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Motorcycle group to place flags at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery

Fayetteville Observer - 5/12/2021

May 12—Motorcycle riders who want to honor the lives of veterans who have died from suicide and help raise money for other veterans in need are invited to place flags at grave sites this month.

The Sandhills Indian Motorcycle Riders Group will place 22 flags at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery on May 22.

The 22 flags symbolize "22 veteran suicides per day" and honor those veterans' lives, said Steve Schrock, an organizer with the Sandhills Indian Motorcycle Riders Group.

"The war doesn't end just because you come home to the United States. For some, it's still going on in their mind," Schrock said.

Riders will meet at 9 a.m. Saturday at Baker American Cycles, 1508 Hope Mills Road.

Kickstands are scheduled to go up at 10 a.m. for the 14-mile, 20-minute trek to the veteran's cemetery just outside the gates of Fort Bragg.

This is the second year the group, which has been around since 2016, has organized the event.

This year's event will cost $20 per rider and $20 per passenger, with all proceeds being donated to Mission 22.

Mission 22 is an organization founded by Special Forces veterans and an infantryman veteran.

It provides treatment programs to veterans for post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury and other issues they might be facing, according to its website.

It also serves combat veterans, those injured during training and cannot deploy, and victims of military sexual trauma.

"Now that we have a year under our belt, we wanted to have a fundraiser," Schrock said. "Mission 22's responsibility is taking care of veterans suffering from PTSD or who have suicidal ideations. It's a real deal nonprofit, and we know the money collected goes directly to veterans."

Schrock said most of the riders in the motorcycle group and those who participated last year are veterans or have a military connection, but others can participate.

He said the group hopes to see riders from across the state.

"Most of the guys and girls who ride with us have some type of military affiliation — are retired, active duty, or work for the government," Schrock said. "So this is near and dear to us. I personally know someone who suffered and took his own life. The message we want to send is — this is real."

Once arriving at the cemetery on the day of the ride, a chaplain is expected to make remarks around 10:30 a.m. on veteran suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The 22 flags will be placed around the cemetery's center memorial at 10:45 a.m.

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.

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