A 22,000-mile journey brings ‘Ride to Remember’ to Glenwood
News | Published on August 12, 2024 at 1:50pm CDT
The “Ride to Remember” made a stop in Glenwood on Saturday, August 10, to honor fallen Officer Josh Owen. The trailer accompanying the ride displays pictures of all fallen officers in the United States over the past two years, paying tribute to the 380 officers who lost their lives in 2022 and 2023.
The Ride to Remember is a 22,000+ mile journey across America dedicated to honoring the men and women of law enforcement who paid the ultimate price in service to communities. Among the crew is Allison McCarter, who travels by motorcycle along with others and those driving the truck that tows the trailer. “We are on day 71 out of our 73-day journey,” said McCarter.
The Ride to Remember was conceived in 2017, and after fundraising and solidifying operations, the first ride took place in June 2020. “A friend questioned whether it was the right time to do something like this,” McCarter recalled. “But we decided it was the perfect time. We needed to show our support to our officers and the families who made the ultimate sacrifice. Once we started, we knew we could never stop.”
The tour began by honoring 147 fallen officers from 2019. Over the years, the number of fallen officers has increased, with 368 in 2020 and 608 in 2021. After 2021, the decision was made to hold the tour every other year. This year’s ride honors officers from 2022 and 2023, with 245 officers remembered from 2022 and 135 from 2023.
“We want the families to know we remember and support them,” McCarter emphasized. “With each stop, we meet the families and witness the community’s support for them and their law enforcement departments. It’s rewarding to be part of this. Once we meet these families, we carry a piece of them with us wherever we go.”