NORMAN — Watch Video
Kevin Baker leaves his apartment and eases his eastbound cycle onto the asphalt shoulder of State Highway 9 on Norman's south side. The Saturday morning sun bathes the gentle, blacktop ribbon that stretches out before him. A wicked south wind reminds him it is springtime in Oklahoma.
Baker and his seven wheels -- three on the hand-cycle and four more on his trailing wheelchair -- are on a journey to Washington, D.C. He hopes to average 75 to 100 miles a day over the next 15 weeks. He rode 1,000 miles in all of last year. This solo journey is closer to 2,400 miles.
One flag hoisted atop his wheel chair will honor fallen members of the military. Another is the American flag. He is carrying a laptop and a petition urging Congress to adopt the Honor and Remember flag as a new national symbol by passing HR Bill 1034. He hopes to get one signature for every soldier killed in Iraq.
"I'm riding to raise awareness of disabled veterans and to promote the Honor and Remember flag," said Baker, 39, and a disabled veteran of the first Gulf War.
n n n
A Navy firefighter, Baker was working alongside U.S. Marines in Kuwait on Feb. 24, 1991, when a Scud missile slammed into his barracks. He was thrown about 200 yards and landed against a cconcrete wall. He was hospitalized for months and discharged from the service with a small, monthly check, Social Security and a 10 percent disability.
"I've been fighting the government for nearly 20 years," he said. Besides the neurological impairment to his legs, Baker has Gulf War syndrome and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He's been unable to work and lived in a variety of places after the war before coming to Norman where a brother is a student.
He will hand pedal his 18-speed specialty bike alone but hopes others will join in the cause along the route. After a bumpy start and equipment problems, he began his journey Saturday morning. The Freedom Riders will likely find him and help ease the journey. No Oklahomans were helping him early Saturday but he'll likely get some help along the way.
A brother-in-law will photograph part of the journey and Baker will keep an online journal at www.honorandremember.org. He'll drop by his mother's home in Virginia, too. A group of riders will make the trek from Washington, D.C., to Gettysburg, Pa.
n n n
The Honor and Remember Flag was created by George Lutz, whose son Tony was killed by a sniper's bullet in Iraq in 2005. It was unveiled in Norfolk, Va., last Memorial Day and has been embraced by several veterans groups and the American Gold Star Mothers.
Baker learned about the flag as part of the Soldier's Angels group that assists wounded veterans. He became curious about the flag and was impressed enough to spread the word about it by riding his bike for 15 weeks straight.
His arms are strong enough to push the 14-foot rig which is complete with its own GPS device. He'll camp out along the way and has enough money to pay for his own food. If he tires, he has a plan. "I'll rest, then I'll keep going," he said. "I'll make it. Eventually."
Andy Rieger 366-3543 editor@normantranscript.com
Columns
VIDEO: Disabled Norman veteran attempts 2,400 mile bicycle trip to Washington
- Columns
-
-
What features create a cultural center?
The question has been raised whether an aquatic center somehow constitutes a cultural center. Although the more thorough response would be to ask, in turn, what features create a cultural center, this short treatise will simply focus on ...
-
End marriage war by redefining license
Excitement raged across the political spectrum last week when President Barack Obama came out in support of gay marriage....
-
Concerns with the proposed NEDA
My concerns for the Norman Economic Development Authority (NEDA) as proposed do not have to do with any aversion to economic growth. As an economist, to be against economic growth is a concept as alien as being against plant growth is to a ...
-
A key for every lock and every user
Folks differ about the care of keys. Paranoid as some are about keys they constantly check on them. Others never think about keys until they can’t find them....
-
Landmarks, people bind community
A previous column on Brooks Street generated quite a few comments. Some of them about their own experiences on Brooks and other streets in Norman. We all get attached to landmarks....
-
Now is not the time to lower taxes
State lawmakers soon will vote on whether to lower state income taxes. Because of state law, it will be very difficult to ever again raise the state income tax if it’s cut, and state income tax is the main source of schools’ funding. There ...
-
We benefit from Staggered Board law
Oklahoma fared better than most states in the recent recession, due to the robustness of our energy industry. Regardless, Oklahomans continue to want their state government to put forth policies to create, as well as protect, jobs. We are ...
-
Neighbors become friends on porch
Many activities take place on a long front porch: Breaking string beans, shucking corn, eating watermelon without worrying about drips, sharing homemade ice cream made with real cream. On clear nights, some chase fireflies, while others ...
-
Truth about U.S. Postal Service reform
Now that U.S. Senate has passed a bill, SB 1789, to reform the ailing U.S. Postal Service, critics are trying to disable the bill on its way to the House of Representatives. Business Week recently catalogued unhappy stakeholders, including ...
-
Legislature committed to roads, bridges
With the vast majority of commuting and commerce in Oklahoma occurring through our state’s roads and bridges, it cannot be overstated how critical an adequate transportation infrastructure is to growing the economy and improving quality of ...
- More Columns Headlines
-
What features create a cultural center?
