Ride in Remembrance honors Eagle County’s fallen first responders

Moses Gonzales started the annual Ride in Remembrance 23 years ago. He’s a little surprised, but pleased, it’s become a tradition.

The ride honors first responders who have died in the line of duty over the years. In Eagle County, that honor roll dates back to 1936, when Eagle County Sheriff’s Deputy Oscar William Meyer was killed in the line of duty pursuing a robbery suspect near Tennessee Pass.

The ride’s 23^rd edition ran Thursday, with first responders from around the valley joined by a handful of civilians on motorcyles and a in a few cars. The procession began at Freedom Park in Edwards, made its way up U.S. Highway 6, merged onto Interstate 70 at EagleVail and traveled up the highway to the main Vail interchange.

The procession twice passed under the town’s pedestrian overpass, giving students from Red Sandstone Elementary School a chance to wave, then stopped at Donovan Pavilion for the annual ceremony to honor the fallen.

Natalie Messerich of the Vail Public Safety Communications Center honored the selflessness of all first responders.

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Avon Police Department Deputy Chief Coby Kosper’s address noted that “Not just once, but again and again,” the fallen and those in the room “chose duty over comfort, courage over fear, service over self.”

Thursday’s ride was “our declaration that we remember, not only how they died, but how they lived… with grit, with compassion and with honor,” Kosper said. Thursday’s ride is “not just a tribute, but a testament.”

Afer the ceremony, in which people from each of the services read “end of watch” statements about each of the fallen, those gathered stayed to talk, and for a barbecue lunch prepared by a crew from the Vail Public Works Department.

Gonzalez, who was a Vail Code Enforcement Officer when he started the ride, wiped away a tear as he talked about the tradition continuing into its 23^rd year.

“So many people put their life on the line,” he said. The ride, he said “Is an honor, it’s the least we can do.”

Gypsum resident Greg Cambria brought his motorcycle on the ride. He said he participates when he can simply to “support the first responders.”

Seated at the front of the room was Cissy Hill, widow of Eric Hill, a former Colorado Department of Transportation maintenance worker and Greater Eagle Fire Protection firefighter who was killed on the job in 2019 while working his department of transportation job.

Cissy Hill said she comes out every year. “It’s nice to have him honored,” she said. “Not just my spouse by the others, for their dedication and hard work. It’s pleasant to come out and honor them.”