Nearly 1,000 bikers show support at Armed Forces Freedom Ride

Published May 24, 2012
By 2nd Lt. Alexis McGee
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- The sixth annual Armed Forces Freedom Ride rolled through base May 20 providing nearly 1,000 motorcyclists an unmatched tour of the installation.

The one-hour bike ride, held a day after Armed Forces Day, started at Barb's Harley Davidson in Mt. Ephraim, N.J., and travelled nearly 40 miles to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, finishing with a lunch at Doughboy Field.

The parade of motorcycles entered JB MDL at the Wrightstown Gate, before taking a ride down the flight line and heading to Doughboy Field. The trip down the flight line gave the motorcyclists an incomparable experience few get the chance to have, but many of the motorcyclists insist that they come out every year not only for the unique opportunities, but also to support the service members.

"I come out every year because of the benefits the troops get," said Angel Pizzula from Langhorne, Pa. "My father served two tours in Vietnam and my brother was stationed here."

Many of the motorcyclists who attended the event are current or former military service members; several of whom expressed their gratitude for today's service members.

"Being from the military, I'm always doing things to support the military," said Larry Madak who spent 27 years in naval aviation. "I have a genuine appreciation for what these guys do through the hours they put in. Without the military, we wouldn't be doing what we're doing today; riding our motorcycles."

Madak, who is from Newtown, Pa., participated in the ride for the first time this year, but said he plans to do it again in the future.

Many distinguished visitors and motorcycle enthusiasts joined the ride. Medal of Honor recipient, Brian Thacker, from Wheaton, Md., attended the event. Chief Master Sgt. Terrence Greene, JB MDL command chief, read Thacker's Medal of Honor Citation that he was awarded Oct. 15, 1973, by President Richard Nixon for his actions during the Vietnam War.

Both wing commanders, Col. John Wood, JB MDL and 87th Air Base Wing commander, and Col. Paul Murphy, 305th Air Mobility Wing commander, thanked the motorcyclists for participating in the event and supporting the service members.

Many distinguished visitors were also in attendance including: Congressman Jon Runyan from New Jersey's 3rd District,; U.S. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Philip Breedlove; U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center Commander, Maj. Gen. William Bender; Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics, Terry Yonkers; Marine Corps Lt. Gen (ret.) Richard Zilmer; and New Jersey State Senator-District 5, Donald Norcross.

"We try to host events like this to promote good community relations between the base and our community and also to promote motorcycle safety," said Adam Buehler, JB MDL Freedom Ride representative and Programs and Resources Manager with Emergency Management. "May is motorcycle safety month and we want to bring awareness that motorcycles are out there."

Any service member who showed up to the event in uniform was offered a free lunch courtesy of the event sponsors.

Article Display