“The military trains you to go in but doesn’t train you to go out.”
Eric and Monica Barfield, of Plant City, Fla., near Tampa, are seeking to help veterans who are disabled or homeless by riding their bikes from Tampa to San Diego. They stopped in Emporia Wednesday at High Gear Cyclery, where they received new brakes. The pair left Florida on Feb. 15 and plan on arriving in San Diego in February 2012. They are traveling with their 5-year-old Jack Russell terrier, Lily.
“We are veterans ourselves,” Eric Barfield said.
Barfield said he served four years in the Coast Guard and Monica Barfield said she served five years in the Army — both as sergeants.
“I got injured in the Coast Guard and I had to fight for my rights,” Eric Barfield said. “I was only awarded 30 percent disability. I should have been awarded 100 percent. It took me three years and $7,500 out of my family’s pocket to get the assistance needed.”
The Barfields have raised more than $7,000 to date and have traveled 3,400 miles so far. They plan on heading up U.S. Highway 50 and traveling to Colorado Springs, Colo., by the Fourth of July and to Jackson Hole, Wyo., by Labor Day weekend.
To donate to AMVETS go to www.amvets.org and following the “Donate Now” link.
ZaneRokklyn (anonymous) says...
I'd like to hear more about the nature of their disabilities that allow them to bicycle across the country. Or do they have special bikes? Without that part of the story, I'm afraid their argument is not very persuasive: "I'm bicycling across the country to show that I should have been awarded 100% disability..."
June 18, 2011 at 11:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Merry_Carol (anonymous) says...
Surely there's more to this story? It's a worthy cause, no doubt. No vet should be homeless or without benefits after a military injury. But this story sounds incomplete.
June 19, 2011 at 5:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eccentriceric (anonymous) says...
I've seen them out by highway 50 and Graham street. then later on highway 50 west of town. They had mountain bikes and trailers. Just because one can ride a bike doesn't mean they're not disabled. you don't have to "look" disabled to have a disability. some are mental was well. People shouldn't judge without knowing all the facts.
June 20, 2011 at 12:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Very true, eccentric, I myself have a respiratory disability that no one can see and allows me to have a handicapped sign for my car, but the fact still remains, the story is incomplete and should have given a few details about the disability or else the plight of this couple is not credible.
June 20, 2011 at 8:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )