Terry 'ACL' Hammond (11/19/2010)

Carole - I hope you understand what a wonderful service you provide to all of us by posting the pictures -Thanks so very very much.

Dan
 
Re: Terry 'ACL' Remembered

I just found out that Terry posted on my "Retired" thread shortly before he passed on. We had a running joke about Bears vs Packers football and Terry was nice enough to post about maybe the Bears winning a Super Bowl. Wow, still hard to accept.:(
 
Thanks for sharing the pics, and to everyone who showed up for the rest of us, I wish we could of made it. Rich is driving back from AZ with a van for my boss and stopped at the PUTT memorial today to say a prayer and moment for Terry today. As far as the Cindy "gets it" she has always Gotten it. My thoughts and prayers will be with them during these up comming holiday season. Thanks again to all....
 
Totally Shocked!! I didn't want to believe it, couldn't believe it when I heard. Virginia and I are deeply saddened. Prayers to TLC and family.


We are both blessed to have meet Terry. Met him the first time at the Second Annual Moonshine Run. People think we are crazy for riding all the way to Illinois for a hamburger. They say that must be one hell of a burger. I tell them, "Not really, but I get to visit with one hell of a friend."

I've never been one to show my emotions but I need to go dry my keyboard...
 
I just read this and I am shocked. My prayer tonight will be for Terry and his family.
 
The funeral was as funerals go a "good" one. The church was crowded but not packed to overflowing. The minister did a great job and Terry's niece spoken thoughtfully and eloquently. They played two recordings of Terry singing, on a hymn and another "pop" piece that really fit the mood. He was quite good, I'd never heard him sing before.

The procession went off without a hitch, passed the house, then thru Martinsville and down to the farm. The bikes led the procession (about 30 of us). We pulled off before the farm to let the cars pass, then followed into the barn yard. (Only negative was my rear tar was FLAT when I got back on. No harm, no foul, as Dinkie hauled me back to town.)

The minister spoke again, followed by Terry's step-son Mitch. Then Terry's brother in law spoke at length of the family history.

Most of us rolled back to the church for nice lunch. I read Terry's poem he had written only a couple weeks ago. Following the lunch, and much signing of the new International STOC tag log book, most of us rolled toward home.

I stopped at the shop, spoke a few minutes with Jody and Scooter and Terry's other bro-in-law before heading back up to Naperville. Ensconsed here now, and contemplating the vagaries of life.

We've lost too may, for various reasons, but those of us still kicking now have a duty to carry on the legacy of those who have gone before. And I'm not talking about next year's Moonshine Lunch Run. Terry Hammond was so much greater than that. Heed the call, folks, help those around you to be well and do better; add some sun shine and laughter to your surroundings; get over yurself and get under someone who may need a boost. We'll all be better for it.

<heavy sigh>

I still miss my boy.
 
Anyone that can get through those pictures with out a tissue is stronger than I.

Carole, I cannot thank you enough for taking them. I couldn't go to the funeral, but your camera brought it to me. Thank you so much.

+1 and didn't get through the pics with dry eyes either

Allan
 
We've lost too may, for various reasons, but those of us still kicking now have a duty to carry on the legacy of those who have gone before. And I'm not talking about next year's Moonshine Lunch Run. Terry Hammond was so much greater than that. Heed the call, folks, help those around you to be well and do better; add some sun shine and laughter to your surroundings; get over yurself and get under someone who may need a boost. We'll all be better for it.

<heavy sigh>

I still miss my boy.[/QUOTE]



Thank you for that reminder, I myself need to remember that at times...when I first became a member on here I was just a passenger on Rich's bike, didn't know much about motorcycles at all except what Rich told me and what I learned along the way, which helped when I went to get my MC license in the beginning of this year. I now ride a 06 silverwing, that I love. You all have made me feel welcomed and been a good friend. All the ones I have met on here, Thank you for opening your arms and hearts to me, it means alot, even the ones I have not met yet too.Everyone on here is wonderful in there own way, and losing any of you would be a great loss to us all, I want to thank you all for your kindness, understanding, warm hearts and caring I have felt. You all mean so much to me, Like an extended family and I want you all to know how much that means to me and how much i care for you all. We all have left our mark on someone or another in our lives, what mine is I haven't a clue, but I will firgure that out and try to live my life being a better person.I will remember Terry and all the past memeber we have lost since I have joined as they all have left there mark in some form or another to us all. Now lets go out there and be safe, ride and enjoy whatever time God has left for us here on earth.

Sorry for the babble , just one of those emotional times, 2010 has been a huge loss of friends and family for me.
 
We've lost too may, for various reasons, but those of us still kicking now have a duty to carry on the legacy of those who have gone before. And I'm not talking about next year's Moonshine Lunch Run. Terry Hammond was so much greater than that. Heed the call, folks, help those around you to be well and do better; add some sun shine and laughter to your surroundings; get over yurself and get under someone who may need a boost. We'll all be better for it.

George,
I want to thank you for your boost. Most days I feel so blessed for the things I have in my life; faith, family, friends to name a few. In recent days I have been feeling down and stressed. Your simple post has helped to remind me of those blessings. I will do better at boosting others.

I wish I had met Terry. However, I do know that as I get a chance to meet you and others on this site maybe, indirectly I will have met him.
 
We've lost too may, for various reasons, but those of us still kicking now have a duty to carry on the legacy of those who have gone before. And I'm not talking about next year's Moonshine Lunch Run. Terry Hammond was so much greater than that. Heed the call, folks, help those around you to be well and do better; add some sun shine and laughter to your surroundings; get over yurself and get under someone who may need a boost. We'll all be better for it.

<heavy sigh>

I still miss my boy.

Great thoughts George - I have not been a part of this community for as long as many of you. For some reason I feel very inspired by so many of the people I have met here. I know that sharing the special experiences we have of riding goes beyond just motorcycles but somehow touches some part of our soul that reaches out to experience not only the beautiful world we live in but the sharing of the most intimate parts of our lives. I don't really understand it, I only know that for some reason I feel that I am a better person and am inspired to be a better person by being part of this group. Maybe it is just that I am getting older and have reached that point in my life. I am so looking forward to traveling and meeting others now. I have lived much of my life as kind of a loner, surrounded by my mechanical things tinkering away but not really connecting with people. I still love to tinker and work on bikes but my experience of sharing with everyone and opening my life up to more people is growing every day. I think Terry has contributed to this and also many others. The warm and caring acceptance into this group of travelers has meant so very much to me and it has made me want to reach out to others as well. Meeting all of you feels like being welcomed home after a long absence. It's like someone saying come on in, you're home now stay and visit and take a load off, you're family.

Dan
 
Still find myself asking if all this is real. Some really crazy emotions passing by. This ominous feeling of hollowness right along with a huge portion of fulfillment. There was even one point when my imagination ran away. The pastor was talking about Terry's mischievous side and had all of us laughing. I could have sworn I saw Terry smile as well.

All of us got to know Terry through motorcycling. I assumed, in his personal life, there wasn't quite the emphasis on motorcycling. When I walked in to the church, down the hall and saw all the memorabilia I was shocked. A huge portion of it centered around Terry and his two-wheeled madness. Those pictures told many thousands of words and stories! I had to smile at some of them. Terry was obviously a nut and I mean that in the best way imaginable! Then it was time for visitation and once again I couldn't believe what I saw. I'll just say ATGATT took on a whole new meaning for me. :D

Like a big, dumb oaf, I had a few things I wanted to voice to Terry's wife when it was my turn but a huge rock landed in my throat and I couldn't eek a syllable. Makes me mad that I am that way. All the while there's Terry whole family greeting everyone with the most courage and strength you have ever seen.

I keep telling myself that the curtains closed during Terry's peak in life. That's not necessarily a bad thing. From all indications, I don't think things could have gotten much better for Terry or anyone else for that matter at his time of departure. He was in the prime of his life.

As I looked around at all the riders who were able to attend Terry's memorial I also thought about the many who couldn't. One guy in particular I missed seeing there...Coop. Everyone should know that ST-Owners as well as others were very well represented. Terry's two sisters took great interest in our presence. It was funny to hear that they referred to themselves just like Terry did. "The one that likes motorcycles and the one who doesn't" :D

Many days of sobbing ahead still.

 
George is right. I hope a little bit of Terry rubs off on me. I remember attending my first Moonshine. Went to Terry's house only to find his place filled with people. All congregated in his garage where he had tools, trinkets, memorabilia, etc. I thought to myself what a trusting soul Terry must be to allow all these people, some of them strangers, in his home.
 
Re: Terry 'ACL' Remembered

ACL visits southern New England on August 6-7, 2009. The pics show Karen's backyard. Kempo-STer and Georgeorge drop by. The next day ACL, Karen and blueSTormer have lunch at Jim's Dock in Jerusalem, RI. Terry then headed home to Casey. I watched his Spot all the way. That man could really put the miles on! Maybe some day I'll make it to Moonshine, but I am very grateful that Terry came to us back then.
 

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Thanks Dinky for taking pictures as usual. I for one missed Coop bring there also but Tom, Scott, Jody and I did call Coop to make him feel that he was at least part of the ceremony.

I could barely speak to Cindy the entire time I was there because every time I tried to talk about anything I just couldn't speak. Lots of things to say and no composure to say it.

I need to start finding some humor in all of this as I know Terry sure would have. Just haven't come up with it yet.

A picture from CampSTOC in Missouri hosted by Tom.

Curt
 

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thanks for the pics Carole and Dink.. and all who represented "the ones that like to ride motorcycles" that Mrs. Cindy is a strong woman... what a tribute of a service !!:bow1:
 
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