If you've never seen the "Thank You Letters" board on the WWR Forums, or if it's been awhile, go there when you get the chance and peruse the letters posted there. (Click here to go there).
The reason I ask you to do this should be evident in a moment. We made this place on the forums to put Thank You letters, not to crow about our work or for self-congratulation - rather as a reminder to all of us of just how important our work is. Reminders like that come most often when our work is seen through "fresh" eyes. The best reminders come from the words of those for whom we perform that work.
These reminders come from several directions. There are "thank-you" letters and emails, of course, but another source is the Escort Request forms that are on our main website at www.warriorswatch.org. Requests for our services also come from many directions, but the primary source is that form on the website. People can access that form from anywhere in the nation (Click here to see it). Once sent, the form comes to me (Lutz), and I forward it to the applicable chapter or state.
Last week I received one of these requests that stopped me in my tracks. It was from the mother of a military man, as many of these are. Just think for a moment about all of those young men and women serving in harm's way right now, and then consider how many mothers and fathers spend their days worrying about and praying for the safety of their child. Think about how long the days, weeks, months are when you dread every knock at the door, every news report of American casualties. Think about the weight of those fears.
Then think about the waves of relief and unbridled joy that come when the child finally comes home, unscathed. Think about how it must feel to an American mother, when the weight of all of her worst fears, a weight she has carried for a year, is finally lifted from her.
As I said, last week I received a form from the website requesting a Welcome Home from a mother for her child. The final line of that request was this:
"You have lifted the weight that has been on my heart since he deployed."
Imagine the strength that it takes to lift a weight that heavy, a load that burdensome. It takes incredible strength, and that is the strength of the work that YOU, the WWRiders, do.
If all of the hundreds and thousands of welcome home missions the WWR has done over the past 2 1/2 years resulted in just that one expression of gratitude, just that one mother whose heart was now freed of its burden, then it would all have been worth it.
But it's better than that. That sentiment is repeated again and again across the nation as the mothers and fathers of these heroes see how their country loves their children and how we wait and worry and hope along with them, when they see that they are not alone with their fears, and that we too rejoice at the safe return of their loved one.
We, as WWRiders, are deeply honored to be allowed to share a mother or father's joy at the safe return of their beloved son or daughter. There are few more satisfying ways to serve, and we are grateful to be given the opportunity.
Favorite WWR Comebacks
There are a few phrases that I've become accustomed to saying in my role as a Warriors' Watch Rider. For example, in the last two weeks I have turned down FOUR offers of donations to the WWR. Each time, I humbly thanked the person representing the organization that was making the offer, but declined. After suggesting some worthy causes that they could donate to instead, I told them what I always tell someone who wants to donate money to the WWR, that while we are grateful for the offer, we don't take money for what we do, not in any form. I am always proud (of all of you) when I then say, "Our riders do what they do on their own time, and on their own dime."
Another thing I love to get the opportunity to say: sometimes the family member of a military man or woman serving us in a war zone will ask, "What does it cost for your welcome homes/escort/services?" In that case the answer is always "Your (son/daughter/husband/etc.) has already paid the price. And ain't that the truth?
WWRiders, God bless you for what you do. You have every right and reason to be proud, and I hope some of what I've written here tonight will re-invigorate your resolve to serve our nation's warriors and their families.
Mea Culpas...
I have received thousands of complaints about last week's The Ride newsletter. Well, ok, I actually only received two, but two is enough to make me sit up and take notice.
The cause of trouble was paragraph number 6 in my article about Veterans Day. It went like this:
The answer is starkly clear. Every person in American history who wore a uniform in the nation's defense risked losing his or her life in defense of our way of life, and knew it. Many of our veterans, men and women who
Who? Who!? Who!!!??? Who what?? Many of our veterans, men and women who........who what? What was the complete thought? As one person put it, it's like reading a good novel and finding the last page is ripped out of the book.
Well, truth is I don't remember what that thought was. So I am going to make something up, just so that you all can sleep again at night.
"The answer is starkly clear. Every person in American history who wore a uniform in the nation's defense risked losing his or her life in defense of our way of life, and knew it. Many of our veterans, men and women who play Monopoly with bottle caps and only one dice (die?), long to own Monopoly boards that are complete and un-used."
There. It is done.
CONTRIBUTORS SOUGHT
Most of what is written in The Weekly Ride each time is written by me. I also provide content for a couple of "biker" magazines and some blogs, and the occasional newspaper or magazine feature article.
But for the WWR, this newsletter goes to 4,000 members, and each one of you has his or her own stories to tell about your experiences in riding with the Warriors' Watch. I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE you to contribute to the Weekly Ride with those stories. If you have ANYTHING to say about your work here, or a ride that was especially meaningful in some way, or even just tips that you've learned for yourself about how things can or should be done, SHARE THEM by submitting those thoughts to the Weekly Ride. I will HAPPILY provide as much space as you need in this newsletter, and you will reach many like-minded riders.
You can ALSO send photographs. If you have an especially good photo from one of your Welcome Home rides, send it here and I'll put it in the newsletter. If you have a series of photos from a ride and you want to share them with A:+LL of the WWRiders across the country, send them to me and I will put them up on the PHOTOS Page of the main WWR website.
Send your contributions - stories or photos - to me, lutz@warriorswatch.org, and I'll get it out to all four thousand of your fellow riders.
MISSIONS COMING!
Take a look ever day at the Confirmed Missions threads in each of the four national WWR Regions:
Region 1 (Atlantic States)
Region 2 (Central States)
Region 3 (Mountain States)
Region 4 (Pacific States)
Also, read the stories through the after action reports and photos on the main website, which is continually updated. Remember, this is all about honoring our troops, one at a time or one unit at a time. Without that purpose, all the rest is just noise.
If you haven't dropped in to FREE AMERICAN BIKER lately, you'll be surprised by the growth. This store is the official supplier of WWR merchandise, but has a whole lot more. Over 200 patches - military, veteran, troop support, 9/11 rememberence, police support, freedom support, free American riding, and much more. Also pins, KIA and POW collections, embroidered veteran key chains, throttle art (handle covers)...nothing but 100% military SUPPORT and patriotic sentiment - no "peace" symbols here. Give a look-see today.
Volume 2, Issue 14, Thursday, November 18, 2010
