6th Cavalry Museum annual Memorial motorcycle ride is May 28
The 6th Cavalry Museum’s annual Remembering Our Heroes Memorial Motorcycle Ride is Sunday, May 28. Riders start at the 6th Cavalry Museum on Barnhardt Circle, site of the former Army Post in Fort Oglethorpe.
Cost to participate is $20 per person or $30 per couple and includes the ride T-shirt, lunch and door prizes. All proceeds benefit the 6th Cavalry Museum in its mission to educate, preserve the history of and remember the contributions of those in the service of our country.
Registration for the ride begins at 9 am followed by the memorial service at 10 a.m. at the post memorial garden to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entering World War I. Six men from Catoosa and 11 men from Walker County died as a result of the war and a red poppy wreath complete with their name and service history will be placed in the memorial garden for each of them during the memorial service.
Pvt. Roy Conner of Ringgold was killed in action in the Argonne Sector, Northern France on October 31, 1918
Lt. Col. Emil P. Lawson of Fort Oglethorpe
Pvt. Wallace M. Lillard of Ringgold died from pneumonia May 15, 1917
Pvt. Jesse J. Roberson of Ringgold died from pneumonia October 8, 1918
Pvt. Thomas C. Williams of Ringgold was killed in action October 3, 1918
Pvt. Terrel Wimpy of Ringgold died from pneumonia November 9, 1918
Pvt. Jesse M. Durham of Kensington died from pneumonia on November 10, 1918
Pvt. Willard J. Eskew of Rossville was killed in action in France on November 9, 1918
Pvt. Charles B. Frady of LaFayette died from his wounds on September 15, 1918
Pvt. William L. Freeman of Chickamauga was killed in a motorcycle accident in France on June 24, 1918
Cpl. Ross Q. Graham of LaFayette died as a result of being gassed on June 16, 1918
Pvt. Crofford F. Green of Zone died from pneumonia on April 19, 1919
Pvt. Samuel G. Harp of Pittsburg died from pneumonia on September 22, 1918
Pvt. James E. Hunter of Kensington was killed in action September 29, 1918
Pvt. Thomas R. Mize of LaFayette died from pneumonia on April 21, 1918
Pvt. Fred Williams of Villanow died from pneumonia on October 3, 1918
Pvt. James F. Young of Walker County was killed in action on the French front on August 9, 1918
“Each year we memorialize a different group with the Remembering Our Heroes ride. It’s only fitting that as we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entering World War One that we remember our local men who never came back to their families because they made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Chris McKeever, 6th Cavalry Museum director. The red poppy became the international symbol of World War I with the May, 1915 poem “In Flanders Field” written by Canadian military doctor Major John McCrae. VFW Post 3679 has donated the red poppy flower for each rider to wear.
This is the third year that Gary Boyd and Peter Hanson have chaired the ride. Kickstands up at 11 a.m. where the riders will travel through north Georgia and into Chattanooga with a stop at the National Cemetery for riders to pay their respects. The ride concludes at Thunder Creek HarleyDavidson for post ride food and door prizes.
The museum extends a special invitation to the families who lost loved ones in World War One to attend the Memorial service at 10 am. For more information about the ride e-mail chris@6thcavalrymuseum. or call 706-861-2860. Online registration is encouraged at 6thcavalrymuseum.com.