Leaving at 11 a.m. from American Legion Post 233 in Loganville, 177 motorcyclists made their way Monday to American Legion Calvin George Post 37 in Madison as part of the 26th annual Memorial Day “Ride for America.”
This year’s Memorial Day began with rainy weather, forcing about a 15-minute delay in the procession’s arrival at Madison Town Park. However, the weather cleared up just in time for hundreds of attendees to watch the bikes circle the park and hear several speeches on the importance of the occasion.
This year, the local Ride for America honored the late Jim NeSmith, former commander at Madison’s Post 37. His widow, Vicki, was designated the ride’s grand marshal.
NeSmith, who passed away last year, served more than 30 years as the local Legion commander, a position now held by Dave Belton.
“Jim was such a special person,” Ride for America leader Stan Mauldin said during the event. “We just felt like we could not go through the year without remembering Jim.”
During his speech to the crowd, Mauldin described the event’s history and remarked on how it has “come so far.” He discussed how the event was “a dream” of another late friend, Gary Lemons.
“Gary approached me and said, ‘You know, we got to put this thing together,’” Mauldin said, admitting he initially thought it would simply be something nice to do with a few other motorcycle-riding friends on Memorial Day.
According to Mauldin, the first-ever Ride for America had only 47 motorcyclists participating.
“The last couple of years, when God blessed us with this great sunshine that we are experiencing right now, we were approaching a thousand motorcycles,” he pointed out. “That is the second biggest Ride in the nation, and Gary and I never thought it would happen that way.”
Due to the event being hosted by American Legion posts from both Madison and Loganville, representatives from both cities spoke at the event.
“Today, we pay special tribute to our fallen servicemen and women for their courage, dedication, and sacrifice to our country,” Madison Mayor Fred Perriman said. “If words cannot repay the debt, we owe these great men and women, surely with our actions, we must strive to keep favor with them and with the vision that led them to battle to final sacrifice.”
Perriman called Memorial Day a “solemn day of remembrance,” and suggested, “When we ask ourselves where we would be without the imperative sacrifice made by these men and women, it is right that we honor the fallen.”
Perriman also said veterans and military members currently serving are the only people who can “truly understand the sacrifice” made in support and defense of the nation and its citizens.
“We thank our fallen heroes today for what they did for our country, and those still serving and on the way,” Perriman concluded.
State Representative Rey Martinez for Loganville’s 111th district also spoke at the event, bringing about a large round of applause from attendees.
“Freedom is not free,” Martinez declared. “This statement holds for our nation’s heroes’ sacrifices to ensure that we enjoy the freedoms we have today.”
Martinez, a 20-year U.S. Navy veteran, discussed how “fallen heroes gave their lives for a cause greater than themselves,” and described how their duty to the country was placed above personal interests and desires.
“Their sacrifice reminds us that freedom is never free and that we must be willing to defend it at all costs,” Martinez concluded.