Q and A June 3, 2009

Some of these were put on Internet comments as facts but are out right lies.

1. Kerry and E’leese did this for a free vacation.

My (Kerry) idea of a vacation is climbing in the Grand Canyon or going to a beach.

E’leese’s idea of a vacation is riding horses in Hawaii.

Anyone who knows anything about horses would not call 86 straight days on horse back a vacation. Minnesota in the summer is flies and mosquitoes. Horses are manure and dirt. Neither is my idea of fun. Meeting the people was great. The ride was hard work.

2. Kerry and E’leese want to live at “The Ranch”.

I (Kerry) am 54 years old and have no desire to live in the country. I have been a city girl my whole life and that is not changing.

E’leese loves the malls to much to move.

I (Kerry) have never served in the military.

E’leese is 13.

Only men and women who have served in the military will be able to visit “The Ranch”.

We have spoken of who would be the best person the run “The Ranch” and belive it to be retired military for say 4 or 5 year stints.

3. The goverment is going to give E’leese and me (Kerry) one thousand acres.

The goverment will give onegirloneride onet housand acres. onegirloneride is run by a board of 8 people. Yes, I (Kerry) and E’leese will serve on the board untill we are not needed. But we are only 2 votes of 8. We will help raise money and work to help “The Ranch” as much as we can. Everyone should.

4. I (Kerry) have not worked.

I (Kerry) have my Federal Income Tax and a Minnesota Tax return for the last 10 years. That is as far back as I have kept them. I did not work when David and Blake were young. When they both were in school full time I returned to work. I did not work the year before E’leese was born. I returned to work when E’leese was 3 years old and went to nursery school. And unless every woman who has not worked full time while raising children is a bad person, neither am I.

To our friends June 3, 2009

This is a very hard message to write.

We are cancelling the ride on June 6, 2009.

The ONLY reason for the cancellation is that we have been threatened at our home.  Anyone at any time can under the cover of the Internet say anything that they want to about anyone.  The lies that have been spread and repeated are ridiculous and dangerous.  When you lie and spread false information you are responsible for the people that act on your lies and hurt people.

The board has suggested that we step back and cancel the ride this summer.

We will address some of the  lies and  honest questions.  E’leese and I have worked very hard to make this summer, the summer of PR for onegirloneride.  We hoped that we would find the next generation of the ride.  For those of you who have spoken with us you know that we said we would do this for 2 years. We have always stated that this is not about us.  It is about helping the young men and women who serve this country.  We were just the catalist.  We have always kept our eyes open to find the next onesoldieroneride, onevetoneride, onemomoneride, and so on.  Nothing this big could ever be about one person.

When E’leese and I started this adventure, I never believed that a girl and her mom could make such an impact on Minnesota.  We both believed that we would plod along and spread the word.  We never could have guessed that we would meet and care about so many new friends. That Representative Sarah Anderson would write the onegirloneride Bill.  That Sheriffs, Deputies, Chiefs of Police, and Police Officers across the state would become names that we spoke of as friends. That Posse and Mounted Patrols would become family.

E’leese is crushed and angry that a few people could spread lies and twist truth causing a man to come to our apartment and threaten us. E’leese is a kind and wonderful girl who only wanted to help the men and women who serve our country.  If I could ask one thing of the good people of Minnesota and the nation, it is to send E’leese your words of encouragement.  She did a great thing last summer. Please do not let it be spoiled by a few bad apples.

As honest and  real questions are asked we will answer them.