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[Chief]

The following was taken from an email I received regarding the passing of Doug Roarke who died on our ride to DC.

Douglas William Roarke, 61, of Huffman Farm Road, died unexpectedly Thursday, May 24, 2007, at The Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg, S.C. He retired from the U.S. Air force and served in the Vietnam War. He was a member of the American Legion and commander of the Disabled American Veterans Association. A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. May 31, 2007, at Christ Church, with the Rev. Greg McLaughlin and Eric Morthis officiating. Burial will follow in Highlands Cemetery in Highland Mills; N.Y. Military rites will be conducted by members of American Legion Post 48.

On Thursday, May 24th, while riding with the Run For The Wall - Southern Style group coming up from Daytona, Doug Roarke, 63, of Hickory North Carolina, was killed in an accident involving 3 motorcycles.  The other riders were not seriously injured.
         
Doug was the NC Director of the VFW and an Air Force veteran.  PGR member Jon Longair has arranged for a motor patrolman to escort Doug's family to the funeral service on Thursday evening and would like some PGR members to join in the escort and to pay our respects at the service.
         


We will first stage at the BP station located at the intersection of I-40 and R-115 (exit 150 on I-40).  Staging will be 5:00 PM - 5:45 PM, with KSU at 5:45 PM.   We will then ride to a second staging area, (the home of Jon Longair who is the co-Ride Captain), to pick up additional riders and then proceed to the home of Doug's son and daughter-in-law for the escort to the church.  We will have a Sheriff's escort from the BP station, to Jon's, to the family residence, and then to the church.  The distance from one area to the next is not far.

The following map link is an approximate - not exact of the BP at the I-40 and R115 interchange:  http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&addtohistory=&address=1200%20N%20Center%20St&city=Statesville&state=NC&zipcode=28625%2d3200&country=US&geodiff=1
         
Bill "Biker Bill" Cook - Ride Captain
828-478-5460 (home)
828-302-0137 (cell) 

This excerpt was taken from an email I received from Jon Longair, the ride organizer and good friend of Doug.

Doug Roarke, Armando Casanova, and John Ellison…  No doubt a tragic accident and I would give anything to be able to rewind to the gas stop.  That is not a luxury that God gives us.  Having time gone by I can see about three things that contributed to the accident but the fact is that it was Doug’s time that God wanted Doug home.  Knowing Doug as well as I do, he is in a “new body and a mansion of gold” waiting for me and all of his Christian believers to come.  Doug shifted gears in the world one minute and in the next minute “poof” that gear took him to Heaven!  I have been trying to locate John Ellison to talk to him or go see him.  Last night I got a possible tip that he may have been transported to Lexington, N.C.  If I find him today I will pass the information along.  Let us not forget John suffered great injures in the accident and we need to support him during what I have been told will be a long recovery.  Most of you know Armando came out with a very sore leg but with the help of Tilley’s Harley-Davidson, was back on a new bike and rode the rest of the way to Washington.  I applaud him for going on with the ride to honor his friend Joe.

Armando Cassanova was riding to honor his friend Joe who was recently killed in Iraq. His dedication to finishing the ride was unwavering.

The following picture was taken of Doug at Destination Daytona on Wednesday before the ride.

My prayers and best wishes go to Doug's family. I also wish John a speedy recovery.

[Wrongway]

 Heartbroken, saddened, teary eyed. Sorry for ALL of us that benefited from this fallen HERO.

[iski]

Sad to read - prayers for his family & friends.

[erniezap]

Heartbroken, saddened, teary eyed. Sorry for ALL of us that benefited from this fallen HERO.

Couldn't have said it any better...

[Cerdo]

Sorry to hear about this great american. May god bless him and I will pray that all the other riders  recover fast.

[cuthbertss]

cant say it any better...RIP brother

[sanjoseduke]

I am very sorry to hear about Douglas's tragic accident. My he rest in peace. I pray for the speedy recovery of the other riders. My deepset sympathy to his friends and family.

[Chief]

This morning I received the following email from Jon Longair, the ride organizer. I did not get a chance to meet John Ellison on the ride, but hope he mends quickly.

I spoke earlier with John Ellison who was involved in the accident on our ride.  He is at his brothers here in North Carolina now after just being released from the hospital.  He has suffered many injuries but is on the road to recovery.  He had a broken clavicle, 6 or more broken ribs, a concussion, broken nose, broken toes and a laceration on his back.  He doesn’t remember the accident from the time he came onto the interstate till he was in the helicopter.  He gave me his email address and welcomes your letters.  Below is his email address.

hd_ultra@hotmail.com

Please keep John in your thoughts and prayers as he continues to heal.

[mr_magoo]

Will say a prayer for his family.

[BalDeagle]

Sad news indeed. Thoughts go out to his friends and family.

Nige

[ccr]

So sorry the read this story.  A very sad day for all of us, when someone loses their life.  Prayers go out to all touched by this accident. 

[CVOJOE]

"He retired from the U.S. Air force and served in the Vietnam War. He was a member of the American Legion and commander of the Disabled American Veterans Association."   .....That kind of tells a story in itself.

Sorry I never met him, but being a fellow vet and rider, this really hurts. May he now ride where the only traffic is a cloud bank.

Joe

[SOKOOLJ]

Thoughts and prayers out to all that have been effected by this unfortunate accident.

SOKOOL

[REGGAB]

A friend of mine in DC called me and told me about this today.  Said it was pretty terrible.  Prayers for his family.

[SEULTRA]

Very sad... didn't know the man but his history speaks well for him. My thoughts are with his family and friends.