Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/738714
57 www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS nNovember 2016n "We had a replica Civil War naval cutlass engraved for him," Wear said. And we asked Marine Colonel Don Davis, the ranking Marine at NORTHCOM to present it. He said he was sincerely honored to do it." During the presentation, the NORAD/NORTHCOM Honor Guard, led by a staff sergeant with a healthy Marine bark, formed ranks and any vet who wanted to was invited to join the formation for the presentation. While there were many vets who fell in, the Devil Dogs MC—Marines all—were specifi cally called out, and formed up perfectly. It was quite a sight. After the sword presentation, CDR Downing removed the cutlass, and presented a salute to the assembled platoon, a fi erce pride in his eyes, and a lone tear rolling down his cheek. Downing spent the rest of the weekend fully involved in the rally, keeping that cutlass by his side the entire time. As another keynote speaker and former Vietnam POW Colonel Elmo Baker, addressed the crowd, he was interrupted by the roar of a P-51 Mustang piloted by Joe Thibodeau. "That's the sound of freedom right there," Baker said. "I love it!" Other speakers included John "Tig" Tiegen, one of the survivors of the Benghazi attack, friend of the rally Colonel (Ret) Mike Kasalas, and others. The Northern Wind Native Dancers of the Sioux Nation returned, perform- ing traditional dances honoring war- riors and their bravery. It was patriotic, culturally on target, well received, and very much admired and appreciated. Some of the dancers learned about dancing hard at altitude, but sucking a little wind didn't slow them down. They had a mission, too. Then it was time for the business of the rally to kick into high gear. While the sound of bikes echoed off the mountainsides, there were tunes-a- plenty in the beer garden, Bands 6035, Some People's Kids, Donovan Lee, Ryan Chrys and the Rough Cuts and Ryan Weaver all kept a solid sound- track going. All while vendors and casinos did a bang-up business. Up at Cripple Creek High School some folks made their way to the Traveling Wall, where private moments were on display without shame. It was part of the healing, cathartic atmosphere that is rally week- end in Cripple Creek. One veteran, wishing to remain unnamed, said the rally has long helped vets in many ways, but this year it helped his wife. She lost her father, a veteran, shortly before the rally, and attending this year truly helped her with closure, he said. He then said they would be back next year. "We hear stories like that every year. This rally has always been its own little world," Wear said. "Over the years we've somehow managed to start building bridges between different groups without inten- tionally doing it. It just happens when the people who come to this rally get here. We just pro- vide a path into this special little place that's been created for a few days, and people step into it and are usually changed. And it's always a good time." This is not a case of bikers "adopting" a town for a weekend. Cripple Creek—the town, the area, the people—are as much a part of the Vets Rally as anyone who rides up to take part. And that is special. Very few com- munities are willing to become so inte- grated with an event like this. "We've been saying it for years," Wear explained. "The people who come to Cripple Creek get it—they understand what this is all about. Everything is different about this rally… it's a special thing. While the city has been supportive, and I know they get it, every year they show everyone they truly are a part of the special atmosphere and change that happens there every August. They really step up… they know how important this is and what it means to so many people because it means the same to them." 4 The POW/MIA Remembrance Ride arrives in Cripple Creek, Colorado The Remembrance Ceremony Riders on Colorado Highway 67 heading into Cripple Creek Pearl Harbor survivor, 103-year-old Commander Jim Downing, salutes assembled bikers with his newly presented Civil War cutlass