This friendly town opened its arms to me today. I was engaged in conversation by so many people today.
Amanda, Allison and Bill were a few of the people who made their way to find out what this mission was all about. Bill comes from a long line of military Heroes on both sides of his parent’s lineage. He was thrilled to see the Wounded Warrior signs on The Kindness Bicycle.
Today’s main objective was to ride throughout the city as I made my way to the VA Medical Center. I was able to have so many great conversations with Veterans who use this facility for treatment. Many of the administrators and staff came by to offer their kind thoughts. I left with the memory of many smiling faces.
I also was able to squeeze in visits to City Hall and the State Capitol to inform the Mayor and Governor of the Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes.
Thank you to the two friendly parking officers who looked after The Kindness Bus today.

Today, I visited the VA Health Care Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. I talked with and thanked dozens of Veterans in and around this facility. I love the look on their faces when they lay their eyes on The Kindness Bicycle. The combination of these two factors always seems to bring a smile to their faces.
Marty and Patricia who work at the reception desk, gave me quite a reception when they saw me arrive on The Kindness Bicycle. They thought it the perfect way to gain attention for Wounded Warriors. Both women have husbands who are Veterans.
I spent quite a bit of time with Will Ackerman the Public Affairs Officer at this VA Center. Will was thrilled that I stopped by his facility. He was hoping I was going to be in town longer so he could “show me around the place a bit more.”
Albert, a Sergeant at Douglas County Department of Corrections said he couldn’t remember the last time someone thanked him for the work he does.
Chris, the Engineer at Firehouse 33 in Omaha, met with me at the end of the day. He shared with me some great conversation about this town and his department. He sent me and Bogart on our way with a very nice Omaha FD teeshirt.

With the engine on The Kindness Bus still hot from the 200 mile drive from western Nebraska, I unloaded The Kindness Bicycle in front of the state Capitol and hit the ground pedaling.
Lynette and Shane, 2 Honor Guards of the Lincoln, Nebraska Police Department were very complimentary about The Kindness Bus tour for Heroes.
Brett a Marine and Wounded Warrior supporter now works for the Lincoln Police Department and is going to post the Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes flyer in the Police department offices.
Shauna, a Department of Education IT expert, whose offices I was visiting, showed me the photos of The Kindness Bus she had already taken earlier in the day, unbelievable! Shauna directed me to the Governor’s office to promote the Kindness Certificates to the State of Nebraska Department of Education.
Today was a very big day in the great city of Lincoln, Nebraska.

My daughter graduated from Colorado College today. I am one very proud papa. Congratulations to the class of 2012 at all universities, colleges and schools.

In about a week, as The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes passes through Cleveland, Ohio, Bogart will begin his summer-long spa vacation and stay behind with friends. I will be completely busy with visiting all 212 firehouses and all 76 police precincts in the five boroughs of New York City. There will be many days that I am gone from The Kindness Bus for 12 hours or more and Bogart cannot be kept there for much more than a few hours at a time and not at all when it is hot.
Being at my daughter Lizzie’s graduation in Colorado Springs this weekend, two of her friends, Hillary and KK asked if they could give Bogart a bath. How could I say no? Let the pampering begin a week early.

It is graduation weekend at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado. My daughter Lizzie is graduating and I have set up shop in this town for the next few days.
I got an early start this morning on The Kindness Bicycle to get exposure in this very busy town of families of the graduates.
Anne, an EMT from Falcon, Colorado just north of here was thrilled to support this mission. Tom from Alexandria, Virginia who took today’s photo was equally supportive. Jadi, a local Veteran stopped by The Kindness Bus and took many photos to share with all of her friends.
It was a very busy day for such a short one.

Before leaving Boulder this afternoon I met a father and his daughter who had a very big interest in the message of The Kindness Bus Tour and the bullying information I have begun handing out. They told me about a great organization called The Kind Campaign. The information below is taken directly from their website www.findingkind.com Kind Campaign is an internationally recognized movement, documentary and school program based upon the powerful belief in KINDness that brings awareness and healing to the negative and lasting effects of girl-against-girl “crime.” In February 2009, while attending Pepperdine University, two young girls recognized a problem and decided to do something about it. Lauren Parsekian and Molly Thompson, both affected by female bullying, decided to create a documentary and non-profit that would ultimately change the lives of hundreds of thousands of people across America. The girls have gone on three national tours, spreading their school assembly program and documentary film in hundreds of schools and communities across the country.