Flag makes journey through Clovis

CLOVIS - A special guest making its nationwide tour this summer came Sunday afternoon through eastern New Mexico to the accompaniment of a law enforcement escort and about 75 motorcyclists.

That was none other than Old Glory, an American flag making a relay-style motorcycle journey across all 48 contiguous states. The "Patriot Tour" started May 18 in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and came up last weekend from Roswell and through Portales for a changing of the guard ceremony in Clovis. Monday morning it departed for Lubbock in the care of Navy veteran Don Vining, who assumed responsibility for the standard from the tour's state regional commander Terry Proctor.

The flag is mounted near the chariot bike's handlebars during the grand entrance sections of the tour, which concludes Sept. 7 back in Wisconsin, but for the long-haul portions stays safely encased. You can imagine the wear from a continent-spanning roadtrip-worth of high-speed flag-waving for almost 15,000 miles.

In Sunday's ceremony, Proctor applauded the support from law enforcement - which provided an escort from Clovis, Portales and Eastern New Mexico University police and Curry and Roosevelt County sheriff deputies - as well as the processional turnout from area motorcyclists.

"It's been hot, dirty, and I'm ready to go home," Proctor said. "But there's nothing I'd rather do than support the people that have been supporting us."

The tour is in its 10th year and has come through Clovis for at least the past six years, Proctor said. It is organized by the volunteer non-profit "Nation of Patriots," which raises money to support wounded veterans and their families.

The flag is conveyed primarily by motorcyclists, most of whom are veterans - and those who aren't have loved ones who have served. Speaking with The News on Sunday, Proctor volunteered his own opinion on patriotism.

"America doesn't need be great again," he said. "America is great."