A Harley Ride and Blue Star Celebration
Yes, that was me you saw a week ago, zipping around town on the back of a Harley Davidson motorcycle. I know, I can barely believe it myself.
I was smiling and laughing so much, I thought I would surely end up with a mouth full of bugs. All was fine though, with Dr. Barry Booth giving me a great tour of local Veteran sites.
I went aboard the USS Alabama and met this group of Corpsmen from Pensacola Naval Hospital who were volunteering that day and also received this memorial photo to display in the hospital’s lobby. (Old habit, just hangin’ out with the sailors).
We stopped by Dr. Booth’s office in Spanish Fort where every inch of wall space was covered with photos and memorabilia from Veteran’s Dr. Booth has honored or helped in some way. The map shows all the motorcycle trips Dr. Booth has taken over the past 20 years.
It was a gorgeous spring day, and my tour continued at the 2 year old Alabama State Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery. Such a moving and peaceful place where there are already over 500 Veterans interred.
Here, Dr. Booth is posing with a POW bracelet monument he designed. It’s located on the grounds of the Battleship where many other monuments are located. A new 911 memorial is now under construction, and it’s going to be fabulous.
It was moving to listen to Dr. Booth tell about friends he knew from college who didn’t return from Vietnam.
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For the complete article and back story as to why I was on a motorcycle
(with pearls, of course),
click HERE.Â
And now, exciting news!  The Blue Star Salute Foundation is hosting Alabama’s 11th Blue Star Salute this coming Saturday, May 16th, which just happens to be Armed Forces Day! The all-day festival will be held on the grounds of the USS Alabama.
This is a scene from last year’s event.
Events begin early in the day with a 5K run/walk beginning at 7:30am. Following the race, the 151st Alabama National Guard Band will perform a concert of patriotic music.
Dr. Jack Hawkins, Chancellor of Troy University and recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart will give the keynote speech at 10am. And as if that weren’t enough, there will be Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Group (I’m one of them, now!), horseback reenactors, fly-overs by military aircraft and an actual landing of a Coast Guard H60 Jayhawk hellicopter on the grounds.
Children’s activities, concessions, on and on and on . . . it will be a wonderful day to get out and celebrate those who so bravely defend our country. The event is free, with a $2 parking fee.
For all the details and a complete list of activities, click HERE.
A big thanks to Dr. Booth for a fun day I’ll never forget!
Hi Little Bitty Pretty One! Oh, just look at your cute little self in the flowery helmet and on the motorcycle! I’m sure you were having fun and how humbling it must have been to hear all of the stories and see the sights from Dr. Booth! As I’ve said before, you have so much fun! 😉
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 🙂
Yeah, the helmet with flowers was a surprise. I thought I would look much tougher in leather and such, but I was brightly safe!
What a wonderful and fun way to take a tour, full of history of important events, people and an up coming celebration.
Everything looked completely different from the back of the motorcycle. I had never noticed the pavement was so close!
How fun! I love the POW bracelet art. I still have my bracelet I wore in honor of POW.
I asked Dr. Booth who the artist was, because we have so many great local artists I thought I may know them. He pointed to the bottom, and I got down low to look, and it was his name!
[…] I am abord the USS Alabama this past spring when I was on my Harley Davidson trip. It’s such an awesome feeling to stand on deck of this 608.8′ long ship. Oh, how do I […]