Day 4- AJ
Posted by ajmoreland | Filed under Uncategorized
Today was full of experiences. We left Georgetown, DE to make our way to Washington D.C. But on our way, we stopped to participate in the Trooper 2 memorial. If any one remembers the news coverage on this, Trooper 2 was the Maryland State Police helicopter that crashed this past year killing 3 on board- Pilot Stephen Bunker, Trooper Paramedic Mickey Lippy, and Paramedic Tanya Mallard. There was actally a survivor of the crash which was the patient, an 18 year old girl. She is still recovering. As for the memorial, we first went to a formal service at the edge of the park of the crash site. Here they had the bagpipes, an honor guard, and alot of public officials from the Maryland/D.C. area as well as alot of news coverage. After the formal service, we went down the path to the crash site where they had the unveiling of a small memorial. Here the emotions were everywhere. A trooper read from his paper all of the events that happened the night of the crash. Looking around, there were alot of wet eyes including mine. They had the riders do a circle near the memorial so that eash rider passed the site. I then preceeded to get on a bus to take us to our starting location and somehow I ended up sitting with the family of Trooper/Paramedic Lippy’s family. The daughter was pretty emotional about the service. I sat there for a few minutes in quiet when the family asked me if I was a rider. They conversated with me for about 20 minutes and all they could do was tell me how thankful they were for what we were doing. Out of all the memorials I had already attended, out of all the thoughts and visions on how the ride was going to be, it was at this point I understood exactly what we were there for. To actually talk with them and them express their gratitude for me just getting on a bike and riding. But it’s more than riding. As you get to 3 and 4 days into this you start to feel doubt and pain. But then I just think that no matter what I go through on this ride, it will never compare to the pain that these families have gone through. I will get off my soapbox now. We left Maryland and proceeded into Washington D.C., where as a first timer, I was quite amazed. Ryan and I had appointments with Senator Nelson’s and Senator Martinez’s office. As advocates of EMS we felt the need to go speak with them on the new PSOB bill (Public Safety Officer’s Benefit). This is where non-governmental public safety workers killed in the line of duty receive the same benefits as governmental employees, which includes me. Ryan and I made quite a tag team when it came to these meetings. We nailed all of our talking points and really had some eye-openers. After we left the capital we were free for the rest of the day. We hit all the major things your supposed to see in D.C. like the white house, washington monument, lincoln memorial, and the national mall. Luckily Ryan’s dad was in town so we were able to stay later and eat dinner with him. Of course we went to a Vegan restaurant, so I hit up the pizza joint next door and brought some pie to the table (Ryan’s dad was jealous I had pizza when he got there). He was able to take us to Woodstock, VA to our hote,l where of course like all the other days, we checked in pretty late. And as always, you know what happens after that.
AJ out!
May 21st, 2009 at 10:06 pm
I make an appoint to read each journey blog as it is entered. Each one telling all of us the events that are happening. I hope our comrads here at Lifeguard, and other services around us signs in to read as well. This is more than a bike ride, it’s a journey tat represents us all. Good Luck.
May 22nd, 2009 at 8:36 am
What an extrodinary journey a j. You’ll have these memories for a lifetime. I’m so proud of you…. love Grammy
May 26th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
AJ, although I do not know you, I want you to know how touching your emails have been to me personally. I was thinking of you both as well as those with whom you’d come in contact this whole week (and beyond).
Blessings to you in your endeavours.
Aunt Grace in Columbia, SC