Wolfounds MC wrote: "This is Eric Peters our Lil' Brother, he is an Afghanistan Veteran, US Army 101st Airborne Purple Heart Recipient. He left Pekin, IL on Monday and headed to Springfield, IL. I'm asking ALL my friends to please join him on his journey. If you can stop him and talk, walk with him, motor escort him, go to his page No Veteran Walks Alone and like it, go to his GOFUNDME.com page "No Veteran Walks Alone" and make a Donation. "
Although we have had a mild summer, Eric decided to walk from Pekin to Springfield during a heat advisory in the middle of the afternoon. Fortunately, Smokie, followed him and picked him up when he started to vomit. Eric happened to arrived during our hosting of the the pre-flight dinner for the Land of Lincoln Honor flight where, he had dinner along with his escort, Smokie and I did a hand off. Here you see VFW 755 post commander, Sam Roman, presenting a check to Eric.
He stayed the first night in my guest room. I warned him that my little dog (cocker-border mix), Marley, would be afraid. She is a rescue with PTSD of her own. She is a good dog...just fearful. He understood and allowed her time to hide from him. He seemed fascinated with my "Rosemary Zombie Girl" so I plugged her in for a demo. I explained that she was supposed to lurch but that she was a defective floor model that was discounted. I keep "Rosemary" at my back door staring out in case of an intruder. Any place else, like the attic, would ruin and dry-crack her rubber face.
The following morning, while Eric slept, I received a call about a man looking for him through our VFW. Doug Jenkins, a Vietnam veteran from Madison, WI, came to meet Eric, who was still asleep. Doug was in Chatham and apparently slept in his Jeep. However, on discussion, I learned he was looking for another veteran, Bill Trow, who was on a "walk" in Illinois seeking awareness for the homeless veterans. Bill was not answering Doug's emails or calls but he did have a blog. I looked up his blog and learned from a recent posting that he was staying in a motel in Peru, IL. As a result, I helped them find each other. Here I am with Doug and the poster for his cause. He would like ordinary people like me to get a grant to sponsor a homeless veteran.
I helped arrange media to meet with Eric on Tuesday.
Here is a link to the podcast on WMAY:
http://wmay.com/assets/podcasts/20140826bishopEricPeters.MP3
Here is a link to the podcast with Ray Lytle on WTAX:
http://wtax.com/podcasts/eric-peters-no-veteran-walks-alone/
I was impressed when Kirk Farrah saluted Eric at the end of the interview. Kirk was an army captain so this was initiated in the opposite order. Many enlisted feel that a salute is initiated by a lower to higher rank but once we are veterans it means respect.http://wtax.com/podcasts/eric-peters-no-veteran-walks-alone/
Here is a link to the interview on ABC's WICS:
www.wics.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_18800.shtml
We had a full schedule but Governor Pat Quin invited us to lunch with only an hour's notice and the timing fit perfectly. Before we got there, I was asked his shoe size. Note this was only an hour before our lunch date and during the interview with WICS taken at Camp Butler National Cemetery. Governor presented him with a new pair (and socks) just like the ones he wears on his walk. He was given a tour and offered to stay the night. I explained he'd be dropped off late because of the Honor Flight Homecoming at the airport.
Gov. Quinn meeting with Eric Peters Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014, at the Executive Mansion in Springfield. Peters is doing a walk to California from New Jersey to raise PTSD and "TBI" awareness to help active soldiers and veterans. With them is Rose Connolly. The same eight photos in high resolution files can be seen at http://goo.gl/11TseS.
After the visit with the governor, I took him to the Springfield Vet Center. I explained that all his fund raising was good but that I needed to take him to the place where my son works. I explained that this is a place that acts upon his cause with PTSD counseling with the utmost confidentiality.
Our schedule called fro a radio interview at 3PM and it was delayed til 4PM. So I took him to see the State War Memorials and the Lincoln Tomb during that time.
History of Camp Butler.
I know from being his guide through the area that PTSD is real. On two occasions, there were loud noises (I think one from a power line pop in the heat) and Eric hit the ground as if in battle still. There are many like him and they walk among us. We need to understand them and love them. I was going to take him to our "final of the season" retreat ceremony at the Lincoln Tomb but knew it was too much.
Tuesday night I brought Eric to see the homecoming of the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight at the Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport. Here we are at the Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport with members of the Patriot Guard before the veterans home coming.
Top that for accommodations: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152376739207659
Wednesday he relaxed. He called me to pick him up about 11AM. Security at the mansion was kind enough to let the guys sleep in. I took them to the VFW. I stayed awhile until about 2PM and then I felt I needed a nap from light exhaustion from the day before. I told Eric I'd be back after the music in the park from the carillon. About 3PM there was a nasty thunderstorm. I saw lightning strike a street light near Knights Action Park and saw glass shatter. The carillon played tunes that Lincoln loved. It only lasted about a half hour so I went back to the post and Eric was there. He ordered us dinner from Osaka.
At one point at a stop light near the Kumler Church, there was a man with a sign. I looked at him and said, it makes you wonder how many of these men were veterans. Eric then jumped out of my car at the stop light and ran to give money to the man holding a sign. I pulled my car to the side for others to pass. I missed the green light. Ha.
Thursday I let him sleep in. Although I almost wish I hadn't because it gets hotter as the day goes by. I gave him breakfast and drove him to the elementary school on the south side of Chatham just along Route 4. This is famous as part of the original Route 66.
Here is Eric's farewell video:
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152381941467659&comment_id=10152381944392659
Some parting photos:
My escort was relieved in Auburn, IL by a kind navy veteran named Steve Dengler. BTW, Steve had a meeting and had time constraints. I did not use my air conditioner out of sympathy. (well maybe once) I now understand how others before me felt saying goodby. Since I was relieved at the Caseys Store, I drove ahead to the Dairy Queen to watch as "Our Son" went by. It was exciting. Then he passed and I felt empty. I got watery eyed and then came home. He wishes we all could come with him but it would look like a "million man march". We are with him in spirit - especially those that have donated to his cause and housed him. It's a good thing Steve relieved me because my belly ached. I need my toilet real bad.
He stayed the night with the Virden police officer's family on a cot I believe. He stayed with Zack Morgan pictured here so I know all is well.
It stormed real hard about 7 or 8PM. I hope they gave him traditional police breakfast of coffee and donuts. Nah...energy drinks is the preferred drink for a walker going across the country.
Eric is only 23 years old and has seen more than most. He keeps a young man's lifestyle. By that I mean sleeping in during the best time of the day to travel and make contacts needed for his cause. He looks great in his black T shirt image but light clothing would have been better in the heat. God Speed!
I'm honored to be part of this. The reward is all mine. Salutes!
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