HAILEY, Idaho -- It's been a long time since we've had any good news about Bowe Bergdahl, the Army soldier from Hailey who has been held by the Taliban in Afghanistan for 15 months.
Idaho friends and neighbors have been a bastion of support for Bergdahl's family ever since his capture. They've kept yellow ribbons flying and his memory fresh, but on this day there was a new expression of support in his hometown.
"Bowe's still out there we need him to come home and we're going to keep his horse waiting for him," said Donna Thibedeau.
Bowe's horse is optimistically named Destiny, one of the rescue horses from Donna Thibedeau's ranch in Malad, Idaho where she invites veterans suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome to come and heal at no charge.
She hopes for the day when Bowe can visit the ranch.
Donna rode out of Malad on horseback, Destiny in tow, seven days ago, doing what she can to raise awareness about Bowe's POW status. We caught up with her just outside Hailey.
"I've noticed people don't know we have a POW. They have no idea we have a POW," said Thibedeau.
Before riding into town Donna's husband helps her raise the POW-MIA flag, and police escort the group headed for Zaney's Coffee House, where Bowe's mom is waiting.
"I'm the mother of seven children. I can't imagine what it would be like to have a child gone for that long and know nothing, I mean his parents have nothing except hope and God and our prayers, and that's what we can give them to try to keep them going and get him home soon," said Thibedeau.
And with a hug Donna delivers the simple message she's ridden over 200 miles to deliver to Jani Bergdahl.
"We just hope he comes home soon - yes," she said.
It is a message deeply appreciated.
"It's very hard to explain, it's so encouraging, it does help us get through," said Jani Bergdahl, Bowe's mom.
Now Donna is inviting fellow horse lovers to join in the show of support by officially logging 8,000 miles on horseback, because that's how far Bowe is from home. She'll keep track of the miles.
"We hope he's back before they log 8,000 miles," said Thibedeau.
All this while Jani counts the days and hopes you'll remember her son in your prayers.
"The prayers. We get cards and letters from all over the world. It's amazing to us," said Jani Bergdahl.
From Main Street in Hailey to Main Street in Pendleton, Oregon is where Donna will show her support of Bowe Bergdahl with thousands of rodeo goers at the Pendleton Roundup. She hopes they and perhaps you will help log some of those thousands of miles in support of Bowe Bergdahl.
If you ride horseback and would like to join in the show of support, you can email Donna Thibedeau at tranquilvalley@gmail.com to get signed up to contribute to the 8,000-mile ride.
For more info go to: www.tranquilvalleysantuary.org/
