My annual bike ride this year is a little later than normal. As most of you know, way back in 2000 my Fat Boy and I got wadded up pretty good on Highway 78 outside of Oceanside, California. I’ve been doing okay but my left foot was starting to bother me, so in March I got it looked at. I was told that I should have reconstructive surgery if I wanted my leg to stay over the top of my foot; some of the tendons and ligaments were in need of replacement . I had the surgery done but the recovery time involved moved my bike ride back a bit. In the interim, I managed to break my kneecap – but that’s a story for another time. I’m almost back to 100% and I’ll be leaving in the morning. September 11, 2019.

The anniversary of al-Qaeda’s terrorist attack that brought their radical Islamist war against the USA onto our home soil killing 2,977 people. What I would like you to do for just a second, is think back to that time, and how we ALL came together. The stars and stripes were flying proudly and defiantly as we put aside our differences and we concentrated on what’s really important – we are all Americans. Your political views, race, gender, religion, sexual disposition, NONE of it made a bit of difference, it felt good to be one nation, under God, indivisible, seeking liberty and justice for all — didn’t it? We were Americans, united in our resolve to prevent another such event from taking place.

And – what did we do? We did what we have always done, we took the fight to the enemy. Our military fights our country’s battles “over there” so our enemies don’t have a chance to bring their desire to kill Americans “over here.” Sure is nice to have a country that is strong enough to keep the fight off our soil. Something else I’d like you to think about is how lucky you are to be where you are right now. Because even though we all have our own little “issues” with these people or that political party, we are all blessed to be alive and to live in the greatest country on the face of the earth. The ONLY reason that we remain the greatest country is that we’re strong enough and willing to defend it. American soldiers have proudly gone to battle and will continue to do so, to defend our country and our freedom from so many that would take it. I thank God that I am an American and I thank our soldiers for my safety and my freedom.