On Friday, August 16, the Carolina Brotherhood, a group of firefighters, police officers and emergency personnel riding 700 miles across North and South Carolina in honor of their fallen comrades, rode into downtown Asheville on their way to their final stop in Boone.
The group of bicyclists included Asheville’s own Landon Davis, Dan Flinn, Joe Hallam, Eric Stalte, Mark Jameson and Rich Rauschenbach. The AFD’s Mike Webb and Stacy Bowen, widow of Capt. Jeff Bowen, worked on the Carolina Brotherhood’s support team. Capt. Bowen was one of those honored in last year’s inaugural ride.
From Carolinabrotherhood.com:
“The Carolina Brotherhood is a means to provide both emotional and financial support for the families of those lost in the line of duty in the Carolinas.’
Click the image above to see a video about the Carolina Brotherhood Ride.
This was the second year of the Carolina Brotherhood ride, and participants rode in honor of six police officers who pain the ultimate sacrifice last year:
Bobby Gene Demuth, Jr. – Trooper, North Carolina Highway Patrol, North Carolina.
Jeremiah M. Goodson, Jr. – Master Police Officer, Lumberton Police Department, North Carolina.
Dewayne Charles Hester – Deputy Sheriff, Bladen County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina.
William Mast, Jr. – Deputy Sheriff, Watauga County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina.
Sandra E. “Sandy” Rogers – Master Corporal, Aiken Department of Public Safety, South Carolina.
Randall “Shane” Thomas – Detective, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina.
See more photos from the Carolina Brotherhood Ride in Asheville at the City of Asheville’s Flickr page.