May 28th, 2012 was a great day for a ride to remember... with flowers...
The George S. Gumpy Jr. Memorial Day Ride to the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon recognized Gumpy, a U.S. Air Force veteran, who died in 2011, at the age of 76, and, all veterans who served for the "land of the free."
The ride was promoted by Mike and Cindy Sutton, owners of Irongate Motorcycle Apparel (www.irongatemcapparel.com) of 512 Main St., Woodland. Riders were encouraged to bring flowers to place on any grave site they wished. Mike Sutton, provided free commemorative bandannas for all participants. Riders met at Irongate, formed up, departed at 10:30 a.m. and rode to the cemetery.
The ride was a supported with streets and intersections blocked and a steady reasonable pace was maintained down Main Street to 113 to I-80 to the Midway exit to the cemetery. Those who could not ride met the motorcyclists at the cemetery around 11 a.m.
... photograph by Russell Holder
About sixty American and metric cruisers and sport bikes conveyed about seventy-five participants to the cemetery where cemetery personnel, expecting our arrival, helped in parking; then, the group congregated at the flag pole for group photos, a pledge of allegiance, an invocation, sixty seconds of silence, and then "please be seated." Mike's son, John, addressed the group, then Mike and a couple others addressed the group, then Cindy and a grandson placed a wreath at the base of the flag pole. Note: "Gumpy" is Cindy's father.
... photograph by Russell Holder
The assemblage was then dismissed and folks wandered over to the rows of headstones to pick flowerless headstones to place flowers. Sharon chose to leave a flower at Robert Barger's grave site... hmmmmm... I wonder...
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
Mike had contacted Planefield Station and they agreed to be open on this Memorial Day (thank you very much) to provide kitchen and liquid refreshment benefits for the group. That was cool, Planefield Station is a friendly place with great burgers!
Perhaps the event this year will later be known as the "1st Annual George S. Gumpy Jr. Memorial Day Ride."
Well done Mike, well done indeed...
... photograph by Russell Holder
Article and photos contributed by Russell "Raz" Holder
KNUCKLEHEADS FOREVER!
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check out all the event photos: click here
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