DAVENPORT, Iowa — Motorcyclist part of Tribute to Fallen Soldiers pulled into Elks Lodge to honor two fallen soldiers.
Tony Bleeker and Barbra Ritter lost their sons, Shawn D. Bleeker and Leevon J. Ritter just five days apart.
"Honoring service members who are not here with us today, and my son is one of those. And it means so much to me that someone who didn't know him, would give this kind of honor and take their time," Bleeker said.
"She -- this is a special friend of mine," Bleeker said whilst giving Ritter a hug.
The two have been in contact since the tragedies. But, Ritter said tragedy is not a defining factor of remembrance.
"How they died is not who they were. [Who they were] is how they lived," said Ritter. "So I ask about a story, you know, talk to me about your daughter, your wife or your husband."
This was just one stop on the groups 28-day ride before reaching Arlington National cemetery at the beginning August. There, they will deliver the fallen soldiers memorial flame. The group will honor 75 fallen soldiers along the way.
"So to see and to know that I will now get to talk to people that are doing this incredible ride for 75 of our fallen across our country, and I get to tell them a story about my son," smiled Ritter.