Guardian Brotherhood will ride to raise money for flags
By Staff Reports
Published in News on September 7, 2013 10:33 PM
A mother stands by a grave saying goodbye to her son -- or daughter -- who has given his or her life in service to his or her country.
Taps ends, the flag is folded and the service ends.
And then there are nothing but memories and grief that never really fades.
The members of the Guardian Brotherhood understand that pain. They, too, have watched friends die -- or have suffered injuries in combat.
And next weekend, they are going to use the proceeds from the group's annual Poker Run to try to help honor those young men and women who have given all -- and the mothers who will never forget them.
The group's Honor and Remember Memorial Run is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 14.
Proceeds from the event will be donated to the North Carolina Chapter of Honor and Remember -- an organization that orders personalized Honor and Remember flags for families of fallen troops.
Each flag costs $500 -- and they are not provided by the government when a young service member dies. And while there are many families who can afford to have the flag to fly at their homes, there are many who cannot.
Honor and Remember is run by Kathy Moore, a Gold Star mother herself, who works with other volunteers to raise money to provide the funds necessary to purchase flags for families who cannot afford to pay for a flag of their own.
Money raised from the run will be used to provide five of those flags, which will be presented to North Carolina families this November at the state Gold Star Banquet in Greenville.
In addition to the work for the families, the groups are also hoping to get the Honor and Remember flag to become a national symbol for those who have lost their lives in service to their country -- a petition will be available at Saturday's run for that purpose as well.
But before the Guardian Brotherhood can help the Gold Star Mothers, the group need riders.
The day begins with registration at 10 a.m. Cost to enter the ride is $20 per rider with $10 for a passenger.
The first bike will pull out at noon, with the last bike out at 1 p.m.
The Poker Run will include starts and stops for 100 miles. The event begins at Berkeley Mall, next to Firestone, in Goldsboro. Other stops will include Shadow Hawk Wild Bills Western Town, 494 Bonnie Ave., Smithfield; Whiskey Dicks Saloon, 2101 U.S. Highway 70 East; Open Road Biker Gear, 4752 U.S. 70 East and Murray's Barbeque and Seafood, 413 E. New Hope Road.
A ticket will buy a rider a chance at a legion of door prizes as well as food and beverages. There will also be a 50/50 drawing.
There will be a best bike contest -- with trophies.
Can't make the run? Call August Miller, at 919-394-7712.