Travelogue - COPSRUN 2008

BLUE KNIGHTS COPSRUN

May 15-16, 2008

It was my honor to attend the Blue Knights COPSRUN again this year. We supported the COPSRUN with a $500 donation. The funds collected through the Blue Knights COPSRUN are donated to COPS (Concerns of Police Survivors) which provides resources to assist in the rebuilding of the lives of surviving families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Police Week activities can be stretched out depending on what day of the week May 15th falls on (Peace Officer Memorial Day). For my trip, I arrived at the motel in Alexandria on Wednesday afternoon, May 14. I made many new friends on this trip as we shared experiences in honor of those police officers killed in the line of duty. What follows is an email from Dick DelRossi with a wrap-up on this years events:

Well the Blue Knights COPSRUN, has another year behind them, and looking to next year already. The hotel this year was a lot closer to the Police Memorial and the Survivors picnic. We are happy to say that we have made this our official hotel for the Blue Knights COPSRUN. The hotel is in its final stages of being remodeled and the name will be changed. Before we left, we met with the manager and locked in the same price. All the info will be available on our web page in the near future.

The week in DC was just great and the weather held out for us this year. On the 12th we headed over to the host hotel for the Concerns of Police Survivors and assisted the registration committee for most of the day. We met with old friends and made some new. One point during the day a survivor came up to us and asked if we where with the Blue Knights. She went on to tell us that her son was killed in the line of duty in Hawaii, and the Blue Knights there couldn't do enough for her and her family, she said she will never forget them for that.

The 13th we attended the Candlelight Vigil at the Police Memorial and also visited the F.O.P.tent with all their sales items. With a short ride back to the hotel we had more time to spend at the Memorial and tents talking with survivors and Officers.

The next day we where met at the hotel by Freddy Allen President of Virginia 1 and Orloff Knarr also of Virginia 1. They had agreed earlier to take us on a ride around the state, and what a ride we had! It was all back roads for the most part, through farm lands, mountain roads, and the day was just perfect. We rode through Shenandoah National Park for lunch at a little family owned restaurant. Virginia 1 had contacted them the day before and the small staff where all ready for us and the food was just great (maybe next year we can get them to bring us again). After lunch we had a nice easy ride back through the hillsides of Virginia, it was definitely a stress free run. We can't thank Freddy and Orloff of Virginia 1 enough for a super day and we hope next year they continue to be part of the Blue Knights COPSRUN.

The 15th was a down day for the most part, some went on small runs, and some work was done on the Harleys (just joking). Mostly we where getting ready for the next day Picnic in the Park, cleaning the bikes. Jimmy Schneider International Rep. for the Tri-State Conference made sure that we had plenty of helmets for the rides, and even donated three youth helmets to the COPSRUN.

On the 16th we headed out for the Picnic in the Park and arrived early, before the buses that would bring the survivors. This gave us time to take a dry run of the route we would use when giving the survivors rides. A short time later we saw the first bus round the turn; you could see the emotional change on the faces of our group. Some went up to greet the buses and hand out the wrist straps that they need for the picnic. NY XVIII handed out their chapter pin while others stood back and just watched as bus after bus pulled up. For some this has become a yearly event for others it was to be their fist time. I'm sure the thought went through all of our heads, at one time during this event, it could have been our family stepping of that bus.

The time had come that we where waiting for, the presentation of the Blue Knights COPSRUN donation. On stage was Jean Hill, the out going President of COPS, Jennifer Thacker the in-coming President of COPS, Suzie Sawyer Executive Director of COPS, and representing the Blue Knights COPSRUN and Blue Knights International Law Enforcement M/C club was Russ Harper, Dick DelRossi, Liz Cook, and Carl Raymo. The check was presented to the Concerns of Police Survivors, from the Blue Knights International law Enforcement M/C Club in the amount of $25,000. This was $5,000 more than was given last year. This is because of all of your contribution to the Blue Knights COPSRUN fund.

I personally would like to thank all the members of the Blue Knights COPSRUN for all their hard work. Russ Harper, President, for lugging his guitar to all Blue knight functions and playing till all hours of the night while members filled up his guitar case with money,( we still don't know if that's to get him to stop singing or not) Jim Rose, Vice President, for running his Vegas raffle which always brings in some good donations. Liz Cook, Tres/Sec, for keeping the money and records straight. Bob McCormack, Director, for his TV raffle and great directions. Carl Ramyo, Director and quartermaster, for his Cuban cigars and his ability to sell anything. Alex Mavica, our web master, Guy Cook our Badge Designer, and Craig Theobold area coordinator. With only this small staff they have accomplished so much. Just think with more on board what we could do, please given it some thought and join the Blue Knight COPSRUN team. We need members from all over the country. For more information on the Blue knight COPSRUN go to our web page (www.blueknightscopsrun.org)

RWP
Dick DelRossi
Blue Knights COPSRUN
Founder

Photo stop in West Virginia on the Way to DC