Bikers cross country to meet soldiers' families
SCHUYLER COUNTY- Four bikers have one mission: to honor four fallen soldiers who died in Iraq.
"Our mission is to go visit their final resting spots and pay honor and respect to their families and the communities that raised these four gentlemen that I lost," said Kirk Alkire, the founder of the Rolling Honor Riders.
Alkire was a first sergeant with the soldiers who died in 2007.
As they prepare for another leg of their journey, he says the ride isn't something that's been widely publicized.
"I did it out of respect for the families, I did not want to draw any attention to them because it's not about us and our motorcycles it's more about us visiting and paying respects to these four soldiers and also bringing awareness to the sacrifices that so many are making," said Alkire.
Being able to pay tribute to those sacrifices by meeting with families who have lost a son is something the riders say is very emotional.
"I actually have not been able to formulate the words. It's been an amazing journey so far. We've met just a lot of great Americans," said Todd Bullock, one of the four Rolling Honor Riders.
The ride is not about the war, Alkire says, it's about the soldiers.
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"There are sacrifices that are being made day in and day out by so many soldiers, sailors, marines men and coastguard men that are from all different small towns just like upstate NY here all across America like I said that are sacrificing so much for the freedoms that so many Americans just take for granted," said Alkire.
The riders will be heading to Homer on Tuesday to meet with the family of private first class Shawn Falter.
This will be Alkire's first chance to meet Shawn's family.
To learn more about the Rolling Honor Riders project you can visit their Web site: Rolling Honor Riders.