Orion Turner celebrated his 10th birthday Sunday, and his parents wanted the big 1-0 to be something special despite not having much money to go all-out.
Turns out, all they needed was a call out to their neighbors in Rock Springs, who came through for Turner with a big parade for the young fan of cool cars and motorcycles.
When his mom Breezy Turner requested a drive-by parade for her son on Facebook, more than 100 people responded with an uproarious display of motorcycles and sportscars. It's the kind of birthday celebration that will be hard to top.
“I’m not able to do a while bunch for his birthday this year due to some unforeseen circumstances,” she posted. “I was wondering if there are a few people with maybe cool older cars or cool newer cars, and people who have motorcycles that could do, like, a drive past my house thing for him?”
Turner was revved up more than the dozens of cars that turned out for him, his mom told Cowboy State Daily on Monday.
"He already told us we will never top it for him, and that's OK," she said.
A Few People With Cool Cars
Breezy and Michael Turner wanted to give their son the best birthday celebration. Unfortunately, medical bills have tightened the family's finances.
"I was misdiagnosed with a medical condition five years ago," Breezy said. “Getting constant MRIs drains a bank account."
To give her son the best birthday she could, Breezy turned to the Facebook group Sweetwater Rants and Raves to drive by their home at noon Sunday for Orion's birthday.
"He loves motorcycles, sports cars, lifted trucks, old and new — he loves all of it," she said.
Breezy asked, and Sweetwater County answered.
An impromptu call for people to drive by the home of a Rock Springs boy on his 10th birthday rallied more than 100 cars and motorcycles Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Courtesy Breezy Turner) 
An impromptu call for people to drive by the home of a Rock Springs boy on his 10th birthday rallied more than 100 cars and motorcycles Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Courtesy Breezy Turner) 
An impromptu call for people to drive by the home of a Rock Springs boy on his 10th birthday rallied more than 100 cars and motorcycles Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Courtesy Breezy Turner) 
An impromptu call for people to drive by the home of a Rock Springs boy on his 10th birthday rallied more than 100 cars and motorcycles Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Courtesy Breezy Turner) 
An impromptu call for people to drive by the home of a Rock Springs boy on his 10th birthday rallied more than 100 cars and motorcycles Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Courtesy Breezy Turner)
The Big Day
On Orion's birthday, Breezy and Michael asked him to stand on their front lawn for some pictures. They were careful to keep the parade a surprise for their son, who didn't realize what was happening until he heard honking horns and reeving engines approaching.
"The motorcycles were first," Breezy said. "They started doing the spin-outs with their tires, and everyone started screaming 'Happy Birthday!' And that's when he figured out that his parents made a parade for him."
More than 150 people assembled for Orion's birthday drive-by. Dozens of motorcycles, festooned with balloons and other birthday decorations, were followed by a convoy of sports cars, muscle cars and even a Castle Rock Medical Center ambulance.
Mitch Hodges, an American Legion Archie Hay Post 24 member in Rock Springs, organized the drive-by parade in a Western Wyoming Community College parking lot. Riders and drivers from the Badland Bandits, Unknown Saints Riding Club, Sons of Silence and Sweetwater Rodders and Corvette clubs lined up and rolled past Orion with a chorus of horns and engines.
Orion received gifts and cakes from some of his unexpected guests, the local Papa Murphy's donated five pizzas, and Riot Bumps and Jumps set up a bouncy house in the Turners' backyard. There was even a ride on a three-wheeled motorcycle waiting for Orion.
When the surprise parade ended, the Turner family returned home to celebrate with Orion.
Breezy said her son's eyes were full of joyful tears, as were the rest of the family's.
"Orion has ADHD," she said. “So, he got picked on for being 'the hyper kid.' He tends to limit his emotions, but he did not drop his smile the entire time. That was the one time I never saw his smile leave."
A Community Coming Together
Orion's surprise birthday drive-by was an uplifting experience for everyone who participated. Everyone's expectations were exceeded.
"I did not expect the community to pull together the way they did," Breezy said, "but they responded tenfold."
Orion watched most of his birthday drive-by in stunned silence, overwhelmed by the surprise and the outpouring of support for him and his family on a momentous occasion. Breezy said the incredible demonstration of the community's generosity has left a lasting impact on her son.
"He was very grateful for what everyone was willing to do for him," she said.
Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.
