Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride

Sep 16, 2010   //   by coara   //   History Of Motocross  //  No Comments
  • Many Native Americans lost their lives during this journey, an estimated 4,000.
  • Ride to honor those that lost their lives and faced hardships, during the removal to Oklahoma

In addition to the ways mentioned in, Travel Along the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, there are many other events that take plot to commemorate this historical path. But I would like to focus on one that is close to home for me. That is the Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride.

Every year, the Coast of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride takes residence. Having its beginnings in the early 1990’s, Mr. Jerry Davis, of Scottsboro, Alabama, was researching the Native American history in the areas advance him. He learned through those studies that the Trail of Tears removal had used a route that passed along present-day Hwy 72. After realizing this, he began talking with his longtime friend, Bill Cason, of Whitwell, Tennessee about what they could do to bring awareness to this event. Mr. Davis felt that this route should be brought into the public ogle and officially recognized and marked. This thought went on and was discussed several times before Mr. Cason, a Harley-rider, suggested that the best way he knew to get people’s attention was through holding a bike ride. This is when the First Annual Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride on October 8, 1994 took place with only eight motorcycles. This momentous ride began at Ross’s Landing in Chattanooga, Tennessee and by the ride’s end the number of participates had increased to approximately 100. By 2001, just 7 years later, the Eighth Annual Gallop began with 40,000 motorcycles and ended with approximately 90,000, averaging over 51 miles of motorcycles in length and taking well over an hour for all the motorcycles to pass through a town, when reaching the Waterloo destination – making this the largest organized whisk in history. By 2002, ride attendance was over 95,000 motorcycles even with the dreadful weather conditions that were experienced. By 2003, attendance was well over 150,000. This was truly amazing. One rider is quoted as saying, “…after being at McFarland for about 15 minutes we were told the last bike had crossed I-65 in Athens..” In 2004, over 120,000 in attendance, this is truly an amazing year for the ride. Objective two days before the ride, central Alabama, Chattanooga, Tennessee, and North Carolina were in the path of Hurricane Ivan. And every year, there are more and more motorcycles and participants, which in turn make every year that much more of a success.

For those of you that aren’t familiar with the significance of the Trail of Tears or that you have heard bits and pieces throughout the years but still not certain. Let me give you a mild history lesson on the importance that this Trail played in American history. In 1830, the Indian Removal Act was signed, calling for the voluntary or forcible removal of all Indians from the eastern United States, forcing them into the state of Oklahoma. May of 1838 marked the deadline for the voluntary native removal. After this date the military was prepared to use force and did so under the command of General Winfield Scott. The General ordered the round-up and removal of over 17,000 Cherokees who refused to live their land. This began the Cherokee “Trail of Tears,” one of the darkest episodes in relations between the United States and Native Americans. The process was swift and very brutal. The Cherokee men, women, and children were ran from there housing with no more than the cloths on their backs and placed in concentration camps. These camps were horrendous, food supplies were limited and disease was rampant. Many sizable Cherokee perished during this time. By mid 1838, the upper Tennessee River had become too low for navigation due to drought. The U.S. government hired wagon master J.C.S Hood to transport 1,070 Native Americans by foot and wagon from Ross’s Landing in Chattanooga, Tennessee to what is now Waterloo, Alabama – a distance of approximately 230 miles. This journey followed great of what is now U.S. Hwy 72. Upon reaching Waterloo, many died while others escaped into the hills. Many resident and many Americans can trace their ancestry benefit to those who fled. More than 4,000 perished on this horrendous journey but in the end, members of the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole nations also suffered this horrific fate.

This Commemorative Ride is always the third Saturday of the September, departing from Chattanooga, Tennessee and ending in Florence, Alabama. Although the routes are subject to change, the ride usually begins on Riverfront Parkway at the famous Ross’s Landing making its first stop approximately 125 miles later, in Madison, Alabama for lunch and socializing, where you are also invited to experience the Indian Museum. After you depart Madison you will be riding approximately another 65 miles into Florence, Alabama, where you will be invited to join in the three-day POW wow running Friday through Sunday at the McFarland Park in Florence. This also is the end of the official ride. Everyone is welcome to ride on this prance, although it is requested that you join in at one of the stops for your own safety instead of trying to join during the scramble. Native Americans that attend this event, if you hasten into Florence you are asked to see Chief Perry White at the POW wow for special recognition.

This is truly a great ride, well organized and always having safety in mind. So if you are a motorcyclist, no matter if you ride a Harley, Suzuki, Yamaha, or any other heed, you are more than welcome to join this commemrative dawdle. There is no registration or fees to join this great event, just show up with a great attitude and ready for the ride of you life.

Most statistics and ride information was found at http://www.al-tn-trailoftears.org/. For more information peek your Harley dealer or visit the website mentioned above for more information.

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