Maryland Leg – Mission Accomplished

August 22, 2006

It was a great honor to be able to act as the Maryland Ride Captain for this portion of the mission.  Others have already chronicled most of this journey before me. 

I would like to express my appreciation for the hospitality of Frederick Harley Davidson for allowing us to meet the Virginia PGR contingent at their facility.

My personal thanks to Frank and the Virginia folks for putting this leg together!

It was with some trepidation that I rode on this mission.  9/11 is still fresh in my mind, and though I once worked in the area of the Pentagon that was struck that day, the Flight 93 crash site has always been emotionally important to me.  For the American Heroes that died there that day were the first Americans to strike back at the terrorist that attacked my country.

Ten riders lead by Frank and Susie Q carrying the stone arrived promptly at 11:00am in Frederick.  After a short pause to discuss ride routes and a little R&R, the Virginia contingent, and three Maryland riders and George and his grandson in his cage headed for Shanksville.  At our lunch stop outside of Hancock another rider joined us.  After a great lunch we continued our ride to the Flight 93 crash site.

It is always humbling to me when people pass our formation and honk their horns and give us a thumbs up when we are on a mission.  It brings joy to my heart to know that other Americans know who we are, what our mission is, and show their support for our fallen heroes.  This mission received acknowledgement from strangers that we will probably never know.  If you’re reading this, thank you!

As we crested the hill and the Flight 93 site was revealed before me, I could see in my mind’s eye how the valley must have looked that day.  The day that America started fighting back.  And there before me was a monument in nature to the heroism of the passengers of Flight 93.

Waiting for us were the Patriot Guard from Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

The exchange has been described and captured in pictures already.

I have visited many places where great battles were fought, won, and lost.  At Gettysburg, I always sense that the battle has never ended for those that gave their lives there.  That every day they form up again to try once again to overcome a battle lost.  At the USS Arizona, I sensed a great peace of a war won.  They rest in peace.

I feared what I would sense at the Flight 93 site.  But I should not have.  For our heroes who gave their lives that fateful day rest in peace.  They won their battle, even though it cost them their lives.  For they thwarted the attack and prevented even more damage from our enemies.  Average Americans, living out their normal lives, rose up and fought for us, and won.  Heroes each and every one of them.

May the joining of their heroism and the stone bring peace to the monument in Dodge City as well as resolve to honor their sacrifice for our great nation.

May God bless them and my brothers and sisters in the Patriot Guard as they continue this mission.

Respectfully Yours,

Stephen C. Maley