Cowboys Ride for Veterans

08/21/2023

07/04/2023

In Evanston Wyoming at the legion club surrounded by friends

07/03/2023

God bless America and God bless Utah. Bear Lake

05/29/2023

Today anywhere you go. Wether it be in the middle of nowhere a small town or big city you will pas a cemetery and in that cemetery there will be American flags. In my county alone there are more than 3000 of them. Each one of them stands with a hero. A person who believed in something bigger than himself. And believed in it enough to die for it.
Take time to think about that as you go about your day. Look at your family and realize that there are many families that are missing their mothers father's brothers sisters and children so that you can have this day and more importantly so that you can have the freedom that lately we all take so much for grantit.
I thank God for everyone of them and I pray you do as well.
I will never mourn their death but I will for as long as I live celebrate there lives. God bless you and happy Memorial Day.

12/25/2021

I would like to wish each and every one of you where ever you may be a Merry Christmas.
These can be tough times for people especially veterans. So I guess if there is one thing that I can say to you it is this. I want you to always remember. I need you. I need you to teach my children to be the first responder the police officer, to be the coach the father the mother, the brother The sister the neighbor and the friend.
I need you to be the hero that you are the keeper of your brother. Because I have not been where you have been I have not seen what you have seen and I can not help you. Only you can help those like you and I am counting on you to do just that.
To All my veterans where ever you may be I and the thousands I have met along the way as well as the millions that I know of. Need and love you. Merry Christmas and God bless you.

01/30/2021

I'm late doing this. Not because I forgot or have been putting it off. But because I just don't have the words to do justice.
I have never met the man personally. Yet starting in 2016 after my first ride which he followed. We began to talk to each other on facebook. It was there I got to know James. Until the day I die I will never forget the talks we had how his perspective and good word helped me deal with all that I had seen felt and learned along the way and most importantly how to deal with what it was doing to me. Thanksgiving day 2017 I took a short 200 mile ride to Black Hills National Cemetery. He asked me if I would please visit the grave of his wife. I did and I was Honoured to do so. For all he did for me it was very little in return. For it is possible that he from just taking the time to talk with me about my experience and understand how I felt and why I felt that way. He saved my life. At the very least it made it better.
Not only did I come to view this man as a hero but in all ways to me a blessing sent from a higher power. A teacher in a way. One from which I learned something. One of the very few who actually listened instead of cutting me off and turning away.
He was born in Nebraska his family moved to Fort Pierre South Dakota when he was young. He became friends with and ran around with the Jones boys and became family. A member of the wild bunch. He used to tell me some of the things they did. All I can say is that we just thought we were wild.
After graduating from high school he entered the army and became a Ranger. He did I believe he said 4 tours in Vietnam. Some time after he became a drill instructor. He eventually retired from the army. To sum it all up he dedicated a lifetime in service to and in the defence of others. Upholding an oath that he honored not just during the time he served but for a lifetime. A member of a fraternity of people who believe in something bigger than themselves and believe in it enough to die for it.
I suppose it would be easy for some. But for me I could live ten thousand lifetimes and never find the words to pay tribute to him.
James it is one of the greatest honors in my life to have gotten to know you.
I will not mourn your death for you have merely gone to your Father's house with many rooms where you are so very much loved. To a place where people who believe in something bigger than themselves enough to die for it are honored as heroes. But I will celebrate your life and keep you in my heart for the rest of my life.
Sergeant Trudell. Thank you.