Memorial Ruck and Ride set for Saturday
The 5th annual Milam County Memorial Ruck and Ride is slated for Saturday, Sept. 16.
The Ruck event will begin from the VFW Post 2010 in Cameron at 8 a.m. (previously scheduled for 9 a.m.). The Ride event will start from the Rockdale Fire Department in Rockdale at 10 a.m.
The Milam County Memorial Ruck and Ride is unlike other memorial events in that the community participates alongside the families and friends celebrating the lives of honorees. This year’s honorees are MSGT Charles Price III, 2LT Darryn Andrews, Texas State Game Warden SGT Chris Wilson, and Cameron Police Department, SGT Joshua Clouse.
Each year, the organizers add one honoree to the list. The selected honorees are military, law enforcement, and/or first responders of Milam County who passed during active duty. While the event is set to honor the named hometown heroes, the event recognizes all who passed during their service.
Earl Granville will host this year’s ruck portion of the event. Granville is an amputee athlete, U.S. Army veteran, and motivational speaker. He will lead an eight-mile ruck march from the VFW Post on 22nd Street in Cameron to Denio’s and back to the VFW Post 2010. The public is requested to join in their most patriotic wear prepared to walk the entirety of the journey. Weighted rucksacks and backpacks are encouraged but not required.
The ride event is hosted by Matt Klatt, a U.S. Army Veteran and Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association® member. Klatt has served as the ride leader since 2017. The ride event will begin at 10 a.m. at the Rockdale Fire Department and travel US Highway 77 North to the VFW Post 2010 in Cameron. Motorcycle riders of all backgrounds are welcome. Patriotism is also encouraged.
A Memorial Service will begin at 11 a.m. at the VFW Post 2010. Dignitaries from our community and state will be on hand to express our gratefulness for the honoree’s sacrifice. Then a light lunch by Hecho en Texas will be served to the participants.
For more information about the event, please contact Bobbie Wiesman at designingbobbie@gmail.com or visit the event page on Facebook, Milam Co Memorial Ruck and Ride.
“Milam County is fortunate that there are men and women in our community who will do what it takes every day to protect our citizens. We call them neighbors, brothers, sisters, and friends,” said Bobbie Wiesman, organizer of The Milam County Memorial Ruck and Ride.
Master Sergeant Charles Price III was KIA on Aug. 12, 2011, during Operation Enduring Freedom from injuries he received when a bomb exploded by his patrol unit in the Kandahar province. Price has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Meritorious Service Medal. He had also earned the Army Commendation medal five times. He had served tours in the Persian Gulf War, Kosovo and Iraq.
Second Lieutenant Darryn D. Andrews was KIA on Sept. 4, 2009, during Operation Enduring Freedom due to wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an IED and RPG in Yahya Khail District, Afghanistan. For his heroic actions, Andrews was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.
Sergeant Christopher Wilson died Aug. 26, 2021, after complications from a long illness. He was a dedicated Texas State Game Warden, serving as a Field Agent, Special Investigator, and trainer at the Game Warden Academy. A 33’ Metal Shark Relentless patrol vessel was dedicated in his honor on July 17, 2023, named PV Chris Wilson.
Sergeant Joshua Clouse was fatally shot on May 10, 2023. Clouse served as a Cameron Police Department Officer during the time of his death. He had also been a Milam County Sheriff’s Officer and was a U.S. Army Veteran.