Sgt. Jennifer Hartman was killed in Iraq on September 14, 2006. Three years later a memoiral flag begins a journey from Fort Hood, Texas, to the Hartman Family in New Ringgold, Pennsylvania. This is the story of that Ride, in two parts.
For me, this mission will hold a special place in my mind and in my heart. The Ride, as it was dubbed by its initiator, Dennis “Big Country” Winegar –and in fact by Jennifer herself (“it’s about the Ride, for Christ’s sake!”), was more than a flag delivery mission. It was a statement, a fervent promise, to never forget a soldier who died while taking care of her own, and a beautiful young lady who lived and loved with a sort of wild and free abandon that defined her life.
Memories were made, tears were shed, and more of our lives were put into a perspective that we continuously need to be reminded of. This Ride was, for everyone who took part in it, a kind of mission of honor and remembrance that we rarely have the chance to experience in any other way.
Some thoughts and memories (this is a little long, but there’s a lot to remember, and the short version just won’t due….)
Meeting Big Country in Vicksburg on August 15th to receive the flag was awesome. He was a sight for sore eyes. Standing watch at the end of the bridge over the Mississippi River that connects Louisiana to Mississippi, wanting to make sure I saw him crossing the bridge. (I remember thinking to myself, “was I really on the banks of the Mississippi River?”) It was hot, and I kept going into the welcome center to cool off. Bad timing on my part. I missed him, and the next thing I knew, here was this voice behind me saying “Bobby, is that you?”
The flag was in remarkably good shape for having been flown so proudly for nearly 500 miles at highway speeds from Ft. Hood TX. A little frayed at the edges, but Dennis said Jennifer wouldn’t mind. I smiled. With those few words, he began to paint a picture of Jen in my mind that would ultimately become a portrait.
Dennis signed Jennifer’s flag, and we exchanged a few more words and a story or two of our respective trips to the Mississippi, snapped some quick pictures, rendered a salute, a handshake and a hug, and then he was gone. A career warrior who knew exactly what he wanted to do and what he had to do, and he just did it. I miss him, and regret that we didn’t spend more time together. This was his mission, his initiative, his passion, and I kept thinking all the way across Mississippi into Alabama that I didn’t want to let him down.
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Alabama - - it was now late afternoon and still really hot, and I knew I had some wonderful friends and fellow WWR riders (and Carrie Ann, of course) waiting for me at our rendezvous point in Homewood, just outside of Birmingham. I was about 350 miles into The Ride and still going strong when all of a sudden the interstate just closed up on me. The chatter on the CB radio said it was a wreck several miles up the highway causing this massive traffic jam. I thought I was going to melt until I finally made it to a shaded overpass to cool off, make a call to the group, and figure out what to do next. To my surprise, vehicle after vehicle crawling past me made offers of assistance, provided a cold drink, and gave me some advice as to what I should do to get around this mess. My faith in humankind was restored, especially after almost getting run off the road a few times by some dumbass cages earlier in The Ride.
Taking the advice of my new found highway friends, I hugged the shoulder all the way to the detour, followed the crowd, and finally made it to open road. Next stop - - Homewood.
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Homewood - - the next passing of Jennifer’s Flag. I was so proud of our group of riders for coming out to meet up with me on this journey, and passing the flag to Snappy really solidified in my mind that this was a real Steel Pony Express Ride. It would be passed many more times to riders who would likewise be touched by the spirit of The Ride, and who would be impacted like I was by the spirit of a soldier who died for all of us.
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Georgia - - I didn’t know about all of the riders who were talking and posting about The Ride over the last few days, and wasn’t aware that so many from Georgia would be meeting up with us as we made our way the next day from Alabama to Georgia. First, seeing Tom Hunt waiting along the side of the road in Gadston, and then the rendezvous near Cave Springs. It was an awesome sight to see. Once in Cave Springs, I had to opportunity to recount Big Country’s story of Jennifer Hartman. Not just how she died, but everything about her - how he got to know and appreciate her as a soldier and a person, and the sense of loss he feels to this day. I wanted so much to do his words and feelings justice for my friends, so they would all know it and feel it the way that I did. It really is a humbling experience to have the responsibility of telling such an important story without screwing it up or leaving important things out. But it is a responsibility I welcomed, because it gave me a chance to pass on the blessing I received from Big Country.
Watching everyone sign their names and words of condolence and gratitude to the flag was so emotional, but also a unifying sight. We were now all together on this mission, our names flying in unison on Jennifer’s Flag.
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The Ride Never Stops…
The 24 days that Jennifer’s Flag resided with us in Georgia were filled with mini-Rides throughout the state, especially through the mountains, that many riders took part in, with a mind that Jennifer’s Flag was always in motion, constantly heading toward its final destination. Dozens of riders joined these escorts, attached their names to the flag, and remembered Jennifer Hartman. She just never stops touching lives.
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A Soldier and some “Real Bikers”…
The Steel Pony Express Ride joined with another WWR mission, a welcome home ride on September 5th for Spc. Chris Garrett of Winder GA, a member of Bravo Company, GA National Guard, home on leave from Afghanistan. What a wonderful and poignant joining of two missions that honor the soldiers and Heroes that fight to protect our freedom. Spc. Garrett was presented Jennifer’s Flag, and he graciously added his name to those who ride in her honor.
Following this feel good ride, several of us were invited to a friend’s house to enjoy a barbeque and some “decompression time”. There we met some “real bikers”, the guys that some folks cross the street to avoid because they look a little scary to the uninformed or uninitiated. How foolish! These guys are the real deal - - most are vets, and some have kids currently serving in Iraq or A-stan. The subject of The Ride came up, and I once again was asked to tell Jennifer’s story, something that I continue to be proud to do, but admittedly still makes my voice crack and my eyes leak. To my surprise, I wasn’t the only one with leaky eyes. These guys embraced our mission, and truly wanted to be a part of it. We brought in the flag so they could add their names to it, and as two of our new biker friends carefully folded the flag back up, a few others stood at attention in salute. Add another picture to the memory bank. It was a touching moment I won’t ever forget.
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Heading North - - September 9th finally arrived with an anticipation that I haven’t felt in a very long time. I know we all felt it – me, CA, Snap, LJ, Smely, Sue-Sue, Papa Joe and JWAN (who would join us in Philly). Many more really wanted to go on this trip, but were unable to, including KROD and Winger, who met us at our starting point in Kennesaw GA and joined The Ride all the way to the South Carolina border. So many were on this ride in spirit that we truly felt that they were always with us. And they were!
We also met up with BC from North Carolina at the GA/SC border, who joined the ride all the way to Hickory NC before heading home. Another true patriot who touched our hearts.
From there, we knew that our final destination for Day 1 of The Ride North was to meet up with our WWR friends from PA, DE and NJ in Lexington VA, a 525 mile ride. More anticipation! What would they be like? What would they think of us? Do our forum posts match up with who we and they really are? I felt like a kid again. Thank you for that, Jennifer!
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We All Made It! - - our small band made it to the hotel first. A little wet, but so happy to be in Lexington VA. We checked in, unloaded the bikes and support vehicle, and started to wonder what to do next, when all of a sudden we heard a roar from the road that only a group of 13 WWR bikes could make. T, Ray, Mountain Bill, and the rest of our Yankee brothers had arrived. It was like a family reunion, but a family we only knew from words and avatars on the WWR forums. It was fantastic to finally meet all of these characters. We took over the parking lot during our meet-n-greet, and then moved next door to the Appleby’s for some dinner and refreshments. We ate, drank, talked, laughed, cried a little, toasted a lot, and never forgot why we were all there. We remembered Jennifer Hartman, and we missed our friend Dennis “Big Country” Winegar. They brought us together. It was a great night.
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Houston, We Have A Problem… When we arrived in Lexington, Snappy noticed that Smely’s rear tire was nearly shredded. Thank God for the truck and trailer. We loaded his bike up, and with the help of our northern brothers, a dealer near our final destination in PA was located who would be able to change out the tire the next day. Smely and Sue-Sue hit the road early, and would meet up with us in Philly. It could have been a lot worse, but thank God it wasn’t. It all worked out.
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The next morning, more rain - a theme that would repeat itself for the next 3 days of The Ride. But we didn’t care. We all met up at the Waffle House (where else?!) near the interstate at 0700. The plan was to be on our way north as a group by 0800. Now it was time to officially hand off Jennifer’s flag from Georgia’s hands to those who would complete the mission on the 13th. Pappa Joe, the last to escort the flag for our group, solemnly presented the Jennifer Hartman Memorial Flag to Ray, our Delaware State Coordinator. The words that had been repeated many times previously over the last three weeks – “I present you with the Jennifer Hartman Memorial Flag, which has been carried from Ft. Hood TX to the place we now stand. I entrust it to your care” – rang out in the rain in that parking lot. At that moment, I know we all felt a sense of accomplishment and pride in our part of The Ride to help Big Country accomplish his mission. Ray entered his name in the Log Book, carefully stowed the flag, and we were off.
Our route north took us to Washington DC, up through Baltimore, and finally to Chesapeake City MD, where Ray brought us to a very cool place on the harbor for some food and a much needed break. I kept thinking of how cool it would be to come back there someday to play tourist.
Needing to be at our main rendezvous point in Philly by 1800 hours, we finished our very nice meal on the harbor and booked it up the highway. When we arrived at Fire Base 69, we were greeted by WWR founder Wayne Lutz, along with 50+ WWR riders from all over the northeast, including a rider from Wisconsin, all cheering us on as we pulled into the parking lot, along with firemen and trucks flying American Flags. What a welcome! I couldn’t believe my eyes, which were now leaking again. And of course, Smely and Sue-Sue were there with their now perfectly functioning scoot! It was a welcome I’ll never forget.
Lutz addressed the entire group, talked about the importance of this mission and how it all came about, and allowed me to present him with the beautiful Remembrance Book that Lisa Jan created for the Ride, and the embroidered pillow that Sue-Sue made for presentation to the Hartmans.
We then mounted up again, and everyone headed to the hotel in Willow Grove for a gathering and celebration of The Ride for Jennifer Hartman.
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The Final Handoff…
At the Residence Inn, the entire group gathered in a meeting room to be a part of the final handoff of Jennifer’s flag from T to Wayne Lutz, who would formally present it to the Hartman family on 9/13, one day before the three year anniversary of her death. The Jennifer Hartman Memorial Flag, the very flag that accompanied Jennifer’s unit in Iraq, now signed by dozens of grateful Americans who were a part of this Steel Pony Express Ride, had completed its journey from Ft. Hood TX to Willow Grove PA.
As the flag passed for the last time in WWR hands, I was once again asked to impart the blessings of Jennifer’s story as told to me by Big Country to the group. The story of Jennifer’s sacrifice and service will live with me forever, and I will never forget her. While we might say “mission complete” as it relates to The Ride, my mission will not end until I have the opportunity to personally meet Jennifer’s parents and family, and to tell them face to face what an honor and privilege it was to be a part of her Ride.
Bobby Byrne
Marietta GA
Part II, by Wayne Lutz
Photo by Kat Fialkowski
There is a lost day here, Friday, 9/11, during which the WWR of Pennsylvania, Georgia, New Jersey, Delaware and Wisconsin observed the rememberence of the slaughtered innocents in the act of war committed against the United States 8 years ago. That day will be reported on elsewhere, but suffice it to say that the emotion and poignancy of that day rivaled any in which I've ever taken part.
We said a fond farewell to "the Georgia crew" and, after Harry repaired one of their scoots, they set off once again, headed south. It is at this point that PA/NJ/DE picked up the banner and carried on.
It was still overcast and gray as we gathered on the morning of September 13, at the rally point just outside the Willow Grove entrance to the turnpike. Many of us went there from home, others had first gathered at a Langhorn rally point, to join us at Willow Grove later. Among that group was a very special guest, a new WWRider. This particular rider had covered a long distance in order to join us that morning for The Ride. In fact, the week before she had been in Israel, escorting a United States Senator on a diplomatic mission there. It was Army Major Jennifer McDonough. As a Captain a few years before, Major McDonough had been Sgt. Jennifer Hartman's company commander.
Also joining us from Washington was Army Captain Ed Kennedy and his wife Jacey. Captain Kennedy was also a unit commander during Sgt. Jennifer Hartman's deployment, and had come, too, to finally meet the fammily of this extraordinary young lady.
This was a true honor for us, more so than I can express. The Ride for Jennifer Hartman was good in every way already, but the addition of Major McDonough and Captain Kennedy was the icing on the cake, it turned a GOOD ride into a PERFECT ride. We had a little time to meet and greet these two officers, and I couldn't help but notice the striking way in which they, both of them (and Jacey of course), each immediately became "one of us" - they were instantly liked and accepted into the WWR family by all present. It was a natural fit. Both of them are also riders, Ed riding his scoot and Jennifer now out shopping for hers!)
By the time we headed north, the group had become large, as I had expected it would. We entered the turnpike heading north, knowing that other such large groups were leaving other rally points at about the same time and heading for the same final gathering place, along the NorthEast extension at Allentown. We were on our way to the home of the Hartmans.
God creates harsh weather conditions to test the faithful, I like to say. He also rewards that faithfulness. After days of cool, wet, windy and rainy conditons, it was finally letting up some on this Sunday morning. About halfway up the turnpike, closing in on the mountains, we looked above us to see gray clouds, but looking ahead was a blue horizon, growing wider and more bright and blue as we drew nearer to our destination. By the time we finally rolled in to our rally point near Allentown, it had changed from bleak and gray to beautiful blue and sunny - God was favoring our mission, as I suspected He would.
We stopped a quarter mile short of our destination. We could see flashing police lights and some red-white and blue up the road. We unfurled our flags, took out the special flag and mounted that flag on the pole of the bike carrying Major McDonough, Jennifer's then-Company Commander.
Wayne Lutz on the left, yielding the point
to Major Jennifer McDonough
and The Flag
With the Major (also Jennifer) and the flag now taking the point, we set out again and closed the gap to our final destination - the Hartman family.
The Flag had travelled from Texas, through Louisiann, through Mississippi, through Alabama, to Georgia. From Georgia, the flag turned north and rode through South Carolina, North Carolina, to Virginia, where it was met by a contingent from Pennsyvlania, Delaware and New Jersey that had ridden down to meet it.
From Virginia the journey of the flag continued on to Maryland, Delaware, to Philadelphia. In Philadelphia it was met by the PA crew, who took it (and our Georgian visitors) further north to Willow Grove, Pa.
Sunday, the 13th. The flag was taken from Willow Grove by the PA/NJ/DE crew to Lehigh Valley. At Lehigh Valley we met up with other riders from all over, and the entire unit rode the final leg, from Lehigh Valley to New Ringgold, Pa.
Under the protection of the local police chief, we were flagged into the parking area across the road from the Italian Eatery where the Hartman family was waiting on the porch. We found them flanked by extended family and friends, and there on the front porch was Jennifer Hartman's beloved ATV, with three large, framed portraits of Jennifer Hartman as she had been in life.
I dismounted and hurried across the road, I couldn't wait to hug that family, to look into their faces and let them know that even after three years they do not mourn alone.
As I hugged each one in turn - Katie, Mom, Dad, Brian and Grandpa, Tony folded the flag and carried it the final 15 feet, from motorcycle to Hartman family.
The Ride was done. The Flag was home.
PHOTO ALBUMS
http://rides.webshots.com/album/574717961FyNZAV
http://news.webshots.com/album/574653673FCrBfO?vhost=news&vhost=news
http://sgtjenniferhartmanwwr.shutterfly.com/
NEWS REPORTS
http://wfmz.img.entriq.net/htm/PopUpPlayer-v3.htm?articleID=1266189
http://www.tnonline.com/node/483934
http://www.republicanherald.com/news/riders_deliver_flag_to_family_of_fallen_soldier
http://www.standardspeaker.com/news/flag_delivered_to_family_of_woman_killed_in_iraq
volume 1, SPECIAL EDITION
