Cheneyville veterans bike to VA hospital to honor veterans

Town Talk staff reports
·1 min read
A group of veterans from Cheneyville rode their bicycles 30 miles to the Alexandria VA Medical Center to present flags to the two oldest veterans at the facility, Theo Franklin Ratliff, 96, and Herman White, 95. Both are Army veterans who served World War II.
A group of veterans from Cheneyville rode their bicycles 30 miles to the Alexandria VA Medical Center to present flags to the two oldest veterans at the facility, Theo Franklin Ratliff, 96, and Herman White, 95. Both are Army veterans who served World War II.

To honor the sacrifices made by veterans, a group of cyclists from Cheneyville rode their bicycles 30 miles to the Alexandria VA Medical Center in Pineville on Veterans Day.

The Cheneyville Veterans Day Bike Ride Tour included Cheneyville Mayor Derrick Johnson, who is an Army veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and his father Coral A. Johnson, retired Army; and Gary Johnson and his son Brandon Johnson, both retired Army; and councilman Ronny Green, Jr.

The group of cyclists gathered Thursday morning at the walking trail on Main Street to make the 30-mile ride to present flags to the oldest veterans at the hospital.

The cyclists were escorted up Highway 71 to MacArthur Drive and across the Curtis Coleman Bridge as they made their way to the VA hospital.

A group of veterans from Cheneyville rode their bicycles 30 miles to the Alexandria VA Medical Center to present flags to the two oldest veterans at the facility one of who is Theo Franklin Ratliff, 96, an Army veteran who served World War II.
A group of veterans from Cheneyville rode their bicycles 30 miles to the Alexandria VA Medical Center to present flags to the two oldest veterans at the facility one of who is Theo Franklin Ratliff, 96, an Army veteran who served World War II.

After arriving at the facility, flags were presented to World War II veterans Theo Franklin Ratliff, 96, and Herman White, 95, who both served in the Army.

The ride came about after conversations regarding Veterans Day celebrations in and around Cheneyville. The ride

"As conversation continued with civilians and veterans throughout the community, it became apparent that the town of Cheneyville owed a lot to our veterans," stated Green in a press release. "With such an active community of youth, young adults, men, women and veterans, it seemed only natural to create an event that combined Louisiana-style patriotism along with a healthy pursuit of achievement and physical determination."

A group of veterans from Cheneyville rode their bicycles 30 miles to the Alexandria VA Medical Center to present flags to the two oldest veterans at the facility, One of them was Herman White, 95, an Army veterans who served World War II.
A group of veterans from Cheneyville rode their bicycles 30 miles to the Alexandria VA Medical Center to present flags to the two oldest veterans at the facility, One of them was Herman White, 95, an Army veterans who served World War II.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Cheneyville veterans bike to VA hospital to honor veterans