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13 www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS nJanuary 2017n were consumed prior to Harris giving the rider briefi ng. After the briefi ng, Harris intro- duced Master Gunnery Sergeant Castillo, Operations Chief, 4th Tank Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, who spoke to the crowd. Thanking them for coming out and supporting the Toys for Tots, he cited that the Marines are looking to get more than 58,000 toys for children in the San Diego region. Quite an objective, which the bikers gathered this morning were doing their part to help meet. Not a bad way to start the weekend. Taking off in four groups, the run wound its way onto Mount Helix and then to a stop at the Miramar National Cemetery. At the cemetery, the riders paused to refl ect on the those who have given their all for our country, like Chief Petty Offi cer Finan, EOD Tech U.S. Navy, who was killed in Iraq on October 20, 2016, and recently laid to rest at Miramar. A little somberly, the riders returned to their bikes and it was kickstands up for a short ride, passing Marine Corps Air Station Miramar on the way to the Reserve Center. Arriving, the bikes parked in rows with near-military precision. (Well, almost military precision.) Then began the important work. Saddlebags were opened, boxes were unstrapped from the backs of bikes, the van unloaded, and the donated toys were set up between two Marine Corps tanks. There were hundreds of toys, going towards that goal of 58,000 toys for local children. Many climbed up on the tanks, gleefully having their pictures taken. After obligatory group photo- graphs were taken, Master Gunnery Sergeant Castillo and retired Marine Harris announced a change in plans. Rather than heading directly back to the dealership for lunch, Castillo asked that the riders make a detour en route to ride past the home of the father of a fallen Marine, Sergeant Brian Bennett. Castillo had served as the Marine Corps Casualty Assistance Calls Offi cer (CACO) after Sergeant Bennett died in combat. According to Marine Corps orders, the CACO is the "individual responsible for rep- resenting the Commandant and the Marine Corps with the Next of Kin (NOK). Responsibilities include but are not limited to: making notifi cation/ condolence call to Primary Next of Kin (PNOK) and Secondary Next of Kin (SNOK), assisting with mortuary affairs, funeral honors, benefi ts and entitlements," a solemn obligation for any Marine assigned this duty. Castillo and Harris decided on the change in plan to honor Sergeant Bennett's sacri- fi ce and show his father they have not been forgotten, a fi tting addition to the run on Veterans Day weekend. Then it was back to the dealership for lunch, prepared by Big J's BBQ. At tables in the shade, the riders and passengers chowed down on barbecue chicken and fantastic mac and cheese, good comfort food after a busy few hours of camaraderie, remembering and honoring the fallen, and delivering their Toys for Tots to the Marine Corps Reserves. There was lively chatter, with several comments overheard about making next year's run even big- ger and better. Before the event con- cluded, Harris ran the 50/50 drawing and prize raffl e, providing even more smiles on the faces of the winners. In the end, the real winners will be the children who benefi t from the hun- dreds of toys donated by these folks. El Cajon Harley-Davidson Marketing Manager Tina Hook offered that it had been an "awesome turnout," with riders and passengers enjoying the perfect 85-degree mid-Novem- ber weather. She said, "Thanks to all our El Cajon H.O.G. members and customers who help and make this a great success every year," encouraging everyone to "join us next year for our fourth annual event and give the kids something to smile about." After corralling Harris, who had been the busiest of them all, he said, "Now that it is over, it is time to start planning for next year. Everyone I talked to said they had a blast. It's bet- ter than it was last year and that's the main goal." He specifi cally commented that the drive-by for the father of the fallen Marine making it very special. Concluding, Harris emphatically stated, "Next year, stand by! It's going to be great!" No doubt, because all you need is one good Marine. 4 Master Gunnery Sergeant Castillo at rider briefi ng Volunteer cooks Timothy Spencer and Julia Engstrom Pausing at Miramar National Cemetery has moved online! Submit and read letters at thunderpress.net/letters