Repost from Rachel H. Goldman: here
A patriotic trio made a pit stop last Wednesday at the Kennebunkport home of former President George H.W. Bush.
An American flag-painted Jeep led two 9/11 Angel Cars, each with thousands of hand painted names of Sept. 11 victims, through Kennebunkport to the Bush compound at Walker’s Point during the Maine-leg of the caravan’s journey across country.
The caravan is part of a memorial tour, Crossing of America, presented by Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors and Spirit of Liberty Foundation. The ride began on Memorial Day as the fleet departed from the deck of the USS Midway in San Diego.
Ninety-seven days and more than 18,000 miles later, the cars arrived in Maine with less than two weeks to go before concluding their trip at Sept. 11 10th anniversary commemoration ceremonies in New York City.
The tour has passed through 44 states and met with hundreds of families of soldiers who were wounded or killed while serving.
“The emotional part of this whole thing has been the number of families of fallen heroes and wounded warriors that we have seen,” said Crossing of America Founder Richard Rovsek.
Rovsek last year dreamed up the cross-country trek to support soldiers and their families.
Rovsek before the trip began e-mailed Gold Star Families, families with members who have died serving in the military.
“We had lists and we must have sent out thousands of e-mails and they responded in such large numbers,” he said.
David Ojena, a 21-year-old San Diego State college student working for Crossing of America, said the emotional journey has been far more tiring than the physical one.
“We’ve met a lot of families and some of them have lost someone less than 60 days ago,” he said. “That’s the emotional part, it’s the hardest part. The drive time is nothing. The long days are nothing. Meeting with parents and widows and talking about the loss of a loved one is by far the toughest part. But it’s also the most meaningful part at the same time.”
Spirit of Liberty Foundation last spring bought two Jeeps and had award-winning airbrush artist Kiwi Terry spray paint them in honor of the American flag.
Kevyn Major Howard, founder of the nonprofit Fueled by the Fallen, a memorial race car honor tour that supports military members and public safety personnel, joined the tour.
Howard added five 9/11 Angel Cars to The Crossing of America fleet: two represent those killed in the Twin Towers, another represents those killed at the Pentagon, a fourth commemorate first responders killed at the scene and the fifth represents all passengers killed on the three hijacked flights.
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