Road 2 Recovery rolls across Texas

When the Road 2 Recovery riders arrived at Texas Rangers Stadium in Arlington on April 4, they were greeted by a few friends: pro football great Roger Staubach, actor Adam Baldwin (“The X-Files,” “Chuck”) and former president George W. Bush. Staubach had given them a rousing send-off speech, and the former commander in chief had already visited the bike-riding wounded warriors in Cleburne, Texas. The American Legion Auxiliary of Texas made sure Road 2 Recovery riders were taken care of at all their nightly rest stops, and managed fundraising, publicity, meals and special events. For example, when the R2R tour reached Waco, American Legion Riders from Post 121 and the Waco Police Department greeted the wounded warriors outside of town and provided an escort. As the ride proceeded through Waco, more than 150 VA employees met them as they cycled through the city’s Avenue of Flags. Volunteers who served the heroes included American Legion post commanders and Auxiliary presidents from Waco, Clifton, Killeen, Gatesville, Temple and Hamilton. American Legion 11th District Vice Commander Don Dameron and American Legion Auxiliary 11th District President Marcie Davis were among the crowd of well-wishers. School children from the elementary school in Mount Calm, Texas, had prepared thank-you cards for every wounded warrior, which were presented to them at the dinner. R2R riders were touched by the cards and all wrote notes back to the children on table napkins. “If you didn’t get a chance to participate in Road 2 Recovery this year, don’t miss it next year,” says Mary Hueske, the Texas Auxiliary’s site coordinator in Waco. “I guarantee you’ll be awed by the determination of these heroes to make a full recovery, in every way.”