BIKER NEWS: Motorcyclists take Ride for Freedom through Berks County

BN- They gathered as they have for the last 22 years to remember those who never came home.

Over 2,000 people headed to a ceremony Sunday at City Park, including about 1,800 motorcyclists who traveled from Oley to Womelsdorf to Reading on their bikes during the 22nd annual Ride for Freedom.



The annual ride and ceremony serve as a promise to remember all veterans who were prisoners of war or went missing in action.

In Pennsylvania, there are 91 veterans who are unaccounted for, and it's important to remember them and honor their sacrifice, said Bernie Bingham, president of the Reading Motorcycle Club and executive director of the POW/MIA Forget-Me-Nots.



"They don't have a voice," Bingham said. "We are their voice, and we proved that today. I do believe people heard us today."



Bingham challenged the crowd to raise awareness.



"Our voices are not loud enough because there are still missing among us," he said.



The ride went through the hometowns of Berks County's own veterans who went missing in action, all during the Vietnam War while serving in the Air Force: Col. Thomas W. Dugan of Reading; Lt. Col. Ralph Angstadt of Oley Township; and Capt. David Pannabecker of Womelsdorf.



Dugan's son, the Rev. Michael Dugan of Tennessee, spoke during the ceremony and said it meant a lot to see so many people remember his father and the other veterans.



"There's something about the patriotism of Pennsylvania that is just unbelievable to me," Dugan said, later adding, "Thank you for doing something, for standing up."



The crowd heard from several organizations that help support veterans and their families.



"It takes a whole community to help veterans, said Liz Graybill of Veterans Making a Difference of Berks County.



Diane L. Simmons, the ride coordinator, said the tradition will continue as long as there are prisoners of war and veterans missing in action. The 23rd annual Ride For Freedom is already set for Aug. 28, 2016.



"This is to keep them alive and get the word out there," Simmons said. "The general public forgets them, but the families don't. It's something that has to go on until they come home." - 

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