Motorcycle Memorial 30th Anniversary
If “lick, gap, hollow, or creek” are in the name of the road, take it!
~Motorcycle wisdom
Hopedale is home to the Fallen Motorcycle Memorial, a monument to riders gone too soon. A Motorcycle Memorial Wall, similar to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC, contains names of fallen brothers and sisters from all 50 states and other countries. The memorial, established in 1993, is funded by the Motorcyclist Memorial Foundation, which cares for the memorial which is located behind the American Legion Post 682.
Gas-powered motorcycles began back in 1885 in Germany. This early motorcycle was a wooden frame with a gas engine attached. Things have certainly progressed from that early time and today there is a wide assortment of motorcycles from which to choose.
Riding a motorcycle is fun and exciting with the freedom to enjoy the open road with a sense of adventure. Some like it for speed, while others find it a relaxing way to spend a day as they ride the back roads and enjoy the scenery. Many like the camaraderie of riding in groups where they often help with community projects such as collecting toys for Christmas giving.
Of course, riding a motorcycle is an easy way to commute to work and saves on the gasoline bill. Their gas mileage rivals the most economical small cars. Caution must be taken to stay out of a car’s blind spot and motorists need to be aware of watching for motorcycles on the highway.
Those who enjoy the thrill of riding motorcycles directed the building of the Motorcycle Memorial Wall with incredible detail. Milligan Memorials of Coshocton etched the Indian Black Stone, the darkest of all marbles, which stands atop a grassy knoll. The words written on the stone were written by Dan Waterfield of Oregon, Ohio. Anne Milligan etched the image of the man and woman riding their motorcycles on the winding road while Tim Milligan installed and etched the names of the loved ones lost on the gray pillars.
Each end of the wall is bookended by a full-size 2-D motorcycle carved from that same black granite. The bikes can slide outward as new sections are added for fallen bike riders. In 1993, there were only two slabs with names. Today there are dozens of slabs listing names of bikers who have gone on so there will be a permanent memory of fallen brothers and sisters of the open road.
Hundreds of motorcyclists, their friends and family members are expected to converge on this Harrison County community on this Memorial Day weekend, May 26-27, for the 30th annual rededication of the Motorcyclist Memorial. Every year during Memorial Day weekend, they rededicate the wall and add more names to the granite pillars on each side of the monument. Nearly 1200 show up annually for this event.
Motorcycle enthusiasts will enjoy a trip to Hopedale just east of Cadiz to see the wall for themselves. Visit during their Rededication Ceremony on May 26-27. Activities include a ceremony at 11:30 when the names of newly fallen riders will be put on the black marble monument, plus live bands, vendors, and a bike rodeo. Charge for admission is $15 per person for the weekend with funds used to care for and update the wall.
The Memorial Wall is located at 48225 Rabbit Road in Hopedale. If you have any questions, call (740) 317-3433. Come join in the celebration on May 26-27.
Gypsy Road Trip 