[July 28, 2012]    

Terry Roderick is one of the leaders of the Illinois group. He comes from Springfield, where he is a member of the Sangamon County sheriff's office. Each year he rides along with his wife, Sarah, for this event, then takes the bike home and puts it away until next year. 

Roderick spoke about one incident where an officer was killed in the line of duty in the Effingham area. He located the surviving wife of another officer and they made the trip to Effingham. Roderick said that when they arrived at the home of the new widow, her response was to look at the lady accompanying him, and ask, "You've been through this?"

When the widow accompanying Roderick responded that she had, the newly grieving widow clearly showed the sense of relief she felt at knowing there was someone beside her who understood what she was feeling.

Pictures by Nila Smith

Sarah Roderick, Lincoln's Assistant Police Chief Mike Geriets, Lincoln's Chief of Police Ken Greenslate and Terry Roderick.

Riders dismount from their bikes and stand them up in bike racks that were brought ahead of the group by part of their caravan.

 

Riders were a bit hot and certainly ready for a break as they had been on their bikes nonstop since leaving Springfield.

Lincoln officer David Oltmanns and police office manager Brenda McCabe visit with riders.

 

The trip from Alton to Chicago takes four days. The group left Alton on Thursday.

Thursday night they stayed over in Springfield. Friday night they stopped in Bloomington.