A group of American Legion Riders and other family and friends treated one of the founding local Legion Riders members, now struggling with cancer, to a motorcycle ride together around Fountain Lake Wednesday afternoon.
Wes Halverson, another of the founding Riders members in Albert Lea, said a group started talking about putting together the ride for Jim Hockinson when they were on a separate ride last weekend. They wanted to do something special for Hockinson, who is on hospice care at Thorne Crest Senior Living Community.
Several motorcyclists, family, friends and staff lined up outside Thorne Crest as Hockinson was brought outside in a wheelchair. Shortly after, at least a dozen Legion Riders arrived, and Hockinson was transferred over to Halverson’s three-wheel motorcycle and secured in, after which Hockinson waved to the group that had gathered on the sidewalk and the group took off.
“The turnout was amazing,” Halverson said. “He said he couldn’t have asked for anything more — to have one last ride with friends. I felt honored to be able to give him a ride.”
He said he and Hockinson laughed and cried throughout the ride and talked about their shared life experiences, including starting the American Legion Riders chapter in Albert Lea and serving in the Army National Guard together.
“Overall it was amazing to be able to do this for my friend,” Halverson said.
Halverson also credited Legion Riders charter member Dave Nelson, who he said helped make the day possible, working with Thorne Crest staff to line up the ride.
Nancy Vaale, who is best friends with Hockinson and was his former wife, said Hockinson was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in November 2022. After going through numerous rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, he recently found out the cancer had spread.
“For him to survive this long is a miracle,” she said.
He is now on hospice care and has been at Thorne Crest for about two weeks.
She said in addition to his military experience, Hockinson has also previously worked at Farmstead and even worked a stint as a phlebotomist.
“He’s just good to everyone — a very kind soul,” Vaale said.
Halverson said the ride meant the world to Hockinson.
“He kept saying when I would ask him how he was doing, ‘I am more than fine,'” Halverson said. “Jim would say that everyone coming out to escort him on the road was amazing and then he would cry.
“Jim and I have been friends for over 20 years in the military and probably over 20 years after we retired. We worked great together no matter what we would do. I couldn’t have asked for a better friend than Jim.”
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