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 This year the group switched up their annual route, which
normally takes them up Route 66 to Chicago via Lincoln and Atlanta
in Logan County. The group decided to alter the route to participate
in special services in Tremont and Woodstock. The group headed into
their final destination of Woodstock on Sunday.
During the past year, two Illinois officers have died in the line of
duty. Deputy Sheriff Craig S. Whisenand of the Tazewell County
Sheriff's Office died on August 11, 2015. Deputy Sheriff Dwight D.
Maness of the McHenry County Sheriff's Office died September 14,
2015.
On Friday, the group was on day two of their four-day trip. They had
begun with the traditional dipping of the bike wheels in the river
at Pontoon Beach, then rode to Springfield on that day. On Friday
they went from Springfield to Lincoln, to Tremont, then on to Normal
where they would spend the night.
 Saturday the group, consisting of more than 80 persons, traveled
from Normal to Pontiac, Dwight, Morris, and Joliet. Sunday they
concluded their trip traveling to Lombard, Roselle, Lake Zurich,
Lakemoor and Woodstock.
Friday in Lincoln, the group rode to the Lincoln Rural Fired
Protection District where they were served an early lunch by the
Eminence Church.
As the “hometown officer,” Lincoln Police Officer Cpl. Maurice “Mo”
Johnson welcomed the riders to Lincoln at the beginning of their
meal. Then Officer Michael Barnes offered up some words of
appreciation to Lincoln Police Chief Paul Adams.
Barnes thanked the Chief for the department’s dedication to the IL
COPS program. He noted the continued participation of Cpl. Johnson,
and said that he was a fine officer who has done his department
proud. Barnes then presented to Adams a group photo of the 2016
group that had been taken in Springfield the day before. He asked
that Adams display the photo at the station to demonstrate the
department's continued support of the IL COPS.
Barnes had a similar presentation for the Eminence Church. He noted
that it was three years ago that he had talked with Pastor LC Sutton
and learned that the church wanted to provide the riders with a
mid-day meal in Atlanta.
Barnes said in talking with the pastor, he had told Sutton, that the
lunch would be greatly appreciated, but that it did not have to be a
complicated meal. He said the group would be perfectly happy with a
cold sandwich or something else easy to prepare. However, Sutton had
said to him that these riders needed and deserved a hearty meal and
that the church was happy to serve.
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The meals up to this year have been served at the firehouse in Atlanta. With the
change of route, Barnes said he had talked to Sutton again, who said that yes,
the church would be happy to bring the meal to Lincoln.
At the Lincoln Rural Fire Station vehicles had been pulled out of the bays.
Tables were set up, a large tub of cold drinks were available and the meal was
set up buffet style with church volunteers serving up a crisp salad, baked
spaghetti, garlic bread, and watermelon to all the riders and their accompanying
crews.
Words of appreciation were given to the fire department for making the bikers
feel welcome. The department had also unfurled their large American Flag, and
riders coming into the parking lot passed under the flag, flown from the
department’s ladder truck.
This is the 12th year for the IL COPS bike ride. The ride serves to help raise
funds for the coming year, but more importantly to raise awareness that when an
officer dies, he or she leaves behind family, spouses, children, parents,
brothers and sisters, who must carry on, and find a new normal without their
hero.
IL COPS is there to support those survivors as they adjust to this new normal.
When word comes that an officer has fallen, members of IL COPS are instantly on
the move, making the trip to wherever it may be to be with the officer’s family.
They go to be a shoulder to lean on, a source of strength while a family is
dealing with the shock of the loss. The IL COPS are also involved in the future
of that family and lend financial support for children and a youth survivor camp
as well.
Of the 80 who rode this year, many were officers. But some were survivors;
wives, husbands, and children, who have benefited from the help of IL COPS
members and understand how important it is to have someone with them who more
completely understands that police officers are not the only ones who sacrifice
and take risks; their families are with them on that journey. They live daily
knowing that their loved one could be gone before the end of his or her shift,
and yet they support their officer because what he or she is doing is important,
and necessary.
With the recent animosity toward law enforcement in general and in the shadow of
the killings in Dallas, Texas, a rider was asked how he felt about being out in
the open with this group, and about not going to Chicago this year.
In general, the answer was that this ride is just as important as what officers
do on their daily shifts, so it was important to keep it going and have faith
that all would be well. The officer added that there was increased security this
year, and the consensus of the group was that they were happy that, this year,
they would not be riding into Chicago.
[Nila Smith]
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