Cyclist tour visits Eglin, raises Vet and Military Awareness

  • Published
  • By Minty Knighton
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Retired Army lieutenant colonel Doug Adams is cycling the United States to raise awareness for U.S. veterans and the military. His journey included a stop to Eglin, Dec. 22.

With his wife, Deb Lewis, trailing him in their "Duty Honor America" promotional RV, the two are traveling to small military communities gathering stories and ideas on how to make life better for current and former Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen.

"We like stopping at military bases and communities because of the caring attitudes we get," said Mr. Adams.

The couple enjoyed the base support facilities like the base exchange and the family camping area before continuing west.

As they traveled, Mr. Adams and his wife chronicle the stories and ideas they've gathered through their visits to military bases and small towns and share them with others.

Some of the stories are more profound than others.

"We've seen seasoned veterans of the war in Iraq stand at the bed side of the newly wounded at Walter Reed," said Mrs. Lewis. "They call it 'standing guard.'"

Mr. Adams and Mrs. Lewis share these stories in hopes of inspiring more people to action.

"Less than one percent of Americans serve in the military," said Mr. Adams. "A large portion of the population doesn't really understand the sacrifice."

"Our goal is to start more conversations," said Mrs. Lewis. "There is a huge amount of untapped potential."

No one knows about that potential better than Mr. Adams who tapped into his own when he decided to take on this one-year cyclist venture which started Oct. 7. Mr. Adams is not a professional cyclist and trained for only one year. He's cycled over 3,500 miles with 13,000 more to go and has nine and half months to do it.

"People ask why a year?" said Mr. Adams. "Many of our military are deployed for one year at a time. My goal is to give people a different perspective of what a year really is."

While the tour may provide a different perspective, Mr. Adams is inspired by something greater; something his dad said to him years ago.

"While I was still an officer in the Army; my father, an Episcopalian priest, counseled prisoners who had abused drugs and alcohol," said Mr. Adams. "Those prisoners were veterans, and I'll never forget, after one of his counseling sessions my father turned to me and said, 'what are you going to do?'"

Since then, Mr. Adams has helped veterans and the military through community service, advocate groups and charities; but nothing quite like his current venture.

"It's not about money, it's about the giving," said Mrs. Lewis.

The tour is Mr. Adams latest venture, but will not be his last. Once done with the tour in 2011, as a finale' he plans on participating in the Kona Ironman Triathlon.