A group of American Legion Riders and another family and friends treated one of the founding native Legion Riders people, then struggling with cancers, to a bike ride up around  , Fountain Lake Wednesday , day.
Wes Halverson, another of the founding Users people in , Albert Lea, said a party started talking about putting up the trip for , Jim Hockinson , when they were on a separate walk next trip. They wanted to do something special for Hockinson, who is on hospital care at , Thorne Crest Senior Living Community.
Many motorists, family, associates and staff lined up outside Thorne Crest as Hockinson was brought inside in a chair. At least a dozen Army Riders showed up soon after, and Hockinson was transferred over to Halverson’s three-wheel bike and secured in. Following that, Hockinson waved to the team that had gathered on the road and the team flew away.
” The attendance was amazing”, Halverson said. ” He said he could n’t have asked for anything more — to have one last ride with friends. I wished I could take him for a ride.
He said he and Hockinson laughed and cried throughout the trip and talked about their shared life activities, including starting the American Legion Riders book in , Albert Lea , and serving in the , Army National Guard , up.
” General it was wonderful to be able to do this for my friend”, Halverson said.
Halverson even credited Legion Riders contract member , Dave Nelson, who he said helped create the time possible, working with Thorne Crest workers to line up the drive.
Hockinson was his original family and best friend Nancy Vaale, who is close friends with him and was his original family, claimed Hockinson was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in November 2022. He recently discovered that the cancer had spread after several rounds of radiation and chemotherapy.
” For him to endure this much is a miracle”, she said.
He has been at Thorne Crest for about two months and is now in hospital care.
She claimed that Hockinson has previously worked at Farmstead and even had a stint as a phlebotomist in addition to his defense practice.
” He’s really nice to everyone — a pretty style soul”, Vaale said.
Halverson said the journey meant the world to Hockinson.
” He kept saying when I would question him how he was doing,’ I am more than great,'” Halverson said. ” Jim did state that everyone who came out to escort him on the road was remarkable, and then he would cry.
Jim and I have been friends for more than 20 times in the military, and we’ve perhaps spoken for more than 20 more now. No matter what we would do, we worked wonderful up. I could n’t have asked for a better friend than Jim.”
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( c ) 2024 the Albert Lea Tribune
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