More than 1,000 expected for annual Freedom Ride

Published May 13, 2009
Burlington County Military Affairs Committee

JOINT BASE McGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST -- Joe Verrill will travel 3,000 miles this year to ride 32 miles in the Third Annual Armed Forces/Medal of Honor Freedom Ride on May 17.

"I flew out to California in November and participated in a ride with my brother,'' said Ken Verrill of Medford. "There were 20,000 bikes and it was a nightmare. I told Joe he had to come to our Freedom Ride, that it put that ride in Glendale (Calif.) to shame.''

Ken Verrill has earned a sense of ownership in the Freedom Ride. He got his first Harley-Davidson in1976, but was not a regular participant in any organized rides until he participated in the first two Freedom Rides. Now, he vows never to miss one.

More than 1,000 motorcycle riders are expected to participate in the ride on May 17, which begins at 10 a.m. off base. Once the bikers arrive on the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, the ceremony will begin at noon at Dough Boy Field.

The route for the 32-mile motorcycle ride from Barb's Harley-Davidson/Buell in West Collingswood Heights, N.J., will proceed east on Route 168 (Black Horse Pike) to North I-295 to Exit 45A (Willingboro-Mount Holly). The riders will continue east on County Route 626 (Beverly-Rancocas Road), past the County Administration Building into downtown Mount Holly, turning right onto High Street and then left onto Washington/Mill Street. The riders will bear left onto Branch Street and follow Monmouth Road (CR537) to right on Georgetown Road (CR545) to McGuire Access Road and onto the base.

Between 11 and noon, the following roads will be closed for the parade: McGuire AFB Main Gate, McGuire Boulevard, East Arnold Avenue, Sheppard Bridge Road, West Arnold Avenue and Broidy Road. The following Fort Dix roads will be closed: Texas Avenue, Eighth Street, Pennsylvania Avenue and 16th Street.

Participants will receive lunch, an event pin, live music and entertainment, photo opportunities and vendors.

The Freedom Ride raises money to support the efforts of the Burlington County Military Affairs Committee, or BCMAC, and the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation. Last year, the event raised $30,000 and had 1,101 participants.

BCMAC is a volunteer organization that supports military members and veterans, and their families and is a liaison to the Joint Base for the Freeholders.

The MCLEF provides assistance to children of Marines or Federal law enforcement personnel who were killed on duty or died under extraordinary circumstances while serving our country at home or abroad. Assistance is primarily in the form of scholarships for higher education.

The $30 application fee will be waived for active-duty Air Force bikers. For more information and registration, go online to www.armedforcesfreedomride.org or call (609) 265-5008.

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