In November of 2002 Chapter 111 made their first ride to Andersonville as one of their regular chapter rides that year. Ten people made the trip. That trip planted the seeds for what has now become the annual Memorial Day event. A year and a half later in May of 2004 the first Memorial Day event was held. Roll forward to 2008 ...this year marked the fifth year that we have hosted the event. Each year it grows in attendance a little. The 2008 event had almost 50 people pre-register. The ride to Andersonville from Macon on Sunday had almost 40 bikes. It was without question the biggest turnout yet.

Mother Nature almost derailed the event with a direct tornado hit on Macon on Mother's Day weekend...just a couple weeks before our event. The tornadoes did some serious damage in the area. We were unable to contact the hotel for about a week, not knowing if it was still there or not. A few days before we were to arrive we finally were able to confirm the hotel was still there, albeit a little worse for the wear. The tornadoes had done some of the worse damage right in the area we were planning to be. The hotel suffered some cosmetic damage and is still hunting for a fence that surrounded the property and their main sign was gone. Additionally, the Fish and Pig restaurant where we normally have our Saturday night meal was badly damaged and would be unable to accommodate us this year. But despite the "twist" to our plans, everything went great.

The weather was pretty typical for the event...dry, sunny and hot. We did get a decent breeze for most of the day Saturday. Sunday was actually a little cooler than the last couple of years, and also had just enough of a breeze to cool you off when it did get too hot.

Attendees began arriving on Friday. Some of the first to show up were three STAR members from Ohio. They definitely traveled the longest distance and somehow managed to arrive first. As is the norm, we set up the Peach Room as command central. As everyone arrived they checked in there to receive their packets, cool off and relax after the ride to Macon. By dinner time we had a decent crowd checked in with many more planning to arrive Saturday and Sunday. We gathered everyone up and made our annual trek to Margarita's for some Mexican food and drink. With about twenty people in tow we arrived, ate, and drank until we were satisfied. From there everyone headed back to the hotel and the Peach Room for some socializing.

Since what happens in Macon stays in Macon, we can't reveal any names, but back at the Peach Room the conversation was lively and everyone enjoyed the laughter of "the margarita lady". We told stories, laughed and then laughed some more. The Peach Room is always one of the most interesting aspects of this event. Friday night was no exception!

For a few of us Saturday morning came all too soon. We headed over to the dealership to get everything set up. It was already warm and setting up the tents and getting stuff organized made everyone break a sweat, but a nice soft wind kept it all in check. We had a full day planned and the first thing was the trivia ride. This year we changed it a little and made it a trivia ride/poker hand. Riders answered questions along the ride route and then got to draw a card for each correct answer upon returning to the tent. We took the registration fee for the ride and split it 50/25/25 with 50% going to Feed the Children and the other 50% split between best hand and worst hand. A very special thanks to Ed and Debbie Coleman (from Macon) for coming up with this year's trivia route and historical information about the ride path and landmarks. I think it was our best ever. Winners were announced later in the day with Jim Hartman having the best hand and Ralph Kafka having the worst hand. Both winners generously donated their winnings back to Feed the Children. Thank you to both winners.

With everyone back from the trivia ride, it was lunch time. Capitol Cycles, the host dealer for the event provided hamburgers and hotdogs and cold drinks for everyone. This allowed everyone time to cool off from the ride and get some good food.

As lunch was winding down we began registration for the Show 'n' Shine and started setting up for the bike games. This was the first year for bike games. We felt like we needed a little more activity in the afternoon, so we came up with four games. The first three required a driver and passenger. The fourth game, the slow race was for a single rider. We had only three or four participants for each game. The balloon toss was a lot of fun and those who participated managed to get a little wet. Next up was a ball drop, where balls were picked up off of cones then replaced after a turn around. Those of us who tried had fun. Last was a ring toss. The passenger was given four rings to toss over the cones as you drove by. Everyone enjoyed watching.

Winners were: Balloon Toss - Tom Sobolewski & Sandy Yelverton, Ball Drop - Doug & Teresa Turco, Ring Toss - Preston & Stephanie Howard. Congratulations to the winners. Special thanks to Mitch Argo and Gary Kohl, II (G2) for planning and organizing the games.

Next we had the bike show. We had about ten people to enter their bikes. Entry fee was only $10 and all the money was going to FTC. Our bike show is meant more as a fun event and a fund raiser than a serious bike show. All entries are judged by the people and no one is looking at how clean the bike is. We had some special awards for the winners this year and those that didn't participate missed out on a chance to take home a one of a kind award. The awards were designed and produced by me, Gary Kohl (G1).

Winners are listed below.

STOCK CLASS - FIRST PLACE - MARY DAVIS
                                 SECOND PLACE - TOM MCGOWAN
                                 THIRD PLACE - GARY KOHL

SEMI-CUSTOM CLASS -  FIRST PLACE - JOHN DAVIS
                                                    SECOND PLACE - BILL THOMPSON
                                                    THIRD PLACE - RICH GRAY

CUSTOM CLASS - WINNER - GARY KOHL, II

PEOPLE'S CHOICE - WINNER - JOHN DAVIS

DEALER'S CHOICE - WINNER - MARY DAVIS

All day long we had been selling tickets for the 50/50 drawing. By drawing time we had $250 in the pot. This meant the winner's share would be $125. So with great anticipation we drew the winning ticket. Jim Hartman had the matching number and won the money. Jim generously donated most of the winnings back to FTC. Thank you Jim once again for your thoughtfulness and kindness.

We also had several items available for purchase via the silent auction. Each item was on display and you could bid by placing your  name and bid on a card and dropping it in the appropriate box. At the end of the day we opened the boxes and the highest bidder got to purchase the item for their bid amount. It is a fun way to do the silent auction because you never know what the highest bid will be.

All money goes to FTC as all items available were donated by STAR Motorcycles. A special thanks to Curtis Blanton at Star and Parts Unlimited/Capitol Cycles for helping us out. There was something for everyone, from helmets and a leather jacket to hats and motorcycle parts.

With all the prizes awarded and the auction concluded everyone headed back to the hotel for a refresh prior to dinner. With the Fish and Pig out of commission, we decided on a nearby Buffalo's for dinner. The management there was excited to have us. They knew we were coming and had blocked off a section of the parking lot for bike parking. They set aside the majority of the outside patio for us as well. It worked out great. Everyone was seated together allowing us to talk and enjoy each others company. The food and the service were both excellent. The servers and management truly seemed delighted to have us there. Thanks to Ed Coleman who rode around after the tornado and found us a safe, open place to have this dinner. After everyone got their fill we headed back to the hotel and the infamous Peach Room.

Saturday night in the Peach Room was one that will never be forgotten. The night's entertainment was provided by "John" who taught us to never give your real name in a bar....”no s&%t”!! As he straddled and rode the table he dispensed his wisdom and stories and we all laughed 'til it hurt. "Tony Dude" and "Roy Dude" added to the festivities and confused John a little. A very good time was had by all. Before we headed for our rooms, we all introduced ourselves, recognized our vets and went over the plans for the ride to Andersonville.

Sunday morning we assembled in front of the hotel for the ride to Andersonville. By the time we were ready to roll out we had 40 bikes. As we headed out the air was cool and other than the roar of our engines it was quiet as we rode through the Georgia countryside. The route to Andersonville is through Georgia farmland and forest. Not a lot out there, but to me, it is a beautiful ride. There are lakes and ponds, farmland and fields. There is a lot to see if you look. We arrived at Ryan's for lunch around 11am. This allowed us plenty of time to have our food and drink and still get to the park in plenty of time. "John" didn't eat too much, but everyone else got plenty to eat (for some reason, he skipped breakfast as well).

With the meal completed, we got back on the bikes and headed to a nearby gas station to let everyone refuel. Then it was over to the 'staging area' where we lined everyone up. We put all our vets in front as a position of honor. They are the men and women of STAR who have served our country defending our freedom. This was their day and they should lead us into the cemetery and the park that honors their fallen brethren.

Riding in to the cemetery is an experience. There are roughly nineteen thousand graves. Each grave is marked with an identical headstone and a small American flag. The flags were placed there for the weekend by the Boy Scouts. Just riding into the park and past all those graves makes you realize what Memorial Day is all about. After parking our bikes, we made a group picture and then headed over to the area where the ceremony was to be held. Arriving at the wreaths, we located the wreath that our Vets would present and made pictures with all our Star Vets around the wreath.

The ceremony is a little over an hour long. Normally it includes some patriotic and spiritual music by the Army band out of Columbus, Georgia. This day, the band was playing for troops returning from Iraq and was unable to be at the ceremony, so the music was recorded. After the music, there were several guest speakers. The main speaker was a US Navy Rear Admiral.

Although it was not as hot this year as it had been in some past years, it was still warm. A cool breeze would often blow canceling out the heat. Each year as I sit there and listen I think of the sacrifice American soldiers had made and were still making on MY behalf. Each year it becomes personal and I realize that my endurance of a measly 45 minutes of heat was nothing and could not compare to what our soldiers endure. I was ashamed of the fact that most Americans see this weekend not as a chance to honor these men and women, but as an opportunity for self indulgence, forgetting that they are able to boat on the lake, or lay in the hammock sipping a cold beer, because somewhere a fellow American was willing to lay down his life for our freedom. Yet, I was proud, proud to be there, proud to be a part of a group that was willing to give a little of our time to honor those men and women. As long as our group attends this ceremony, I will sit in the hot sun or even the pouring rain to honor the men and women who have died to let us be free.

After the speakers had spoken it was time for the presentation of wreaths. Each year we present a live wreath as STAR Vets. This year the wreath was presented Henry Williams and Harry Hyaduck, Sr. Henry is a vet from Chapter 111 and Harry a vet from Chapter 304. After the wreaths, the ceremony was closed with a 21 gun salute and the playing of taps. I never served in the military, but my dad was career Air Force. I understand taps and it always gets to me. I think of all the men and women who have died fighting for freedom and defending our country over the last 250 years. But beyond that, I think of all the parents, husbands, wives and children who lost their children, spouses and parents. We have to realize that the cost is even higher than the single human life lost. The cost includes the loss to families, friends and loved ones. How many times have taps been played? How many times has someone wept as they heard taps played for their, child, husband, wife, dad, mom, brother or sister? For us to remain free, it will never end. We need to thank them all. They have all given so much.

Harry Hyaduck, one of the wreath presenters wrote the following after the ceremony. Please take a minute to read what this meant to him.

I just wanted to thank you for allowing me to represent Star Touring and Riding, Chapter 111, Chapter 304, and the other Chapters represented by their members at Andersonville last Sunday. It was both an honor and privilege to be chosen as one of the two veterans chosen for the wreath ceremony.

This was my first visit to Andersonville and I have to admit I
was not prepared for what I saw as we entered the  park. I was overcome with sadness over the number of solders that had lost their lives in the defense of their country. I had to fight back tears for the first five minutes after we arrived and still get teary eyed when I think of all the graves.

 I wish everyone who lives in this country would go there so
that they to could rethink what sacrifices the veterans of this country
have done for them. I know that most people in this country support our troops but maybe if the ones who don't could go to Andersonville and see all the graves maybe it would change many of them.

With the ceremony ended, some needed to head back home, others immediately headed back to the hotel and the remainder went over to the POW museum to tour the facility. The museum provides a history of POW's and their treatment throughout history. It really gives you an appreciation for freedom and life. You get a really good idea of how war prisoners loose all their freedom in an effort to preserve ours. When everyone was done, we mounted up and headed back to the hotel in Macon.

Back in Macon, the event was now officially over. Some headed home, others waited until Monday morning. Those who hung around headed to their room or to the pool. Around dinner time, we did as we have done the last few years and ordered pizza.  It wasn't long before we were in the Peach Room once again, sharing pizza. The evening was a little calmer as everyone was a little tired from the day’s events. We did manage to get in some more good laughs. This evening there was no Margarita Lady and no John, but we had a good time just the same.

Monday morning those of us who were left said our goodbyes over breakfast in the hotel restaurant. We ate, talked about the weekend and other things, and put off leaving as long as we could. Eventually, however, we headed back to the hotel to pack up, check out and head home.

Each year, I look forward to this weekend. I anticipate it as much as STAR Days and maybe more. It has a meaning that other events lack. And, every year, I hate to see this weekend end. We always have a great time. We make new friends, enjoy old friends and honor our Vets. We laugh, we eat, we tell stories, we eat, and just simply enjoy life. It really is all about friends...the ride is just a bonus.  If I had to quit riding tomorrow, I would hate it, but I know I will always have the friendships and memories of these events. AND, in the process we honored those who have served and are serving, those who have died and will continue to die. To top it all off, we raised a little money for Feed the Children. It was a win, win, win weekend.

Next year we will do it again. We hope to make it even better and we hope it gets even bigger.  If you have ever been, plan on coming back. If you have never been, plan now on being there. Go ahead and put it on a calendar. Next year it will be May 22-26 (Friday through Monday). Make it the one event you do on Memorial Day weekend. When something else comes up...you have plans already. Don't miss it. You won't be sorry.

Attending (From Chapter 111):

Doug & Teresa Turco
Gary & Maria Kohl
Steve & Kay Argo
Mitch Argo
Gary Kohl II
Rick Curtis
Preston & Stephanie Howard
Henry Williams
Rick & Barbara Campbell
Rick Cothran