The Cost of Freedom is Immense

It is hard to talk about those who have paid the ultimate price of war. It is hard to remember those who sacrificed so much for our country and who answered the call when asked to serve.

I’ve met several Gold Star families over the years ~ and I’ll never forget those initial interactions. Sometimes you hear in passing, sometimes you interview them, sometimes you watch them give a talk. There are tears, there are smiles, and, often, there is a passionate commitment to the military. While Memorial Day is a day to remember those who have gone, those who stand in the wake of their death should also never be forgotten.

Those who stood beside them when they took their last breath, those who count them as brother or sister, bonded together by service, those who loved them … they live with loss and grief and pain. This year I interviewed a man who lost 16 men in his unit in Iraq … and he’s lost almost that many to suicide in the years that have followed. The cost of war is immense. May we never forget that.

Military friends, if I see you in your dress blues today, or I see your cap and I thank you for your service, please know that I know that today is about your fallen brothers and sisters, but I also know that the impact of this day on you is great. And I am thinking about you as you remember those who have gone before you.

Yesterday, my family and I went on a little walk around the cemeteries. We were hoping to locate all four of our local military men who were Killed In Action in Vietnam. We found three, but, watching my girls stop at various headstones and think about the many men and women who have served was powerful. I am so thankful to those men and women who have crossed my path over these many years – they have shared their stories, they have shared the stories of their loved ones, they have allowed deep wounds to surface. Because of you, my children are more respectful citizens, and more appreciative of our military. Because of you, my children know the cost of war. Because of you, my children are growing up in a land of freedom. Because of you … my children went to the cemetery and spent a couple of hours looking for gravesites without any idea where they may be. Because of you, we paused to remember three, but many more as we continued our journey.

Midwest Women Riders ~ Get Your Groove On 2022 @ Woodstock Harley Davidson

I spent yesterday surrounded by some enthusiastic, energetic, and exhilarating women at Woodstock Harley-Davidson.

I met Ellie Rains and Stacie Balmes last year for the Midwest Women Riders event, Get Your Groove On 2021. Six hundred women came to Woodstock, and the group made their presence known – making noise, making friends, and making a difference in the lives of local veterans thanks to their charitable donations.

This year, these ladies, once again, came to Woodstock for MWR GYGO 2022.

While I, myself, am not a motorcycle rider, I do enjoy photographing and writing about bikes and riders. There is something about their ability to bond with one another and to make friends just about anywhere that always impresses me. (Also, they are so much cooler than I ever will be!)

These women, confident and full of joy, were line dancing when I got there prior to the group photo and the onlookers were dancing themselves – on their own, in groups, with friends. They had spent Friday attending workshops that educated women bikers about how to deal with trauma situations, packing hacks, and travel tips – topics they all seemed to say were incredibly helpful.

The ride seemed to be a favorite among the women who had come from 17 states. The group rode in the open-air throughout the beautiful countryside with a police escort. As the gentle roar descended upon farm country, the ladies hoped to raise awareness of a journey that is unique to everyone. 

Motivational speaker, author, motorcyclist, and crash-survivor Momma D. Diamond spoke to the women about being their best self – both in and out of the saddle. She brought her exceptional energy to the group, making each woman feel like the most important woman in the room when she spoke with them. Though I wasn’t able to stay for her talk, she granted me a small interview that turned into a friendly conversation – and, this woman was kind of amazing. I want to read her book – 50 States of Consciousness. (She’s ridden in all 50 states – twice!)

The event raised money for Turning Point – an organization that confront domestic abuse in McHenry County and LifeSpring in Aurora.  These groups were chosen because they help women become empowered and support them through difficult times.

All ride participants were gifted a handmade and unique pendant which represented the distinctive journey each of these women have taken – whether in health, in careers, in motorcycling, or in life. No one’s journey is the same.

As I think about the people who brought me to this event – Ellie and Stacey – I think about how many lives their own journeys impact. Ellie loved riding so much, and felt that women needed to have more people in their corner, that she single-handedly envisioned and created the not-for-profit group that is Midwest Women Riders. Her journey is shared with many in a public way. Stacey’s journey is more private, and, I’ve watched her share bits and pieces of that as I’ve come to know her, quietly leaving her mark on my own journey and gently guiding me in ways she may never know. Both women inspire me and encourage me – their strength, courage, power, and gentle kindness make me proud to know them. 

Thank you, Ellie and Stacey, and all the wonderful women who invited me into their conversations, allowed me take their photos, and embraced me as one of their own (even though I don’t really belong in the bike community). Thank you to Woodstock Harley-Davidson, Doug, and all the amazing people at WHD who welcome rides like these ~ and reporters like me.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the women out there who are mothers to their children, but, also, to all those women who mother to so many through their kindness, support, and encouragement, and by being a role model.

In the words of Momma D., “Live your best self, baby.” 

Momma D. Diamond