Revving up for the big run

It was a brilliant day on Saturday May 17 with a big, blue sky for the first American Legion “Armed Forces Run.”

Kearny’s Veterans American Legion Post – 99 auxiliary ladies coordinated the fundraiser for the 3000 soldiers who will be deployed to Iraq in June. The money collected ($20 a head) and additional funds from the motorcycle riders will be used to send packages to the troops and to help their families.

The Armed Forces Run started at Post - 99 on Belgrove Drive.  The riders were escorted along the way by police units and American Legion Riders Bayonne - Post 19.

“This is the biggest deployment since WWII. The funds raised also went toward the deployment ceremony,” VFW Auxiliary Ladies member Debbie Noble said. “We’re also actively recruiting to get people involved – reaching out to Posts and Auxiliaries all over the country.”

She also handled all the calls for donations.

Over 75 bikers came out to help raise funds for the American soldiers about to enter active duty as well as their families.

The brilliant motorcade took a 100-mile route from Interstate 280 to Interstate 80 to Interstate 287 to Rt. 15 and then back along the same highways.

Kearny resident Tom Watson rides a Suzuki GSXR1000. He said he began riding when he was a teenager. He easily made the transition from dirt bikes to a Harley-Davidson. Besides owning Watson’s Print Shop on Kearny Avenue, the avid biker said he was riding to show support for the American Troops in Iraq.

“I like helping people. The Kearny Police Department in turn is helping us by escorting the bikers the whole route so we don’t get stopped,” Watson said.

Juan Dominguez works for the Kearny Department of Public Works. He said while he is a motorcycle enthusiast, being able to raise money for the soon-to-be deployed troops is a tangible way to show support and respect.

“It’s one thing to ride for pleasure but to ride for a close to home cause is even better,” Dominguez said.

Registration for the run started at 8 a.m. and ended at 9:45 a.m. Kickstands were up and rearing to go by 10 a.m.

“Local armory pantries in Hudson, Bergen and Essex Counties will dispense holiday cards, gift certificates and food for needy families of the troops going to Iraq,” Noble said.

The director of the American Legion Post 19, Jim Noble, said that the American Legion and the Elk Club members support the veterans “big time.”

“The Legion riders come from all over the state,” he said. “We’ll also escort.”

After the long road trip, the merry bikers attended a ceremony on Post- 99 grounds and then sat down to eat lunch provided by the auxiliary ladies.

The donation for the hearty meal was $20.

The youngsters were delighted to see the shiny vehicles roar through town and were happy with the huge quantities of food and cold drinks.

State Legion Chairperson, Mary Allyn Fisher, whose husband was a veteran of Vietnam, got involved in the American Legion three years ago. Her husband died nine years ago.

“One of the mainframes of the American Legion is that it is good for the entire family,

 Fisher said. “It’s a support community for the children as well as the soldiers.”

Commander Tony Capitti of the Post - 99 said that the building used to be a horse barrack during the Civil War.

Overlooking the Veteran’s field is the infamous statue of a Civil War infantryman that was dedicated last year. The original statue was thought of as lost and then the Township Monument Committee finally discovered it at an army barracks in East Orange.

“We are very grateful to Mayor Al Santos, who bent over backwards to help us make this day great. The Recreation Department helped, Kearny police kept Belgrove Drive closed off between Bergen Avenue and Afton Street and enforced the no parking zone,” Capitti said. “The Kearny Fire Department brought over their grill and has actively been our suppliers.”

He said the community was also “very supportive by working together to help veterans.”

Capitti was past state president and has been very active in the past five- to six years.

“There are a lot movers and shakers. Members are better involved in the past 10 years,” he said. “In the past year, Kearny High School students made up buddy boxes for the soldiers.”

Here was one instance where the community united for a common cause – giving to our soldiers and keeping the wives and kids connected.

Armed Forces Run Video