(Pleasanton, Teaxs) Evening, November 20th, 1999

Over 600 trail riders and wagoneers made the six-and-a-half-hour ride from Jourdanton to Poteet Country Winery to honor and support the families of the five law enforcement officers killed or wounded in the October 12th ambush outside Pleasanton. As they solemnly and somberly turned off Tank Hollow Road to parade through the winery grounds, I saw the very best in Texas traditions and Texans in general.

The largest trail ride in Texas history to honor fallen lawmen drew to a close.

As trail boss Roger Hilburn guided the procession, it was a moment rich in personal emotion. Perched on the ladder of the huge Eclipse windmill overlooking the winery, I raised my camera to take a picture but couldn't see through a flood of tears. I opened my mouth to yell out a heartfelt "well done" but my voice couldn't squeeze past the lump in my throat.

All I could do was marvel in witness to double columns of riders stretching back as far as I could see. The day-long ride was over. The end-of-trail festivities lay ahead.

The melodic voice of Mark Alan Sammons and the driving music of Southern Star welcomed the hundreds as they dismounted, watered and fed their horses, stowed their livery, and groomed the mounts that had carried them so well.

The San Antonio Police Officers' Association and the Atascosa County Volunteer Firefighters' Association struggled to feed the multitude of hungry riders. Soft drinks, beer and wine satisfied dry throats.

Some of the best country music in South Texas pulled them to the cement slab that served as a dance floor. But before the revelry got really started, Mark Alan Sammons called for a moment of silence in memory of those we had all come to honor. Hundreds of cowboy hats slipped from heads to cover hearts. You could hear a pin drop. It was a very long minute, but when it passed the respects had been paid and the festival of life began anew.

It was as it should be.

An evening auction to benefit the families produced many surprises, quite a few bargains, and some real generosity. An afghan crocheted in honor of the fallen sold for $260. The purchaser gave it to the mother of one of the deceased. Country singer Clint Black's autographed Fender guitar brought $650. Airline tickets donated by Continental Airlines to any of the 48 contiguous United States, Mexico or Latin America fetched $800. Two bottles of Atascosa County Fair Reserve Grand Champion Blackberry Wine went for $50 and $40 respectively. Numerous cooked briskets sold for $30 to $40 each. Fishing trips, father-son hunting trips, hotel and resort stays, tickets to San Antonio Spurs home games, gift certificates, lamps, cases of beer, motor oil and anti-freeze, jewelry, artists' prints, VCRs, livestock, live oak trees, quilts, porch swings, barbeque grills, and many, many more items passed across the auction blocks of auctioneers Clyde Holdcroft and Boyd Grimshaw.

Finally, the music of Country Legends wrapped up the long evening.

Anyone who missed the event may make contributions to the "We Care" account at Atascosa National Bank. Call (830) 281-2507 for instructions.

Remembered and Honored:

• Mark Louis Stephenson, Atascosa County Sheriff's Deputy, born 15 Oct 67, killed 12 Oct 99
• Terry Wayne Miller, Texas Department of Public Safety Officer, born 12 Nov 61, killed 12 Oct 99
• Thomas Orville Monse, Jr., Atascosa County Sheriff's Deputy, born 24 Feb 68, killed 12 Oct 99
• Louis Tudyk, Pleasanton Police Department Officer, wounded 12 Oct 99
• Carl Fisher, U.S. Marshal Service Security Officer, wounded 12 Oct 99