Day 8

     Today before we left Killeen, TX we stopped at the women's hospital at Ft. Hood Army Base. Did you know that it is the largest military base in the continental United States? I didn't until we got there. Once we got to the base, we had a military police escort to the Carl R. Darnell Medical Center. We were greeted by about 150 military personnel. It was a great site seeing those that stand on our wall and protect the very freedom that we enjoy everyday. We must never forget the men and women that serve in our military. In our crowd today we had many cancer survivors. I spoke to Mary that was a survivor who has 2 other sisters that are also survivors. Mary is the oldest and is a 7yr survivor and her 2 other sisters were both 9 and 10 year survivors. It is such a joy to be honored by these women and to hear their stories about the battle that they won. When we were finished there my good friend Bob from East Hartford, Connecticut had to leave to head back home. If you remember Bob was the Guardian that I met last year at the Memphis event and we became Facebook friends. I am going to miss him being on the road with us. We have spent the last 7 days rooming and driving together. I hope you had safe travels my friend and yes I will tell your wife that you tried calling twice this morning, just tell her to call me.
     From Ft. Hood we trucked down the road to Georgetown, TX where we had a 3 hour rest period. We were able to grab a couple of hours sleep before our event in Georgetown. The rest was welcomed by all. I'm not going to lie, that was probably one of the best power naps I have ever had. We all met back downstairs at 3p to head to Station 1 at the GFD. There we were able to have a good dinner and continue our rest before the parade started. Once the parade started someone forgot to tell us and left us at the fire station wondering which way we needed to go. I mean who forgets about the Pink Fire trucks. So we tried to find where we needed to be but no luck so we just parked on the side of the street until a search party came looking. We figured it wouldn't take long for someone to realize that we were missing. Well needless to say after the parade ended and all of the fire trucks parked they did and sent the police out to find us. So yes we did finally make it and yes the crowd was overjoyed that we made it. It made for some good comic relief. As we were at the event the crowd must've been a few hundred people there. We had many sign the trucks today and the one person that hit me was one of the last people that came to sign for his wife. He told me that she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 and that the doctors told her in March that she had about a year to live. She so very badly wanted to come and see the trucks and wanted him to sign it for her. So he being the rock and great supporter brought her to the event. She was too weak to get out of the truck and also having a portable oxygen tank with her she stayed in the truck. I asked him to take me to her. As I got to the truck I introduced myself and told her that I was there to deliver a hug of hope and love to her from Memphis, TN. The tears started rolling down her face in joy. Then Little John came and the rest of the Guardians to deliver hugs also. Little John then told her husband to drive the truck over to the Ribbon of Hope for a picture. Bam Bam and I moved the barricades to allow him to bring her in. We got her out of the truck and put her on the trailer and all of the Guardians along with her and her husband posed for a picture. I think we surprised her with the amount of love and support that we showed her. After the picture Little John called for round 4. After I tell you about this imagine rounds 1-3. All the Guardians circled around her and Little John started the tune. We sang to her Good Night Sweetheart and then the tears started rolling all over again. My eyes were far from dry.
      Tonight we had to say good bye to one of the trucks that have been with us since Beaumont, TX. Debbie had to go back home to Victoria, TX. I can't recall if I have explained to you about the names on the truck but, I will tell you about Debbie and go back to my previous posts to see if I told you about Karen and Tonya. So back to the South Texas Chapter of the Guardians of the Ribbon. Debbie, who the truck is named after is a 2yr survivor of breast cancer. She just celebrated her 30th yr of employment with the Victoria, TX Fire Department. She fought and won and the South Texas Chapter wanted to honor her by dedicating the truck in her name. Well our wakeup call is in 3 hours so its time to hit the bed. Good night all.