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A 2.5-mile line of about 400 motorcycles rolled through Livingston County on Saturday morning, ending at the historical Livingston County Courthouse in downtown Howell for a solemn and emotional ceremony that honored servicemembers who gave their lives for their country.
The Ride to Remember specifically honored Livingston County residents "who have died in service since Desert Storm," said Lou Scott, a Brighton resident and president of the Rolling Thunder Michigan Chapter 5, which organized the event.
Names were read aloud of 12 servicemembers with Livingston County ties who died after serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. Some Gold Star mothers, whose sons were being honored, were in attendance.
U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, the Detroit Democrat who is chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, commended Livingston County-based Rolling Thunder Michigan Chapter 5 for setting up the Armed Forces Day event.
"Thank you for teaching to these kids that this country is only free because of men and women who have given their all," he said.
Levin said that regardless of people's political views, the country is unified in its support for those who serve in the military.
"Our people have come together," he said. "Our troops not only fight for us, they unite us. We've learned the lessons of Vietnam."
Levin, peering at Grand River Avenue storefronts, wondered if one of them might have once served as business quarters for Bernard Smith, a Howell printer who fought 62 battles in the Civil War.
"It's typical of the courage and the kind of feeling people have about this country and what this country stands for," he said.
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox chose a similar theme when talking about Marine Cpl. Mark Kidd, one of the dozen honored Saturday. Cox is a friend of the family and spoke at Kidd's Brighton Township funeral in February 2007.
"What would possess a guy from the Middle West to go off to the Middle East and stand up for freedom?" asked Cox.
"We honor these brave souls from Livingston County," he added.
Also honored at the event were three World War II veterans: former Army Sgt. George Bell; and brothers Jack Pickett, a former naval 2nd class boatswain's mate, and former Army Sgt. Elmer Pickett, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
Jack Pickett, who survived a highly publicized attack after a home invasion in September 2008 at his Genoa Township residence, received a particularly warm reception from the crowd.
The Ride to Remember started at Memories Lounge and Restaurant in Brighton Township and made its way to Howell with a police escort. Rolling Thunder safety director Peter Roseman of Howell served as road captain and estimated that 400 motorcycles were in the caravan.
Randy Galbraith, state director of Rolling Thunder, served as master of ceremonies and made a request to those attending.
"If you see a vet of any age, please take a few steps out of your way and thank them," Galbraith said.
"They deserve it," he added.
Contact Rich Perlberg, general manager and executive editor of the Daily Press & Argus, at (517) 552-2810 or at rperlberg@gannett.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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