The Fourteenth Annual Al Chymia Shrine Trail Ride October 19-21 The Fourteenth Annual Al Chymia Shrine Trail Ride was held October 19th through October 21st at the Wrangler Camp in Natchez Trace State Park, near Wildersville, Tennessee. Bright sunny days, cool nights, colorful foliage, and sparkling campfires gave a definite touch of autumn to the weekend. The campground was filled to capacity with campers and riders from all over the Southeast, including Kentucky, Missouri and Illinois. By registering for the trail ride, campers and riders were invited to participate in a variety of activities. Friday night everyone was welcomed to hamburgers and hotdogs with all the trimmings and a plethora of delicious homemade desserts made by the Lady Shriners. Friday afternoon “on campground hill,” a group of Shriners began the all night vigil of cooking shoulders, which were served on Saturday night, along with a special recipe of BBQ sauce, beans, slaw, chips, and many more delicious homemade desserts. Following dinner, everyone gathered at the pavilion for the annual Shriner’s auction. As usual the auction was fast, furious, and great fun. The generous bids by the large crowd enabled the Shriners to raise a significant amount of money for the benefit of the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Each year on Saturday night, Al Chymia recognizes and honors an individual who has put forth an extraordinary effort in support of the trail ride. The 2007 honoree was Miss Megan Kirk of Huntingdon, Tennessee, daughter of Bobby and Darlene Kirk. Megan has been attending this trail ride since she was a toddler. This year, Megan volunteered to not only collect auction and door prize items, but also to collect monetary donations from businesses throughout the area. Early Sunday morning, Brother Noel Edwards delivered his outdoor worship service about the “trails of life.” Brother Edwards has been delivering his message at the ride for several years, and everyone always looks forward to his inspiring words. At two o’clock Sunday afternoon, everyone gathered at the pavilion one last time for the drawings for door prizes and two western saddles. Virginia Carter of Germantown, Tennessee, and Kenny Pierce of Camden, Tennessee won the saddles. The Al Chymia Shrine Carroll County Mounted Patrol is proud to sponsor this annual trail ride to benefit the Shriners Hospital for Children. The Shriners own and operate 22 hospitals for children across the country, services of which are provided free of charge to children under the age of 18 years, and their families. The daily cost to run these hospitals is approximately $1.7 million dollars and is accomplished without government subsidies or third-party insurance companies. Since 1922, the Shriners have helped over 770,000 children needing medical treatment for burns and orthopedic injuries and conditions. The Mounted Patrol sends its sincere thanks and appreciation to the many campers and riders who participate and financially support this trail ride, the volunteers who donate their time and energy to put on this ride, and the corporate and individual sponsors who donate money, saddles, and merchandise for both the auction as well as door prizes. The Al Chymia Shrine Mounted Patrol can be seen throughout Carroll County and the surrounding West Tennessee counties riding their black Tennessee Walking Horses in Christmas parades, as well as presenting the colors at various festivals and walking horse shows. They have become ambassadors for the children of the Shriners Hospitals for Children, and continue to carry the message, “We ride for the children.” The Mounted Patrol cordially invites everyone to join them again the third weekend of October 2008, at the Wrangler Camp in Natchez Trace State Park, for the benefit of the children of the Shriners Hospitals for Children.