Director Smith, VA Medical Center, hands out Challege Coins to each R2R Participant

Ride 2 Recovery Wounded Warrior Tour came through Central Texas March 30-31, 2011

March 28 thru April 2, 2011, the 3rd annual Ride 2 Recovery Wounded Warrior Bicycle ride once again made it’s way through Central Texas. The 6 day, 350 mile ride began in San Antonio on Monday March 28th and made nightly rest stops in San Marcus, Austin, Killeen, Waco, Cleburne and concluded on Sunday April 11th at the Ranger Stadium, where the group was on hand to throw out the first ceremonial pitch of the game.

The American Legion Auxiliary Department of Texas took the lead roll in making sure the Ride 2 Recovery riders are well taken care of at all of the nightly rest stops. Site coordinators were set up in each town. They were responsible for fundraising, publicity, meals and special events held in their areas. Mary Hueske was the site coordinator for Waco and was assisted by Marcie & JD Davis, Temple 133; "Red" Atkinson, Clifton 322; and Alton & Nina Leuschner Waco 121.

When the R 2 R tour reached Central Texas, American Legion Riders from every Post in the 11th District, met the riders and escorted them safely through Waco to their hotel and at 5:45 the R2R riders were brought to the old VFW building @ 3rd and Tennessee for the evening meal and entertainment. The use of the building was donated by the City of Waco.

As the ride preceded through Waco they circled the “Avenue of Flags” of the VA Medical Center and were met by a large crowd wishing them well on the next leg of their journey. The VA Volunteer Services furnished a lift van and handicap buses to transport the riders to the Post. Waco City Transit supplied 4 buses and Robinson School District supplied 2. The Waco area really came together to make this event happen.

After the meal, Waco Site Coodinator Mary Hueske made introductions and presentations followed by John Wordin, founder and director of the program, who spoke to the guest and riders in attendance about the R 2 R program and how it benefits the participants. The mission of R2R is to help make a difference in the lives of Wounded Warriors by assisting with their mental and physical rehabilitation programs. “There have been a lot of studies done on physical activity, and there are two things it does. “One is it decreases depression,” … “The second thing is, by doing a physical activity it helps develop muscles.”

The meal and entertainment were made possible by donations received from local businesses and from the American Legion Posts and Units through out the 11th District. Papa Bears BBQ cooked the briskets this year and Commander “Red” Atkinson and his crew from Clifton Post 322 did the final preparations for the BBQ. Everyone agreed it was the best Bar-B-Q they'd had in ages and no one went away hungry.

This year the riders were entertained by GymKix High Velocity Dance Co.

This is my third year to work with the R2R program and I'm still awed by the determination of these heroes to make a full recovery, in every way.

Mary Hueske, American Legion Auxiliary Site Coordinator - WACO