of coffee and short visit I was on my way.

For music I chose my first Grateful Dead show, August 6, 1974, Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, NJ... it just seemed appropriate.

War Dog Memorial

Ahh, the Huey!

Doughboys!!

You have to look close, but there is a section for Colored specifically called out. I have seen this on several older memorials. A part of history, I hope we don't try to change that that's the way is was, even if today we now realize it isn't the right thing.. it demonstrates how far we are coming as human beings.

Finally, my final memorial for this journey, a Doughboy in Martinsburg, West Virginia