SHINGLEHOUSE — American flags waving in the breeze along Route 244 East leading to the L-E-E-K Hunting and Mountain Preserve at Oswayo in Potter County on Saturday signaled a warm and patriotic welcome to the more than 150 motorcycle enthusiasts who rode in the New York and Pennsylvania Patriot Guard Rally and Dice Run to benefit “wounded warriors.”
The motorcyclists came to “God’s Country” to show their support for the servicemen who have been injured in the service to their country.
Seven “wounded warriors” — severely wounded soldiers — being treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington arrived at the L-E-E-K Hunting and Mountain Preserve on Wednesday to enjoy time away from the hospital and spend time in the outdoors fishing and hunting spring gobblers. Joe Mershon of Illinois, who was on active duty with a unit from Alaska in Iraq when he was wounded in February 2009, shot the first turkey on Friday morning.
An excited Mershon, said, “Even though I grew up in rural Illinois, this was my first time hunting turkeys. It was also my first trip up here, and it won’t be my last.”
Joining Mershon were Jeremiah Catlin of Texas; Vic Vagnozzi of Pennsylvania; Charles Moore of Ohio; Bradley Garfield of Vermont; Richie Condon of Delaware; and John Moore of Tennessee.
At the opening ceremony, members of Boy Scout Troop 558 of Shinglehouse and Millport led the flag pledge and the posting of the colors of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard and Army National Guard and Boy Scouts of America.
Catlin, an Army chaplain from San Antonio, Texas, blessed the bikes prior to the run.
As the bikes left the grounds of the L-E-E-K facility under sunny skies shortly before noon, a breeze was blowing, causing the American, POW/MIA and Patriot Guard Riders’ flags on some of the motorcycles to unfurl impressively.
The 100.4-mile route included stops at the Coudersport American Legion, Larry’s Sports Center in Galeton, Ulysses American Legion and the Wellsville (N.Y) VFW before returning to Oswayo.
Six of the “wounded warriors” rode in the 10-passenger and handicapped-accessible “Kool Bus,” provided by the American Eagles Motorcycle Club in Ulysses.
The bus is often used at military events, according to Charlie Clark, club president, and his brother, Phil, assistant road captain.
L-E-E-K co-hosted the dice run with the Patriot Guard, a national group, whose mission is to attend funerals of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family and shield the mourning family from protesters.
“This is the first time we’ve partnered with the Patriot Guard,” said Ed Fisher, whose family owns the preserve. “Rich Getchel and Kim Lance did a great job in organizing the dice run,” he noted.
Saturday was Armed Forces Day and this event also marked the second annual open house at L-E-E-K Hunting and Mountain Preserve.
On Saturday evening, Carl Roe, Ret., U.S. Army, and executive director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, was the guest speaker at the awards dinner.
The L-E-E-K Hunting and Mountain Preserve began as a dream of the late Lewis Fisher, who wanted to own property where his family and friends could enjoy outdoor activities. He died before seeing that dream fulfilled. His four children, Lewis, Elaine, Edward and Kate, purchased the 286 acres and expanded on their father’s idea by offering the same activities to disabled veterans. The preserve’s name is derived from the first letters of their first names.
“Wounded warriors” are brought to the preserve three times each year to enjoy spring gobbler hunting, fishing and deer season.
“These trips are all about the ‘warriors,’” Ed Fisher said. “They offer the soldiers a chance to get out of the hospital, meet and greet other ‘wounded warriors,’ share stories and be in God’s Country.” The proceeds benefit the “wounded warriors’” with some of the money used to help cover transportation costs to and from the hospitals.
Fisher pointed to the great community support for the “warriors’” visits. He lauded the work by Ken Martin, who coordinates the guides and landowners for the hunting and fishing and Lester Milstead, who permitted hunting and fishing on his property on Friday.
The preserve has its own “Bud Lift,” from the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Fisher said. This is a trailer to carry a four-wheeler combined with a compartment big enough to accommodate two men and a wheelchair mounted on a scissors lift. By fully extending the lift to approximately 20 feet high, the soldiers have a better view of game in the fields or woods.
The trip to the preserve certainly achieved its goal, judging by the reactions of the “warriors.”
Mershon said, “I feel blessed. We’ve been treated like kings.”
Moore, the Ohio veteran, commented, “This is one of the most patriotic areas of the country that I’ve ever visited.”
Vagnozzi certainly appreciated the activities and the local volunteers who helped throughout the entire stay.
“I had a really great time hunting and fishing, and I shot skeet for the first time. This has been amazing. I wish more people knew about it.”
