Laura Prentice is consoled by Curtis Murphy, of Georgia, during a stop of Tribute to Fallen Soldier 's Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride at herr home in Waterford on Monday, August 2, 2021. Laura´s son Air Force Staff Sgt. James Tyler “Ty" Grotjan passed away in July of 2018 while serving during Operation Inherent Resolve. The Murphy´s son SPC Etienne Jules Murphy passed away in 2017 and the ride made a stop at their home last year. The annual cross country event will have it´s closing ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday August 8th, 2021 after traveling about 6,000 miles and making 75 stops to honor fallen soldiers. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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Members of Air Force Staff Sgt. James Tyler “Ty" Grotjan touch his name on a plaque during a stop of Tribute to Fallen Soldier 's Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride at Laura Prentice´s home in Waterford on Monday, August 2, 2021. Groton was Laura´s son and passed away in July of 2018 while serving during Operation Inherent Resolve. The annual cross country event will have it´s closing ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday August 8th, 2021 after traveling about 6,000 miles and making 75 stops to honor fallen soldiers. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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Participants support the siblings of Air Force Staff Sgt. James Tyler “Ty" Grotjan including, from left, Mary Grotjan, Kylee Kusman, Garrett Kusman Jr., as “Go Rest High on that Mountain," is played during a stop of Tribute to Fallen Soldier 's Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride at their mother Laura Prentice´s home in Waterford on Monday, August 2, 2021. Ty Grotjan passed away in July of 2018 while serving during Operation Inherent Resolve. The annual cross country event will have it´s closing ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday August 8th, 2021 after traveling about 6,000 miles and making 75 stops to honor fallen soldiers. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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Garrett Kusman fist-bumps his son Garrett Kusman Jr. before leading a motorcade out of a stop of Tribute to Fallen Soldier 's Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride at Laura Prentice's home in Waterford on Monday, August 2, 2021. Kusman's step-son Air Force Staff Sgt. James Tyler "Ty" Grotjan passed away in July of 2018 while serving during Operation Inherent Resolve. The annual cross country event will have it's closing ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday August 8th, 2021 after traveling about 6,000 miles and making 75 stops to honor fallen soldiers. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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Participants gather as "Go Rest High on that Mountain" is played during a stop of Tribute to Fallen Soldier 's Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride at Laura PrenticeþÄôs home in Waterford on Monday, August 2, 2021. Laura's son Air Force Staff Sgt. James Tyler "Ty" Grotjan passed away in July of 2018 while serving during Operation Inherent Resolve. The annual cross country event will have it's closing ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday August 8th, 2021 after traveling about 6,000 miles and making 75 stops to honor fallen soldiers. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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08/02/2021:: REGION :: VAZQUEZ :: Kylee Kusman signs her name to an American Flag during a stop of Tribute to Fallen Soldier 's Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride at her mother Laura Prentice´s home in Waterford on Monday, August 2, 2021. Kusman´s brother Air Force Staff Sgt. James Tyler “Ty" Grotjan passed away in July of 2018 while serving during Operation Inherent Resolve. The annual cross country event will have it´s closing ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday August 8th, 2021 after traveling about 6,000 miles and making 75 stops to honor fallen soldiers. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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Motorcycle rider Jeannie Petley holds hands with her husband John, of Wyoming, as she sings “Amazing Grace" during a stop of Tribute to Fallen Soldier 's Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride at Laura Prentice´s home in Waterford on Monday, August 2, 2021. Laura´s son Air Force Staff Sgt. James Tyler “TyÓ Grotjan passed away in July of 2018 while serving during Operation Inherent Resolve. The annual cross country event will have it´s closing ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday August 8th, 2021 after traveling about 6,000 miles and making 75 stops to honor fallen soldiers. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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Shelia Murphy hugs her husband Calvin, of Georgia, as she wipes tears from her eyes during a stop of Tribute to Fallen Soldier 's Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride at Laura Prentice´s home in Waterford on Monday, August 2, 2021. Laura´s son Air Force Staff Sgt. James Tyler “Ty" Grotjan passed away in July of 2018 while serving during Operation Inherent Resolve. The Murphy´s son SPC Etienne Jules Murphy passed away in 2017 and the ride made a stop at their home last year. “Us gold star families have to stick together," said Shelia of why they joined, “no one else knows what we´re going through." The annual cross country event will have it´s closing ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday August 8th, 2021 after traveling about 6,000 miles and making 75 stops to honor fallen soldiers. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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Cletus, a Russian Bear Dog and Service Animal, sits in his side car as his owner Tom Gow, from Tennessee, gets his motorcycle ready to leave during a stop of Tribute to Fallen Soldier 's Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride at Laura Prentice´s home in Waterford on Monday, August 2, 2021. Laura´s son Air Force Staff Sgt. James Tyler “Ty" Grotjan passed away in July of 2018 while serving during Operation Inherent Resolve. The pair has been traveling by motorcycle since July 1 to join the run. The annual cross country event will have it´s closing ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday August 8th, 2021 after traveling about 6,000 miles and making 75 stops to honor fallen soldiers. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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Deborah McGrath, director of the Spartyka Foundation, cheers on riders during a stop of Tribute to Fallen Soldier 's Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride at Laura Prentice´s home in Waterford on Monday, August 2, 2021. Laura´s son Air Force Staff Sgt. James Tyler “Ty" Grotjan passed away in July of 2018 while serving during Operation Inherent Resolve. The annual cross country event will have it´s closing ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday August 8th, 2021 after traveling about 6,000 miles and making 75 stops to honor fallen soldiers. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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