Harley-Davidsons roar into town for POW/MIA Run in Germany
By Sean E. Cobb, Stars
and Stripes
Robert Gray |
GRIESHEIM, Germany — The air will vibrate and the ground will quake Friday when
more than 500 Harley-Davidsons and their riders arrive in Griesheim, Germany, for the 2001
Memorial Day POW/MIA Run and Party.
The event, which runs through Monday, will be at the Rod and Gun Club hangar and
features a parade of bikers traveling 25 miles to the Wiesbaden-Erbenheim POW/MIA monument
for a wreath-laying ceremony Sunday.
“We hope people will come out and experience this with us,” said Robert Gray,
director of the Rhein Valley Legion Chapter of the Harley Owner’s Group. “There
is going to be a lot of fun with great rock ’n’ roll music, comedy shows, biker
games and, of course, all the bikes to look at.”
The event is sponsored by the Rhein Valley Legion Chapter, the only U.S. military
chapter of HOGS in Europe and the largest outside of the continental United States,
according to Gray.
Entertainment includes the German biker rock and heavy metal band Beinhardt, local
comedian Woody Feldmann, a rock and country disc jockey and biker games for children and
adults.
The biker games are scheduled for Saturday and include beer-barrel slow racing,
beer-barrel throwing, a kids and adult wienie bite and a potato hunt. Prizes will be
awarded.
“This is awesome fun for kids,” said Isabelle Neuser, 13, of Karbon, Germany.
“My friends and other kids should come out for the games — they are great.
I’m pretty good at them too.” Isabelle took first place in last year’s
wienie-bite competition.
Making this a family event is one of the group’s goals.
“It helps to break down the stereotype that bikers are just hell-raisers,”
Gray said. “We also build up the military community and help to strengthen ties with
the German community. This is why we have a German band and invite the German community
— we want to get everyone together.”
Sean Cobb / Stars and Stripes
Abourt 500 Harley-Davidsons and their riders are expected in Griesheim, Germany, for the
2001 Memorial Day POW/MIA Run and Party this weekend. |
The event also is an important fund-raiser for the group, according to Gray. “The
money we raise from ticket sales and the biker games, we donate to many local charities,
like DARE, an unwed mother’s group, high school booster clubs and German
orphanages,” he said.
Since its inception in 1993, the chapter has donated more than $25,000 to charity.
Aside from the wreath-laying ceremony and the games, the event also gives bikers a
chance to check out other motorcycles, swap stories and ride.
“I love everything about riding,” said Manuela Woodrum, who showed up early
to help set up. “This is a good way to meet other people with the same interests.
It’s also a good atmosphere.
“I’m hoping someday I can get my husband to share my interest in this and
come ride with me,” said the 1985 FXR rider.
“Come out, check us out,” Gray said, “and see what we are all
about.”
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