Riders honor 12 fallen first responders

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The inaugural Gulf Coast Brotherhood Ride started from the LSUE campus Monday morning on a five-day, 440-mile ride to Orange Beach, Alabama, to honor a dozen fallen first responders and raise money for the families.
The first responders are law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical service personnel.
They all put on a badge and expected to come home at the end of the day, said Rob Hyatt, a Houston, Texas, firefighter at LSUE on Monday. But he added that unfortunately some “sisters and brothers” are lost.
Rachel Cole, a support team member, said the Texas Brotherhood met at LSUE for the past two years.
“Unfortunately, there is a need to honor so many fallen this year, Texas is doing just Texas,” she said.
“It would be nice if we only had to have one for the entire country,” Cole said.
There were 31 riders that left from LSUE headed for the Cajundome area Monday evening. The riders had stayed at LSUE overnight Sunday.
Cole said nine states were represented by the riders and support team.
The fallen honored by the ride are: Officer Michael Paul Middlebrook, Lafayette Police Department; Reserve Officer Chris Lawton, Zachary Police Department; Trooper Steven Vincent, Louisiana State Police; Officer Natasha Hunter, New Orleans Police Department; Officer Marcus McNeil, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office; agent Jose Wells, U.S. Marshal’s Office, Southern District, Mississippi; Officer Justin Billa, Mobile, Alabama, Police Department; Sgt. Charles Mitchum, Loxley, Alabama, Police Department; and Officer Michael Stockwell, Orange Beach, Alabama, Police Department.
Hyatt, a Texas Brotherhood Board member, said the job of first responder “can take a piece our soul sometimes.”
The ride offers therapy for the riders and an opportunity to honor the fall, their families and co-workers.
The group’s website states: “The Gulf Coast Brotherhood Ride is dedicated to continue to honor the memory of those First Responders who have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty. By riding bicycles across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, the Gulf Coast Brotherhood Ride aims to show the family, friends, and departments of those we have lost that we will Never Forget! In addition to honoring their memories and providing emotional support, the ride raises funds to financially support the families as well. Year after year we are committed to honoring all our brothers and sisters lost in the line of duty and we promise we will Never Forget the sacrifices made.”