Elks remember 9/11 with patriotic ride

In honor of those who died and those who worked as first responders on 9/11, the Elks organized a ride through Thompson Falls last Friday. The idea for the ride originally came from Elks member Ron Hawkinson, who thought it would be nice to do something on that day and suggested they ride down Main Street in side-by-sides. They posted about it on Facebook and spread the event around through word of mouth and were surprised at the turnout. Nearly 30 side-by-sides and over 30 vehicles including motorcycles, a police escort and the local fire departments showed up.

Just before the ride, Elks Exalted Ruler Michelle Blackstone explained to all the participants gathered that the ride was "not a parade." They did not have any permits for a parade because it was in such short notice; organized only within the last couple weeks. Instead they called it a patriotic ride.

The vehicles lined up and followed the police from the Elks lodge east of town down to the Thompson Falls rural fire station and back up to the Elks. The whole way, they played patriotic music from their vehicles and flew American flags. "It just seemed like the patriotic thing to do on 9/11," said Blackstone.