Cyclists Delivering on a Promise
John Norton of the Pueblo Chieftan gives front page coverage of The Ride on Independence Day Pair pedals into Pueblo on behalf of families of fallen soldiers.
Matt Sauri remembers the April day in 2007 when his friend Kevin Mincio came to his door and how the look on Mincio’s face told him something was very wrong.
Mincio had just received the devastating news that his close friend, Jesse Williams, had died in Iraq. Beyond the pain of that loss was Mincio’s pledge to Williams that he would take care of his friend’s infant daughter, Amaya.
That started him on another crusade to help the hundreds of other children who have suffered similar losses during America’s current wars.
Mincio had met Williams at Fort Lewis, Wash., and they served together during Mincio’s tour of duty in Iraq. It was during Williams’ second tour that he died from wounds suffered during fighting in Baqubah, Iraq.
Mincio saw to it that 4-year-old Amaya’s future is secure and now he, Sauri and others are working to aid the families of other fallen service members through their nonprofit Team Jesse.