Bikers honor boy killed at monster truck show
TACOMA, Wash. - The rumbling sound of motorcycles filled the streets of Tacoma on Sunday in a memorial for a little boy.
Even perfect strangers want to make sure that no one forgets 6-year-old Sebastian Hizey, who was killed Jan. 16 when a chunk of debris flew into the stands at a monster truck rally at the Tacoma Dome.
"This is all about a little boy, nothing else. This is all about a little boy and a family healing," says Darin Creamer, who attended Sunday's motorcycle rally.
"Think about his life, his future that he's never going to enjoy," says another biker, Rick Neeley.
Neeley and Creamer were among hundreds who rode their motorcycles through the streets of Tacoma to the place where tragedy struck.
"My brother called me up, said, 'Hey let's go for a ride for a memorial of this kid,' so we're doing it," Neeley says.
Neeley says he never knew little Sebastian or the Hizey family. But he has a son of his own. And knew he had to be here, today - for a family that lost theirs.
"It's tough times for them, so we're here for them," he says.
"I'm hoping that the family can draw on some comfort from this moment, in the days down the road, when they need it," says Creamer.
Sebastian's family followed the riders to the Tacoma Dome, where they placed carnations in the fence lining the arena.
It's a reminder of the little boy and his life - cut short, just as it was beginning to bloom.
"A little 2-foot child being hit by a piece of instrument off of a vehicle, the name has to be carried on for something," says Richard Brown.
Later, the motorcyclists rode on to Sebastian's grave site in Puyallup for a private memorial with Sebastian's family. All the proceeds from Sunday's ride will go to the Sebastian Hizey Memorial Fund.
So, with Sebastian's picture on their shirts, and his story in their hearts, the bikers ride on - so Sebastian's name will live on.
Even perfect strangers want to make sure that no one forgets 6-year-old Sebastian Hizey, who was killed Jan. 16 when a chunk of debris flew into the stands at a monster truck rally at the Tacoma Dome.
"This is all about a little boy, nothing else. This is all about a little boy and a family healing," says Darin Creamer, who attended Sunday's motorcycle rally.
"Think about his life, his future that he's never going to enjoy," says another biker, Rick Neeley.
Neeley and Creamer were among hundreds who rode their motorcycles through the streets of Tacoma to the place where tragedy struck.
"My brother called me up, said, 'Hey let's go for a ride for a memorial of this kid,' so we're doing it," Neeley says.
Neeley says he never knew little Sebastian or the Hizey family. But he has a son of his own. And knew he had to be here, today - for a family that lost theirs.
"It's tough times for them, so we're here for them," he says.
"I'm hoping that the family can draw on some comfort from this moment, in the days down the road, when they need it," says Creamer.
Sebastian's family followed the riders to the Tacoma Dome, where they placed carnations in the fence lining the arena.
It's a reminder of the little boy and his life - cut short, just as it was beginning to bloom.
"A little 2-foot child being hit by a piece of instrument off of a vehicle, the name has to be carried on for something," says Richard Brown.
Later, the motorcyclists rode on to Sebastian's grave site in Puyallup for a private memorial with Sebastian's family. All the proceeds from Sunday's ride will go to the Sebastian Hizey Memorial Fund.
So, with Sebastian's picture on their shirts, and his story in their hearts, the bikers ride on - so Sebastian's name will live on.