Motorcycle Riders Remember Fribley, Raise Money For Young Tigers Football
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
American Legion Post 49 will hold a benefit motorcycle ride Saturday to remember lives lost and those who have survived from war.
Registration will be held Saturday at the Legion, 301 N. Buffalo St., Warsaw, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cost to participate is a donation of $5 per rider, and a $5 donation per passenger.
Post 49 Commander Bob Morrison said this is the first year for the ride. He is expecting 500 riders to participate.
The 68-mile ride will leave American Legion Post 49 at 2:30 p.m. and go through Etna Green, Nappanee, Syracuse, North Webster and Pierceton, and return to the American Legion in Warsaw.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins will lead the ride along with Indiana American Legion Adjunct Steve Short.Motorcycle groups such as the Legion Riders, Patriot Guard, ABATE, Harley Owners Group and Lake City Gold Wing Riders will participate in the ride.
"At the end of the day we must all ask ourselves if we have done enough for our veterans, and the ride is a way to support veterans," Morrison said.
Proceeds collected from the motorcycle ride will benefit the Young Tigers Football League.
Lance Corporal David Fribley will be remembered during the event.
Fribley, a former Atwood resident, was killed in March 2003 in a rocket-propelled grenade attack when Iraqi troops failed to surrender.
In June 2006, the Young Tigers Football organization named their new field after the Warsaw Community High School football and track and field standout.
Colonel Russell Arden Poor and Major William Lee Nellans, both formerly of Warsaw, who were identified as missing in action, also will be remembered.
Poor served as a Ltn. Colonel with the U.S. Air Force in the 41st tactical reconnaissance squadron in Thailand. He has been declared missing in action since Feb. 4, 1967.
Nellans served as a major with the U.S. Air Force in the 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in South Vietnam. He has been declared missing in action since Sept. 17, 1967.
A member of the Rolling Thunder, Indianapolis, will read 57 names of Indiana men and women who are missing in action or prisoners of war during a ceremony at the American Legion.
Former service men and women will receive poppies and put them on a table in front of the War Memorial at the Kosciusko County courthouse and salute the names. Civilians will put poppies on the table and put their hands over their heart.
Local classic rock band Relics will perform beginning at 7 p.m.
Morrison said during the Relics show, he and Relics band member Gary Gerard - who both currently sport shoulder-length hair - will get flattops on stage from Conley's Barber Shop employees if an additional $1,000 is raised by those attending the event. Warsaw resident Ray Bledsoe also has volunteered to cut his hair.
The money raised from the haircuts will go toward a scholarship fund for the orphans of soldiers killed in action.
For more information about the ride, call Morrison at 574-269-3437.
