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1st Annual Ride To Remember
June 23, 2007
The other day over at A Soldier’s Perspective, I put up a post for Tanker Brother’s about the Rolling Victory Fast campaign coming to an end after a year. Robert Stokely, the father of Fallen Hero, Mike Stokely shared this story about Mike.
On July 4, 2006, I started a new tradition. I stopped eating bread, pizza, potatoes, heavy carbs back in 2003. On July 4, 2006, I began a new tradition - I eat one slice of cheeze pizza in honor of Mike. The story behind this is that on July 4, 1985, I had a few dollar in my pocket and packed a sack lunch and took then 3 year old Mike on the bus / train to downtown Atlanta to watch the 4th July parade. We had a blast - he on my shoulders waving a flag and cheering, after we had a picnic on the sidewalk of Peachtree and West Peachtree. When we got home later that afternoon after a hour plus train/bus ride, he wanted “cheez pitza”, but I didn’t have but two dollars left.I gathered him up and we walked across the street to the A & P grocery store to buy a $1.50 Chef Boyardee cheese pizza mix. While there, I ran into a young lady who was an acquaintance, and with her was her new roommate, who was standing about 20 feet away. I took one look and fell in love and decided I would marry that young lady, not even knowing her name. We never spoke that day, and as she left and Mike and I checked out. Mike was on my shoulders all the way back across the road and through our apartment project, proudly waving his Chef Boyardee cheese pizza mix, as he exclaimed to everyone we passed “WE GONNA HAVE CHEEZ PITZA.” One year and one day later, Mike was my ring bearer and honorary best man as he stood by me and I married that young lady from the grocery store. She loved Mike like her own, and has grieved deeply at his loss. But for Mike Stokely wanting a Cheez Pitza I would not have met my beautiful and dear wife, now coming up on 21 years July 5.
At 7:00 p.m. July 4, I will begin to fast through 7:00 p.m. July 5 - at which time I will have a 21st anniversary dinner with the beautiful wife Retta, who loved my boy as her own, and me as dearly as one could ever hope.
proudly remembering SGT Mike Stokely
KIA 16 Aug 05 near Yusufiyah
US Army E Troop 108 CAV 48 BCT GAARNG
A day or so later, I received an email announcing the “1st Annual Ride To Remember” in honor of Mike and to benefit the Mike Stokely Foundation, which was started after his death by his father, to establish a scholarship fund in Mike’s name at the college he attended, the Georgia Military College. If you’re in Georgia, or nearby, please attend this event. It’s for a worthwhile cause, and what better way to Honor one of our Fallen Heroes.
1st ANNUAL “RIDE TO REMEMBER…â€
SGT Michael James Stokely
US Army E Troop 108th Cavalry 48th BCT GEORGIA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
KIA 8/16/05 - Yusufiyah, Iraq
Saturday, August 25th 2007
Law Enforcement Escorted Ride
Starting at First Baptist Church of Peachtree City (208 Willow Bend Road / behind City Hall)
AND THE ROUTE WILL INCLUDE THE SGT MIKE STOKELY MEMORIAL HIGHWAY IN SHARPSBURG GA
Ending at Jackson-Pless National Guard Armory on Armory Road by Newnan High School / Newnan GA
Family fun, games, entertainment, BBQ, door prizes, auction and Grand Prize Raffle
Pre-registration urged but can register on-site beginning at 8:00 a.m. and we will Roll-off at 10:00 a.m.
This is a “sponsor†ride with a goal of a minimum of $25 per bike / car
For Each $250 in sponsorship donations – Free Raffle Ticket for the Grand Prize
Additional Tickets for the Motorcycle Raffle - $50
LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE COMING SO WE CAN HAVE PLENTY OF FOOD
One free meal ticket with each $25.00 sponsorship donation
Don’t want to Ride? Come to the BBQ - plates available for $10.00 each
Children under 12 / hot dog plate - $5.00 each
Make checks payable to “The Mike Stokely Foundationâ€
Proceeds will help establish a scholarship in Mike’s name at his college
Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, GA - $25.000 challenge goal
For more information contact: Robert Stokely at
WEBSITE should be up by July 1, 2007: www.mikestokely.com
100 Fountainhead Way
Sharpsburg GA 30277
678-416-1387
The Mike Stokely Foundation, Inc. is a 501 (3) (c) charitable organization under Internal Revenue Service regulations and
is registered and in good standing with the Georgia Secretary of State as a non-profit corporation
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[...] Korea Link to Article iraq 1st Annual Ride To Remember » Posted at A Soldier’s Mind on Saturday, [...]
[...] June 23rd I posted a story about the 1st Annual Ride To Remember, that would be held in honor of Sgt. Mike Stokely on August 25th. That ride has come and gone and [...]