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The True Story of how the "Trail of Tears Commemoration and Motorcycle Ride ®"
Got Started
Neither Bill Cason, nor Jerry Davis started this event by themselves; however Jerry Davis,
being CEO and Founder of the Alabama Waterfowl Association (AWA) used AWA's
non profits status to sponsor the endeavor and AWA and his friendly relationship with
the federal, state agency and officials necessary to start the Trail of Tears project.
With this being said, Jerry Davis did come up with the idea and collected the history to
prove the Drane/Hood route necessary for designating the Drane/Hood Route of the Trail of
Tears. This event was started to bring awareness about this dark chapter in
America's history and educate the public so this atrocity would never be repeated in
America again. The Trail of Tears Commemoration and Motorcycle ride is not
Bill Cason's ride. Many people on the Alabama Trail of Tears Committee, under AWA
started this event and made this event very successful. People line up and ride in
his parade from Ross' Landing in Chattanooga to Waterloo, Alabama in honor of our
first American settlers, from a statement from a letter written to Jerry Davis,
AWA from Alabama Senator Howell Heflin saying "It is time Alabama recognized the blood,
sweat and tears on Alabama soil." Also, the riders recognize the horrible way the
American Indians of the Southeast were treated because of racism and greed.
This is why the motorcyclists from all walks of life line up and ride in the Trail
of Tears Commemoration and Motorcycle Ride. Most people do not ride for Bill
Cason or Jerry Davis; they ride in honor of American Indians.
Bill Cason never mentioned the Trail of Tears until Jerry Davis started working on
the Trail of Tears legislation 95-346 and talking about the history and that the
trails needed to be designated. Jerry Davis conducted a poll and found out that
only about 3 in 10 people in the Huntsville area knew what the Trail of Tears is,
this is when he got a few other people and groups together and decided to start a
motorcycle ride to focus attention on the Drane/Hood Trail of Tears route that runs
from Ross' Landing in Chattanooga to Waterloo, Alabama. This is the route recognized
by the Alabama Indian Affairs Commission as the official route of the "Trail of Tears
Commemoration and Motorcycle Ride ®".
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