The miles on The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes are starting to add up, I am very near the 1,000 mile mark. It is a joy to ride in cool weather, allowing me to wear long sleeves and giving me protection from the full sun almost every day. This is a welcome change from the 50+ days of 110 degree heat index, on my 7,500 mile ride this past summer.
Wounded Warrior George, who served in the Army in Vietnam during the Tet offensive in 1968, came running up to me when I was buying some bolts for The Kindness Bicycle today. He was so excited to see The Kindness Bicycle with its Wounded Warrior sign. He thanked me several times during our conversation. I welcomed him home in case these are words he has yet to hear.
The big buzz around North Las Vegas today was an appearance by NFL quarterback, Tim Tebow. He spoke at a local church today and will again tomorrow. Tim is a huge Wounded Warrior supporter. He is building a Wounded Warrior group home in Colorado. This fine man is doing so much good for so many people.
Josh who took today’s picture is planning to skateboard to San Diego from Las Vegas. After talking with me, he has decided to do if for a worthy cause. It is amazing the good that can come from a short conversation, with the hopes of positively affecting people in very profound ways.

Twenty-seven stars adorn the sandstone boulder, denoting the law enforcement officers from southern Nevada who gave their lives in the line of duty. I have read on the internet for the research for my visit, the bios of these Heroes. Some of them died from traffic accidents but the number one cause was by gunfire. This violent means has been on the rise over the past couple of decades. The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes will hopefully draw attention to this fact. Children needs to learn and respect police, so as adults they help rather than harm. The park in which this beautiful memorial sits, overlooks North Las Vegas, one of the towns they helped to protect.
On my travels today, on three separate occasions, I met a WW II, Korea and an Active duty servicemen. The pride of these men was apparent, as they talked of honor and freedom. All of them offered their own opinion of how very important it is to honor, thank and never forget these returning Wounded Warriors.

I am asked on many occasions when I am riding, what do you have to eat to be able to ride so many miles. I eat very sensibly on The Kindness Bus to keep fit, as much as I can. The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes is a cakewalk, (pardon the pun) compared to my previous ride. The average daily ride is usually 20 miles. The only days that become challenging, is when I ride 100 miles. I find it hard to eat 7,000 calories worth of food. I just can’t seem to consume that much food.
Today’s photo is a bicyclist’s gourmet meal. It is high energy, slow burn food with great flavor. Bananas, honey and peanut butter on high quality whole grain bread is a Kindness Bus delicacy. Fresh fruit and fresh vegetables are commonplace staples as well. I am able to heat water and have a French press coffee carafe. My breakfast is quite often, old fashioned whole oats with a handful of raisins and lots of cinnamon. On occasion, I will add almond milk. The coffee, which I make so strong, could be used in the engine as motor oil. I eat lots of other great fresh foods as well.
Thank you to everyone for your interest and concern about my nutritional intake. That sandwich looks SO good, I think I’ll make a 2nd one.

While deciding where to ride through the very busy streets of Las Vegas, I discovered that The Kindness Bus was parked just a few blocks from the Firefighters Memorial Park. This park honors the seven Firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty. It also honors the 343 Firefighters who perished in NYC on 9/11.
While walking through this memorial, I came upon this following poem which honors all fallen Firefighters.

Firefighters Prayer

When I am called to duty, God
wherever flames may rage.
Give me strength to save some life,
whatever be its age.
Help me embrace a little child before it is too late,
or save an older person from a most uncertain fate.
Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout,
and quickly and efficiently to put the fire out.
And if according to my fate,
my days should come to end,
please bless with your protecting hand,
my family and my friends.
~Author unknown

The following is a letter that I sent to the 19 members of the Board of Education in The State of Ohio. Governor John Kasich received a copy as well.

Re; Chardon shooting
One Million Acts Of Kindness is an organization I started because of the Virginia Tech tragedy nearly five years ago.
I am a father of three grown children from Gates Mills, Ohio. After that tragedy, I decided I was tired of seeing these types of events happen and not doing something about it. I now travel the country in a painted school bus trying to convince as many people as possible, primarily children, to personally perform one million acts of kindness in their lives. Having a lifetime goal of kindness in one’s life, creates an individual who only knows love and respects others and themselves. Having such a formidable goal, creates an ever-present mindset of kindness.
Kindness is a simple loving gesture and needs to be taught in our schools.
On the One Million Acts Of Kindness website are Kindness Certificates, which can be printed for each student and classroom. These certificates are a contract with oneself to pledge to perform One Million Acts Of Kindness in one’s life. They are then signed by the student and hung and framed in a prominent spot in the child’s bedroom. This can also be used in each classroom. There are over 14,000 of these being used, there need to be millions in the State of Ohio alone.
Please make this an immediate addition to classrooms across the State of Ohio. To not do so, would be a major disservice to the students of Ohio. Having kindness curriculum from pre-K through 12 would help to avert any future tragedies. Don’t, not do anything!
In the short 2 1/2 years I have been living on my bus, trying to help schoolchildren across the country, there have been dozens of high profile people who have supported my cause, a few of these are;
President Obama’s Domestic Violence advisor, Lynn Rosenthal had me to her DC office for a meeting.
Oprah put us on her OWN Network for a two week period and a three week period.
I am interviewed for the Bill Bennett, former Department of Education Secretary talk show, “Morning in America” for an update to my travels every Friday morning.
Dr. Stuart Ablon, Harvard Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Head of Psychiatry Mass General and ThinkKids founder.
I urge you to do something about using these One Million Acts Of Kindness Certificates in classrooms. This tragedy is a horrible wake up call to you and all of us. It is time to implement this change. It would help millions of children across our wonderful state. Ohio could become a model for other states in its actions to a tragedy such as this.
Now is the time to implement this change. I’m sure you agree. The children of Ohio are counting on you.
Kindness always prevails!

The school shooting in Chardon, Ohio was just 10 miles from my former home. This is another senseless tragedy we will watch as it is played out in newspapers and televisions across the nation. The images are frighteningly similar from one event to another. Time and time again we are witness to these events and wonder, why? and how? Why are so many of these shootings taking place? How can an individual take another’s life with such total disregard? To me, there is a simple answer to both of these questions, but it takes a long term commitment to that simple answer.
It is easy to be kind. Kindness is something you can adopt in your life as if it was second nature. This innate characteristic should should be as if it was part of the DNA of everyone. A lifetime goal of kindness is the commitment, a lifetime goal of One Million Acts Of Kindness.
To the families of the victims, the people of Chardon and anyone affected by this tragedy, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Putting one’s life on the line to protect the freedoms of our country is usually driven by pride and patriotism. Young men and women are doing just that in large numbers and deserve our heartfelt gratitude.
Often times the wounds of war are not visible but they are debilitating none the less. The cumulative events witnessed in war can have long term effects. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder can be almost immediate at times and in other cases the suppressed memories surface years later. Both are equally devastating.
Many of these Veterans who are homeless are affected by PTSD and once they have started living on the streets, it’s a long road back to normalcy. Do your part to lend comfort, conversation and a hot meal when you have a chance to these once proud individuals. It’s the very least we can do to help those who have helped us and are now wounded inside.