Military & Motorcycles October 26, 2012
Dust Em’ Off
Finally the weather is showing signs of Fall in the air with cooler temperatures and less rain.
This is the time of year I year I tell people who are fair weather riders or have a dislike for hot and/or wet riding conditions to charge up the batteries, “Dust em’ off and get riding.”
Keep in mind not only will we have better riding conditions we will also have an overabundance of folks from out of state utilizing our highways.
The new comers could be lost or trying to locate a specific location and not paying attention while changing lanes, slowing or breaking.
This is also the time of year due to the early darkness hours to also be alert while riding in the rural areas for animals such as wild hogs, deer, large cats and alligators crossing your path.
Get out and enjoy what God has provided for those of us who want to experience what a dog feels by sticking his head out the window, the wind in our face and the smells of nature and the occasional bug.
By the time you read this column fifty plus Patriot Guard Riders will have escorted the body of US Army Specialist Brittany B. Gordon, age 24 from MacDill Air Force Base to St. Petersburg.
Brittany died Oct. 13, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked her unit with an IED (improvised explosive device/suicide bomber). She joined the Army in 2010 and this was her first deployment while assigned to the 572 Military Intelligence Company, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. Her specialty was in communications and her return date would have been in December.
Brittany was the first female from the Tampa Bay area to die in Afghanistan. SPC Gordon grew up in St. Petersburg and attended St. Petersburg High School where she graduated in 2006.
Brittany’s Father is Assistant St. Petersburg Police Chief Cedric Gordon.
Ms. Gordon’s body arrived at Dover Air Force Base Monday night and was met by family members.
The escort from MacDill Air Force Base to St. Petersburg was on Wednesday afternoon.
This escort was especially hard on those of us who were involved due to Brittany being not only a female KIA but also because her father being Assistant Chief Gordon of St. Petersburg Police Department.
The Tampa Bay Law Enforcement Community has always been obliging to those of us who are involved in escorts of returning deceased warriors.
Please pray for all those men and women who are in harm’s way overseas and more specifically the Gordon family in their time of loss and pain.
Bike Events
November 1st – Manatee River Harley-Davidson Bike Night, 624 67th Street Circle E, Bradenton – 6 to 9:30 pm. For more information please contact Sarae Brubaker at 941-745-2429 or by email at sarae@rossiterharleydavidson.com.
If you would like to contact me please do so at PGRTerry@gmail.com and remember “It’s not about the war, it’s about the warriors.” God Bless America and those who serve in uniform.