It was a rainy Florida day when I met this U.S. Marine walking down the highway with his bike. He explained he was unable to ride the bike because his chain was bent. “What happened to it,” I asked? “My lock went through the back wheel and then the chain and someone tried to pry it off bending my chain,” he said.
He told me he was headed about 300 miles into Florida with a destination of St. Petersburg. “I want to see my former Lieutenant before he crokes,” he said with a laugh. “He’s 86 and kinda’ like Lt. Dan from Forest Gump, but a great guy,” he said with a smile. “I refuse to hold my thumb out or ask for a ride, nor will I fly a sign asking for money – I can make it.”
The bike he was on came from a Destin, FL church. Evidently, the church has a program to help those in need. They recycle bikes from bike rental companies in the Destin area. Each bike is repaired and then outfitted with a sticker that says, “Donated bikes rehabbed by St. Andrews Church, Destin, FL.” Awesome program for folks like this retired U.S. Marine.