Horsemen
"Riding For America"
By
Diana Volk
Horsemen
all over the United States will be saddling up, riding for freedom
in the most famous ride of our present day history "Riding
for America". It is possible for you, your family or friends
to become part of the ride that will make history as it crosses
the country riding for Freedom, riding to be an American, riding
together as a group proving that we are from an united nation, carrying
on what another country started in the "Cowboy Way".
Cowboys
and cowgirls, headed by Gregg and Debbi Hampton, from Alberta, Canada
wanting to reach out a comforting hand to Americans in the shadow
of the terrorist act of September 11th started a horseback ride
collecting donations, headed toward the United States border to
pass on what they had collected calling it "Alberta Rides for
America". As the morning of September 25th dawned riders could
be seen for miles converging on the United States and Canadian border
with riders from three nations. The United States, Blackfeet Nation
and Canada with 200 plus riders strong were joined together in a
ride for freedom. Several of the Blackfeet Tribal Council rode in
the event, Earl Old Person, chairman in full ceremonial dress, including
drummers and singers to honor the meeting, singing the "Warrior
Song and Flag Song". The Blackfeet Nation fed all the hungry
riders before their return home, as nations were united and souls
were united.
The
Compton family, with only 3 days notice, organized to have riders
at the Canadian border, not realizing they would decide to commit
themselves to take the ride to the Wyoming border taking the whole
family away from work for a month. The next morning with no prior
planning they left, three riders strong to begin a journey that
would be taken up by other riders as they heard what was happening
and wanted to join in the ride that would become "Riding for
Montana". A month would pass as riders were spotted passing
through towns, on the lonely stretches of highway, sleeping sometimes
in tents, sometimes in mansions, carrying the Canadian, American,
Blackfeet flags and saddle bags that had been given to Don Compton
by the Canadians that they used to collect donations in their ride
across Canada. Sometimes in desolate areas farmers would offer what
they had in way of water, places to keep horses, but whatever they
owned was welcome to the riders while towns would offer rooms or
a fancy meals, but wealthy or poor, they were made welcome by all.
Wyoming
riders, headed by Lee Yake, met the Montana riders in a ceremony
at the state border and turned with Montana to their backs and started
through the "Cowboy state" rushing to get to it across
their state before the cold winds of winter were too harsh to travel.
Upon reaching the edge of the state, South Dakota riders joined
them as the flags were closed for the winter and for it to become
organized.
Jeff
Compton, of Montana, has taken on the responsibility of head organizer,
organizing the ride all the way to NY that will begin again April
7th and end in New York Sept. 11th, a total of 6 months worth of
riding. Living on hot-dogs and diet coke, drawing no paycheck, he
has obligated himself to work almost 24 hr days, eating and sleeping
the responsibility of thousands of riders as they travel to New
York and the Statue of Liberty.
"I
want to ride to the lady, because that’s what she stands for----freedom
----and that’s what we are riding for-freedom," says Jeff
as he works looking for support to get the riders funded, food for
horses, riders, and travel expenses.
The
best part of the ride is that you are not too late to join. Clubs,
individuals, young, old, English, western all it takes is a patriotic
heart and have the desire to have fun while riding your horse. No
horse? Want to help? Think about what it takes to get horses and
riders across the country, if the ride passes through your town
or by your house they might be needing a place to stay, water, or
just someone to cheer them on.
Wyoming
will passed on the flags, April 6th at the Wyoming/South Dakota
border, heading to Crazy Horse Monument, Mount Rushmore and will
spend a month crossing the state and then head on to Minnesota,
Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland,
Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and to its final destination
of New York. Mounted police will be meeting riders as they enter
New York September 2002.escorting them as they finish the last leg
of the 3,000-mile ride that will reach from Alberta Canada to New
York City
In
a 7 1/2 months time period it will have traveled 3,000 miles, crossed
15 states, visited over 10 state capitols, been to the United States
capitol of Washington, DC, and crossed three nations with riders
too numerous to count as they ride for freedom. The best part is
that riders can still join in the ride as it starts in April and
will travel across the country for 6 months as horsemen ride for
their country--"Riding for America."
To
be part of history or to help history being made contact Jeff Compton,
406-249-0188, email holz_profi@hotmail.com
and be sure to visit the web page www.ridingforamerica.com
The
ride will be in Mitchell May 4, 5, heading to Sioux Falls to arrive
May 7th.
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