Hempfield bike run, memorial display will honor service members killed post-9/11
Jul. 24—Tributes to those who have died as a result of military service since 9/11 will be featured Aug. 5 as part of a Fallen Heroes Run and Military Appreciation Day in Hempfield.
The fifth annual motorcycle run organized by Monroeville-based nonprofit Operation Vet NOW is dedicated to the memory of more than 40 area service members who were killed in action in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The run will include a stop at the Westmoreland County Veterans of the War on Terror memorial plaza, under development at Twin Lakes Park off Georges Station Road in Hempfield.
Run participants will depart at 10 a.m. from the Z&M Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership along Route 30 in Hempfield, where they will register beginning at 8 a.m.
The dealership also will host a display of a traveling Veterans and Athletes United Fallen Heroes Memorial Aug. 2-6.
The 28-foot-long memorial is in the shape of a flag, created from individual dog tags that each represent one of the more than 7,000 U.S. troops who have been lost in the global war on terror.
Fifty gold stars that are part of the memorial honor the nation's Gold Star families, who have lost a loved one through military service in a time of conflict. The memorial also includes a veteran-crafted battlefield cross (combination of helmet, inverted rifle and combat boots) sculpted from mahogany.
Construction recently was completed on the concrete base of the war on terror memorial plaza and four corner planters.
Dorey Stabile, president of the Westmoreland County Veterans of the War on Terror, said a series of planned monuments aren't expected to be in place at the Twin Lakes plaza by Aug. 5.
But, she said, the Fallen Heroes Run riders "will be able to stop there for a ceremony" and get an idea of how the finished plaza will look. "There is a sign that has our organization's logo and a digital rendering of the plaza," she said.
The goal in bringing the ride participants to the site is "to make sure people know about it," Stabile said.
When the riders complete their run and return to the motorcycle dealership, they'll witness an additional ceremony, when Operation Vet NOW will read names and display photos of area service members killed in Iraq.
Some World War II veterans who live at the Southwestern Veterans Center in Pittsburgh are expected to visit for the ceremony.
"They're in their 90s," said Tony Aubrey, team member with OVN. "We go out there and play bingo with them."
From 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 5, Z&M also will host a Veterans Village that is open to the public. It features displays and resources of interest to veterans, along with food and live music.
Music will be provided by a rock covers band consisting of one active-duty service member and three others who are retired from military service.
"Their passion is to help their fellow veterans," Aubrey said. "One of those gentlemen is on our board. He's a 30-year veteran who lives down near Fort Bragg.
"He did 18 deployments and suffered a traumatic brain injury."
Music therapy is one of the ways OVN wants to help as it focuses on supporting the mental health and wellness of veterans, Aubrey said. Sports is another vehicle the organization uses to connect with veterans.
"We have ambassador athletes who are all veterans," he said. "It's an extension of our outreach and a platform to reach more veterans."
The cost to participate in the Fallen Heroes Run is $25 per bike. Visit opvetnow.org to register and for more information about the event and the organization.
Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jeff by email at jhimler@triblive.com or via Twitter .
