Kudos to the Spokane area for amazing support!
Just west of town in the small community of Reardon, I met Tom and Janelle who hosted me for the night, allowed me to catch up on laundry, and helped fix my flag bar again. (That wind is torture on my little flags!)
Tom is a veteran who rides with a Combat Veteran motorcycle group.
After hosting Walking for the Fallen, Tom said he was touched and amazed that his teenage daughter had written a nice blog on her Facebook page about veterans. What we had talked about impacted her. This is one of the main goals of the walk, so it was rewarding to hear — for both Tom and and me.
As I neared Spokane, several groups of 4-6 active duty military from Fairchild Air Force Base stopped to say hello and thank you! That was a wonderful surprise that almost made me tear up.
I was nearly inundated with media coverage throughout Spokane. This is a community full of individuals that truly support the veteran community.
A packed house showed up for the Marine Corps League “S.O.S” breakfast. (Many of you know that in this case, SOS doesn’t mean “help!”)I truly appreciate the hefty donation to Walking for the Fallen made by the Marine Corps League Melvin M. Smith Detachment #586. CHeck out the photos in the gallery section.
People from several VFW posts also came by to visit and enjoy the food. In particular, Darren has been a huge help to me, walking alongside me for a ways and organizing host families, too.
Jerry and Doug from the Marine Corps League picked me up outside of Spokane Friday night. Doug babysat my cart while Jerry and Elizabeth took me under their wing for two nights. The Saturday break gave my shin splint a rest. In fact, their neighbor is a medical doctor who looked at it and told me I probably overdid the miles andI need to rest it. Ha! I will take his advice, though, and consider walking shorter distances for a while. So I may not push so hard the next week.
Then this morning, Sunday April 14, Doug came back and dropped me off with my cart at the north end of Spokane, and I was my way again.
I didn’t get too far before a Gold Star mother stopped to give me a hug. She told me about her son who lost his life while serving in Iraq eight years ago. All I can tell her is I am so sorry for her loss. Bless her heart. This is what the walk is about.
~ Semper Fi ~
