Monday, July 30, 2007

Jennifer Peryam
Times-Union Staff Writer

Monday, July 30, 2007

Linda (L) and Gary Fribley (C) speak with William Dunlap, gunnery sergeant for the U.S. Marines, Saturday at Warsaw American Legion Post 49 during the Legion’s Lance Corporal David Fribley Young Tiger Football Motorcycle Ride. Photo by Jennifer Peryam, Times-Union

Gary and Linda Fribley described their son Saturday as loving, polite and a young man who loved to give back to his community and country.

The Fribleys are the parents of Lance Corporal David Fribley, one of the many servicemen who were remembered during a motorcycle ride to raise funds for Young Tigers Football.

Money also was raised for scholarship funds for the orphans of soldiers killed in action.

David Fribley, a former Atwood resident, was killed in March 2003 in a rocket-propelled grenade attack when Iraq troops failed to surrender.

In June 2006, the Young Tigers Football organization named their field after the Warsaw Community High School football and track and field standout.

Gary said his son would be awed by the support from the community during Saturday's motorcycle ride.

"David would be honored to be part of today because he was about doing whatever he could for his country," Gary said.

"We also want to honor the veterans, armed forces and law agencies today because they helped shape this country."

Approximately 263 motorcyclists rode throughout Kosciusko County Saturday, honoring and remembering soldiers like Fribley who have lost their lives in war or have been declared missing in action.

Motorcycle groups such as the Legion Riders, Patriot Guard, ABATE, Harley Owners Group and the Lake City Gold Wing Riders participated in the 68-mile ride.

The route began at the American Legion in Warsaw, and continued through Etna Green, Nappanee, Syracuse, North Webster and Pierceton.

American Legion Post 49 held the event for the first year.

Bob Morrison, Post 49 commander, said he was pleased with the ride.

"It went really well, but the ride was a little long so we might shorten it next year and form committees to organize next year's event," Morrison said.

Morrison thanked law enforcement in each town who directed traffic as the motorcyclists drove through the towns.

There was $1,000 raised for orphans of troops killed in action, and $1,360 was raised for Young Tigers Football. There was $300 raised from those who purchased poppies, and $1,145 was raised from a smoker raffle that will go toward the American Legion Women's Auxiliary general budget.

The auxiliary funds will support activities such as girls state, where the women's auxiliary sponsor young women to attend a conference in Indianapolis to learn about government.

Morrison, Relics band member Gary Gerard and Warsaw resident Ray Bledsoe, sporting shoulder-length hair, received haircuts from Bob Conley his son Nelson, of Conley's Barber Shop. The three agreed to cut their hair Saturday night during the Relics show at the American Legion if at least $1,000 was raised for the orphan fund. The goal was met in a matter of minutes.

A ceremony also was held at the War Memorial at the Kosciusko County courthouse to remember soldiers.

There were 57 names of Indiana men and women who were missing in action or prisoners of war whose names were read. Former service men and women and civilians received poppies and put them on a table in front of the memorial.

The American Legion Post 49 Color Guard shot off rifles, and played Taps during the ceremony to remember the soldiers.

Colonel Russell Arden Poor, formerly of Warsaw, was one of the men declared as missing in action during the ceremony.

Poor served as a Lt. Colonel with the U.S. Air Force in the 41st tactical reconnaissance squadron in Thailand. He has been declared missing in action since Feb. 4, 1967.

Poor's first cousin, Barbara Anderson, Winona Lake, attended the memorial ceremony. Anderson placed flowers by the memorial to remember her first cousin and held his yearbook and family photos in her lap.

"If he were here today, he would be first in line to participate in the motorcycle ride," Anderson said.

Morrison presented six Duke Awards Saturday. The award was started by the American Legion in 2006 to honor people who have supported their country and community.

Recipients of the awards included Chris Moore, owner of Freedom Cycle; Charlie Smith, Lake City Bank; John Sammons, past Legion post commander; Blue Garr, Legion rider commander; Bill Grow, motorcycle enthusiast; and Carl Sowers, Young Tigers Football.