On Saturday, March 15, Tribute to the Troops held an Honor Ride and celebration of life for fallen USMC Lance Corporal Richard Clay Ellis. More than 50 motorcycles, whose riders included veterans of previous wars, made their way around north Hernando before reaching the home of Lance Corporal Ellis’ mother, Janice Seyler.
Why motorcycles? As noted by Chairwoman Michelle Hecksher, “Almost to a family, there is something healing about the rumbling of the motors,” she said. “There is just something very emotional about that […] It just helps that we come by and say, ‘Hey, we remember.’”
Chairwoman Hecksher and Vice Chairman Carl Hecksher coordinated and led the procession before the chairwoman honored the hero’s life that morning.
Born on January 26, 1980, Lance Corporal Ellis moved to Tampa with his family at the age of four. Richard tragically passed away in a car crash in Texas on August 6, 1999. He was driving home from the 29 Palms military training facility in California after having recently attained the rank of Lance Corporal five days prior. “[Richard] was a good kid […] so proud of him,” his mother said. Richard was a National Honor Society graduate and graduated with Honors from a Limited Cryptographic Maintenance course.
The towering 6’3” marine had a “genius IQ” and “determination off the chart,” the chairwoman learned from Janice. The late lance corporal taught himself how to play guitar and even mowed lawns to afford a pair of shoes when he was a child.
Ms. Seyler recounted a humorous anecdote about her late son on Saturday. After returning home from boot camp and clad in his uniform, he was invited to speak to a class full of students at his former grade school.
When his favorite former teacher was discussing the importance of homework, she turned to him and he said, “Well, I don’t know Ms. Meyers. I never did homework and I turned out okay.”
In light of Tribute to the Troops’ Honor Ride for Lance Corporal Ellis, Hernando’s Board of County Commissioners proclaimed March 15 Gold Star Family Day in the county. “I am beyond overwhelmed,” continued Janice.
Founded by songwriter and singer Rockie Lynn in 2004, the organization’s focus is “to honor, treasure, and remember the sacrifices of our Gold Star families and of our fallen heroes,” according to its website.
Tribute to the Troops conducts what Chairwoman Hecksher referred to as “life celebrations,” and they have visited 350-plus families over the last 22 years. These events for honoring fallen soldiers “don’t dwell on how they died,” but focus on the life of the hero, Michelle continued.
Venerating them in this way is important for the relatives of those veterans who die from causes such as suicide. Regrettably, many families of those who die outside of combat still end up “not feeling like they are gold star families,” Michelle added.
This likely stems from the fact that dating back to World War I, only families of service members killed in combat gained this distinction. However, since the Vietnam War and its accompanying difficulties, that honor has now begun to be expanded to include the families of those such as Lance Corporal Ellis, but there is still work to be done on this front.
“I have been told for years that I am not a Gold Star mom because Richard didn’t die in combat,” Janice said. “Well, he certainly did not choose to die on a street in Texas coming home […] they have explained what it is to be a Gold Star parent, and yes, I am one. Up until these people, Richard was forgotten […] and he will never be forgotten again.”
