In a moment of honor and grief inside the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, the purpose for the second annual Recon Raider Remembrance Ride, or R4, was made clear.

His voice cracking, event organizer and former Force Reconnaissance Marine and Raider Keith Waldrop introduced Gracen Arslanbas, the widow of Sgt. Colin Arslanbas, a Reconnaissance Marine.

“Gracen is one of the most recent Gold Star family members. She just recently lost her husband. As you can see, she is carrying his child,” said Waldrop, gesturing to the young widow, then in her third trimester of pregnancy.

Gathering himself as he hugged Arslanbas, Waldrop asked all of the participants to form a line to come through and greet her.

“It’s really special that this was held here to honor everybody’s sacrifice,” said Arslanbas, whose husband was killed in a training accident in April. “But for (Colin) and this year especially … thank you so much.”

Baby Margot Arslanbas will be born into a community of Marine Corps Reconnaissance and Raider veterans; fellow Gold Star families; and supporters from nonprofits including DAV, the Marine Reconnaissance Foundation and Marine Raider Foundation. The second annual motorcycle ride was organized by Waldrop, who owns Asymmetric Solutions, a company that has taken part in DAV Patriot Boot Camp.

With a DAV vehicle leading the way, kickstands went up on that cool August morning to start a ride that took participants on a commemorative journey from Washington, Missouri, to Jefferson Barracks and back. Each rider, whether a veteran, active service member or civilian supporter, was assigned a bracelet representing a fallen Marine Raider or Reconnaissance Marine. These bracelets, worn throughout the ride, served as poignant reminders of the sacrifices of those whose lives were cut short in the line of duty.

After the visit to the cemetery, riders stopped at nearby Gateway Harley-Davidson, where veterans and family members had the opportunity to speak with a DAV benefits advocate.

One of the riders who participated in R4 was Tab Leach, father of Marine Raider Talon Leach, who was killed in an airplane crash while on a training mission in Mississippi in 2017. Tab said the ride offered him the chance to connect with the Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) community, including veterans and organizations supporting them. He said it’s the strength of this community that has helped ease his pain.

“Instead of one Marine son, I’ve got 30,” he said. “That’s really been a blessing in my life.”