The tragic events in Randolph on June 21, in which seven members and supporters of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club were killed when a truck crossed the center line and crashed into a group of riders on the way to an event at a local American Legion, has rocked the motorcycle community.
Described as a tight-knit group that participates in charity events all over the state, riders from around New Hampshire and New England are banding together to support their own.
On Saturday, the Memorial Ride for the Fallen 7 plans a large meetup at the Broken Spoke in Laconia. Mike Gasper of Greenfield caught wind of the ride that was created as a way to show support for the families of the seven, many of who were veterans, who died on their way to a charity event and immediately jumped into action.
Riders will be meeting at locations spread throughout the state, including at Bowling Acres in Peterborough, to travel together to the official ride that begins in Laconia with staging at 11 a.m. and kickstands up at noon.
Gasper is friends with Steve Allison, who was the one who came up with the idea, and quickly took the steps to let local riders that a group will be leaving Bowling Acres, the same venue where Monadnock Bike Nite is held every other Wednesday, to ride together to Laconia.
“From what I’m getting, it’s over 100 (from Peterborough), but we’re looking at thousands big picture,” Gasper said.
Bikers are asked to meet at 8:30 a.m. with kickstands up at 9 a.m., as the legion of Peterborough-area riders will make their way to the Broken Spoke in Laconia. There, they will meet up with fellow groups and make their way to Randolph with a guide from the NH State Police for a memorial. What started out as a modest idea has morphed and grown into an event that will encompass clubs and riders all across the state and beyond.
“We had the location and the ability to do it,” Gasper said. “And the biker community is always there to stand for its members,”
The proceeds from last week’s bike night, totaling more than $1,700, will be donated on behalf of the organization to the Jarheads Motorcycle Club to benefit the families of Michael Ferazzi, Albert Mazza, Desma Oakes, Aaron Perry, Daniel Pereira, and Jo-Ann and Edward Corr.
Individual riders and clubs can make donations and Gasper is hoping it will be a significant amount, even though he knows it won’t help ease the pain of their lost loved ones.
“It could have been anybody,” Gasper said. “It was just absolutely devastating to the biker community.”
While Gasper isn’t a veteran, he understands how important it is to honor and celebrate those who served – especially those who’s lives were such tragically cut short.
“We’re trying to show support for our fallen brothers and sisters, and our military brothers and sisters,” Gasper said.
Gasper isn’t sure how many riders will take part, but he knows it is going to be big and expects a lot of support along the way. Gasper said people are free to just show up Saturday morning to take part.
“We will make room for them,” Gasper said.
For Diane Salisbury of Wilton, joining Saturday’s ride was a no brainer. She comes from a family with a military background – both of her parents served in the Korean War – and she couldn’t help but feel for the families.
“They were just out doing something for somebody else,” Salisbury said. “And what’s most painful is the aftermath and the family they left behind.”
She knows the dangers that come with riding a motorcycle and has told her children on multiple occasions one simple message.
“When I leave home, I tell them, ‘if I die today, I died doing something that I love,’” Salisbury said. “I try not to think about it, but that weekend, I thought a lot about the dangers of it.”
Salisbury volunteers at Monadnock Bike Nite and will be taking part in the memorial ride with the American Legion Riders Chapter 23 out of Milford, her home club. It will be a small group, but she expects them to be part of something much bigger.
“This shows how powerful we can be when we come together,” Salisbury said. “I’m anticipating thousands and I hope there is because it’s for a good cause. It’s going to bring us together as motorcyclists and Americans to do something right.”
Tony Reagan, the owner of Bowling Acres, has played host to Monadnock Bike Nite for two years. The memorial ride comes right in the middle of his two-week vacation but he said he plans to come back on Saturday to make sure he’s there for what he feels is an important moment.
The Peterborough group will get some help from the Defiant Crew Motorcycle Club. The club will act as their road guards, helping to stop traffic at intersections so the group can stay together on their way to Laconia.
Defiant Crew member, who goes by Sanchez, was friends with Mazza who he knew as Woody.
“It hits home,” Sanchez said. “I’ve been to a lot of charity events with those guys.”
And when he got back on his bike the next day, it wasn’t easy.
“That weekend, the first time I got back on my bike, you can’t help but think about it,” he said. “But it’s a risk we take.”
And when he was asked to help watch over the Peterborough ride, he pointed to how important it is to support other riders.
“The club world is a tight-knit group,” Sanchez said.
And then there are people like Keith Chamberlain of West Peterborough. He used to ride but doesn’t have a bike anymore. Chamberlain is trying to get a bike to use, but even if he doesn’t, he’ll help in other ways.
“I’ll be here Saturday to help get everyone lined up,” Chamberlain said.
As a former rider and volunteer at Monadnock Bike Nite, Chamberlain knows how important the ride is.
“This hits the biker community hard,” he said. “Those people need our support.”
At Wednesday’s bike night, which is held every other Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m., Chamberlain donated items to be raffled off and will be following along with tools in his car in case anyone needs help along the way.
Donations can be made directly to the Jarheads MC, PO Box 362, Marlborough, MA 01752.
For more information about the Peterborough meetup for the Memorial Ride for the Fallen 7, visit www.facebook.com/Monadnockbikenite.