Day 50...An Honorary 111 miles

Start of Day 50
Surprise, AZ

Today's ride of 111 miles on this Veteran's day, 11/11/11, was in honor those service men and women who have served and sacrificed for this country.

For those of you who do not know the history of this day, it commemorates the unofficial end to WWI on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Although the war did not officially end until June 28, 1919, seven months earlier (November 11, 1918) is when the fighting ceased and an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect.  On Armistice Day president Wilson proclaimed,

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

During our ride, we passed a bike memorial of a man named Charles Peterson. On the top frame of the bike, which was painted white, was his name and that he lived from 1926-2007.  He was obviously an avid cyclist and perhaps he was a service man too.

Today we rode on Route 60 for 111 miles from Surprise, AZ to Quartzite, AZ.  The only populated area we passed through was Wickenburg, AZ. The rest of the day was one long stretch of rode. It was cool and overcast day although not unpleasant. It was a long day in the saddle but thinking of all those who have sacrificed for this country and continue to do so was a wonderful motivating force.

111.1 miles

Kevin is raising money for The Wounded Warrior Project and is riding in honor of his brother, Daniel F. Harrington, who served in Vietnam (Air Force) in 1969, his cousin, Kenneth McMahon, who was a marine and all the men and women who have sacrificed for our freedom.

My father, Colonel Bernard Berger, served in the First Infantry Division in Vietnam from July 1966-1967. He continued to serve in the army another year after the war and for four years after that was in the Air Force. Thank you for your service dad. You are amazing and I love you.