19th annual Veterans Memorial Ride rolls Sunday in Gardner
GARDNER ― Veterans, start your engines.
Hundreds of bikers are expected to take part in the 19th annual Vietnam Veterans of America Memorial Ride this weekend. The event, which is sponsored and organized by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 907 in Gardner, invites members of motorcycle clubs near and far to ride in honor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of the nation.
The ride will begin, rain or shine, at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Polish American Citizens Club, 171 Kendall Pond Road West.
Jim Benton, secretary of Chapter 907, said the annual motorcycle run was the first of its kind in New England when it began nearly two decades ago. He said the event, which is free, had steadily grown in popularity over the years, attracting bikers from across the country each Memorial Day weekend.
“We have people from New York and New Jersey, Pennsylvania and all of New England who come to take part in the ride,” he said. “Last year, we had a veterans' motorcycle crew from Texas who were going to a rally in New York, but they came up a week early so they could ride with us.”
Over 1,000 motorcyclists showed up to take part in the ride one year, Benton added.
Not your typical motorcycle rally
The ride, which opens with an honor guard presentation and prayer, was not a typical motorcycle rally, Benton said. He said the event following the ride gave residents a chance to honor their country’s veterans while also enjoying an afternoon of food, live music, raffles and the sight of hundreds of big bikes in the PACC parking lot.
“I think the public enjoys coming out to see $1 million or more worth of very well-maintained motorcycles,” he said. “There are a lot of beautiful, custom bikes that people really take pride in.”
Benton predicted that at least 300 bikers would take part in this year’s ride, but said he wouldn’t be surprised if double that number showed up for the event.
WGAW owner Steve Wendell, a Navy veteran, will be the guest speaker at the event. Country rock will be provided courtesy of the band Trigger South.
More: History on the move again - new home sought for Gardner News archives. Here's what we know
Ride to include stop at Veterans Cemetery in Winchendon
The route, which will take riders on a two-hour loop from the PACC into Rindge, New Hampshire, and back through Ashburnham, will include a stop at about 11 a.m. at the Massachusetts State Veterans Cemetery in Winchendon. Benton said the cemetery visit was often an emotional moment for the bikers.
“We’re very blessed in this area to have one of the most beautiful veterans cemeteries anywhere – I mean, it’s just an absolutely gorgeous place,” he said, adding that many residents usually turned out to watch the motorcycles arrive at the cemetery each year. “We’ll be at the cemetery for about 30 or 40 minutes.”
Benton said the annual event would be impossible to pull off without the generous help of the Elks Riders, the Patriot Riders and the PACC, which donates its space and services each year free.
More: Several Greater Gardner communities to hold town-wide yard sales
“We use the PACC because they are so supportive of this program,” he said. “In fact, they incur a lot of expenses by renting out port-a-potties and paying for trash removal. They bend over backwards just to help us out.”
Organizers would be getting together over the summer to begin planning some special events for the ride’s 20th anniversary next year, according to Benton.
“Local rides like this one help to support veterans throughout our community in a variety of ways and our local posts and legions do a great job making sure to touch as many veteran-focused causes as possible,” said Stephanie Marchetti, executive director of the Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center.
“Gardner has a very active philanthropy-focused group of veterans and riders and we are fortunate to have them. I am hoping they have a great turnout and a beautiful day for this important annual event.”
For more information, visit VVA Chapter 907 on Facebook or call 978-618-6881.
This article originally appeared on Gardner News: 19th annual Veterans Memorial Ride on Sunday, May 28.
