A coast to coast ride for a fallen soldier made one of it's last stops in the Midlands.
"Yes, it is taxing on my lower extremities to be on bike for five to six hours at a time, but at the end of the day I'm happy to do it," Cris Valley said.
Valley took leave from Ft. Bragg to ride his motorcycle, but this will be a ride to remember his friend and fallen soldier.
"Ryan loved what he was doing,he loved being in the military, he loved serving, he smiled like that," Valley said.
Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Savard was killed in combat in Afghanistan two years ago and Valley was right alongside him, even providing medical treatment in the field.
"Being a part of that was kind of a blessing in disguise. It was very unfortunate and sad, but seeing Ryan and seeing how he fought, tried to fight through those wounds and his spirit it touched me in a way I wasn't prepared for that to happen," he said.
Valley with the help of several others came up with the Coast 2 Coast Ride for the Fallen.
"We started Oct 17 in Coronado Bay, California, next stop was Phoenix to Albuquerque, Wichita Falls to Dallas, to Baton Rouge, Pensacola to Jacksonville, Savannah to Camden," Valley said.
He wasn't always alone, along the way others joined him and Valley shared Ryan's story countless times.
It even helped heal some of his own wounds.
"It gives me a lot of time to reflect. I think about the sacrifice that Ryan gave for this beautiful country and to think about those effects it's had on my friends, Jason and James and Jed, and I kind of reflect on those moments," Valley said. "It's been a healing process as well."
Valley will end his ride in Aberdeen, NC with a huge concert in Ryan's honor.
The ride is also to raise money for children of non commissioned officers who have died.
