A group of cross-country motorcyclists drove through northeast Georgia on Sunday to honor the life and memory of Lieutenant Brian McNair the Hall County Sheriff’s. McNair of Clarkesville died on July 20, 2020 after a confirmed exposure to COVID-19 while working at Hall County Jail.
End of Watch Ride’s national “Ride to Remember” paid tribute to him during a stopover on July 18 at the Gainesville sheriff’s office.
McNair was a U.S. Marine Corps and Georgia National Guard veteran who built a career in local law enforcement. He worked as a deputy in Habersham before moving to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office in 2000. He leaves behind his wife, Wendy McNair, and their nine children, who are between 3 and 23 years old.
The End of Watch drivers arrive at the Hall County Sheriff’s office with the lights flashing to mark the fallen Lt. Honoring Brian McNair. (Photo: Hadley Cottingham, now Habersham)
Organized by Jagrut Shah, Ride to Remember honors the lives of law enforcement officers who paid the highest price. Six drivers, followed by a trailer with the names and photos of the fallen, set off on Jan.
Riders from the Gwinnett Chapter of the Blue Knights Motorcycle Club in Georgia, comprised of active and retired law enforcement officials, joined the ceremony on Sunday.
One of Lt. McNair’s nine children, Rose McNair, attended the event. Riders and Hall County Sheriff officials gathered to offer her comfort, support, and condolences to their families as they neared the year-long anniversary of their death.
Amy Moden, who lost her husband on duty, offers support to McNair’s daughter. (Photo: Hadley Cottingham, now Habersham)
Rose says the past year was “the slowest and fastest year” of her life. With her father’s death along with a global pandemic and her senior year of college with Truett McConnell, she says her father’s encouragement to quit school when she wanted to quit years earlier kept her in school after his death.
“He was the best guy ever,” says Rose. “He was the most honest person you have ever met and he was funny. […] He loved his family, he loved his job, he loved his children. “
Brian McNair
During this painful time in her life, Rose is honored that the End of Watch Riders are coming to northeast Georgia to remember their father.
“It’s an honor to have people like her who are so cute and do this for everyone,” says Rose. “And it’s just crazy to think that all of these people have families and they have all lost someone.”
A Forsyth County family drove to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office to see a photo of a loved one on the trailer and to meet with the drivers. Tim Rice of Cumming and his family came to honor the life of his cousin, Lieutenant Jon Anderson, who served in the Spokane, Washington Police Department. Rice remembers his cousin as “Mr. Fix-It ”, from which he always had something to learn. He says he loves his job and his community and is very missed by his family.
“It is very moving when you are here in person and see it [the trailer]”Says Reis. “When I know Jon personally and how good he was, it’s nice to see he’s being honored that way.”
Drivers listen as Rose McNair shares family memories and stories about her father’s humor. (Photo: Hadley Cottingham, now Habersham)
One of the goals of the organization is to bring families who have lost loved ones to law enforcement together and give them a space to seek comfort and understanding. The Rice family and McNair’s daughter were able to marry; Drivers Amy Moden and Tracey Sullivan, who both lost their spouses on duty, offered comfort to McNair’s daughter during her time in Gainesville on Sunday.
This is the second time the End of Watch Riders have traveled to Hall County. Her first visit was in 2020 to honor MP Blane Dixon, who was shot dead on duty.
“It means a lot to us,” says Lt. Greg Cochran of the Hall County Sheriff’s Office across from Now Habersham. “It can never make us feel closed, we will never replace our fallen officers, but it lets us know that it is okay to move on and it helps family and friends deal with a tragic loss.”
Drive to the end of the station in Hall County
To learn more about the End of Watch “Ride to Remember”, you can visit the website here.
