If there’s anyone who deserves to ride off into the sunset on a Harley, it’s my husband, Preston Barker—a man who has built his entire adult life around service, sacrifice, and a deep commitment to helping others, both in and out of uniform.
Preston served honorably in the United States Marine Corps from 2009 to 2015, including a deployment to Africa and years of tireless stateside service. But he didn’t hang up his sense of duty when he hung up his uniform. After the military, he became a firefighter, running toward danger while others ran away. He continued that path as an emergency manager, coordinating responses during some of California’s worst wildfires and disasters.
Since 2016, he’s volunteered with Team Rubicon—a veteran-led humanitarian organization—and has taken on leadership roles during disaster relief missions across the country. When people lose everything, he’s one of the first boots on the ground to help them rebuild.
At home, Preston is just as devoted. He’s a loving husband and father of three. Despite everything on his plate, he still finds time to serve our military community as a Key Support Liaison at Travis AFB, mentoring and supporting other military families through deployments, hardships, and life transitions.
Most recently, after a serious health scare related to acute myocarditis, Preston has been sidelined from emergency work and placed on inactive duty. But knowing him, “resting” just means finding new ways to serve—and he hasn’t slowed down a bit. He’s now back in school pursuing his dream of becoming a physician—either in emergency medicine or trauma surgery—so he can continue helping others in their most critical moments, just in a white coat instead of turnout gear.
He’s humble, selfless, and never asks for recognition. But I can’t think of anyone more deserving of it. Giving him the freedom of the open road on a Harley would be more than a gift—it would be a thank you for a life spent giving back, and a much-needed wind-in-his-hair moment for a man who’s carried so much weight for others.