Run remembers the people behind the names

Tom "Big Daddy" Yarber of justice, spokesman and coordinator for the Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Run, will honor a soldier from Virginia, Sgt. Joshua Reeves, in a special way when the Freedom Wall is re-dedicated this weekend. Reeves' name will be one of the 402 names newly etched on the wall in advance of Saturday's ceremony. (Herald File Photo)

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MARSEILLES – Big Daddy is wearing the late Sgt. Joshua Reeves' KIA bracelet to the Freedom Wall re-dedication this weekend.

"The bracelet came from his family," noted Tom "Big Daddy" Yarber of Justice, spokesman and coordinator for the Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Run's  seventh annual ceremony at the Middle East Conflicts Memorial Wall on Saturday, June 20.

"The sergeant was in Iraq, and his wife had their first baby," Yarber said. "Baby Jacob. The sergeant got to see his son, and the very next morning, he was killed in an IUV (industrial utility vehicle) explosion.

The Virginian's name is among the 402 names of fallen military heroes to be dedicated during the ceremony, at which Illinois Governor Pat Quinn will be the guest speaker. The program begins at 1 p.m.

However, Sgt. Reeves' parents will not attend this year's ceremony. They are not yet ready, said Yarber, who stays in close contact with the fallen hero's father, a school teacher.

"I always tell him about Josh, and that Josh and I went to this, Josh and I did that. I tell his father what's going on with the Freedom Run, and how Josh helps me out. And, I talk to Josh," said Yarber, fingering the KIA bracelet on his left wrist.

"It's the little things that stay with you through all the good times and bad times. It's rough. Getting this all settled in is a lot of work on our board of directors and on our co-founders. But, just knowing you're helping one family is the biggest reward you can receive."

The granite Freedom Wall commemorates the servicemen and women killed in action in worldwide conflicts since 1979.

Founders Jerry Kuczera of Chicago and Tony Cutrano of Palos Hills conceived the project, which was built by local labor and volunteers through donations. The names on the wall are those of the fallen heroes from such diverse locations as Panama, Lebanon, the Balkans, Grenada, Somalia, Haiti and the Middle East.

Among the many Gold Star families to attend the re-dedication is that of the late Kevin Baker, a Wounded Warrior who died last winter in Louisiana. Paralyzed from the waist down, Baker died of a heart attack while on a fund-raising venture for the Freedom Wall. His life will be commemorated by the IMFR in a ceremony at the memorial at 6 p.m. Friday, June 19.

About 20,000 to 40,000 motorcycles are expected to participate in the run from the Grundy County Fairgrounds at Morris to Marseilles.

"We're all gathering here for one purpose, to honor those names on the wall," Yarber said. "They gave their lives for us."

The motorcycles will leave the fairgrounds at 10:30 a.m. The cavalcade will head south on Illinois 47 to Interstate 80, then west to the Seneca exit at Walker's Corner, then west on Morris Road to County Highway 15 - the Town Line Road -  then south into Marseilles, arriving about 11 a.m.

Two rows of motorcycles will be alternately parked on the east and west sides of North Main Street. The entire street will be closed to all other vehicle traffic from 8 a.m. to midnight Saturday. The Illinois River Bridge, South Main Street, and Commercial and Broadway streets will remain open all day.

Robert Regan of Morris is the Marseilles parking coordinator.