‘Call for the Warriors,’ a non-profit designed to help veterans, rolls through Gettysburg

Call for the Warriors and it’s Warriors Wish program, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans, service members, and their families hosted their Seventh Annual Motorcycle Ride for Warriors.

This year’s event was set to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

The six-day motorcycle ride will leadoff on Saturday August 21-26 starting in New York City. They plan to pass through 9/11 memorials and monuments to honor the lives lost.

For the seventh year, the ride was led by Air Force veteran and Hillsborough-based Michael Nehlsen. Participants in the tour will be cycling over over 1,000 miles on the memorial trail. According to the press release, Nehlsen mentioned what today’s motorcycle journey means to him.

“Our armed forces and their families sacrifice to serve and protect us every day, to allow us to wake up in a country where we are safe and free. Veterans helping veterans is what this ride is about for me, giving back to those who sacrifice so much and making sure of “No Man Left Behind,” Nehlsen said.

Day one of riding ended at the Battlefield Harley Davidson dealership in Gettysburg, PA. The dealership hosted the Ride For Warriors event from 3-6 p.m. by featuring a line of food trucks and live entertainment by No Bad Days.

Saturday’s program honored the life of U.S. Marine and Camp Hill native James Michael “Jamie” Sipe. Jamie’s family was in attendance for the ceremony.

His mother, Sandy Sipe, didn’t expect this year’s event to happen until she came across Nehlsen. The motorcyclist explained why he wanted to honor James in particular.

“There was a conversation we had initially and she had taken interest in my ride. Sandy mentioned that she was going to google me. I decided to Google her as well. That’s when I found out Jamie was in the Marines and that he has passed on. That’s when I knew I wanted to do something to honor this young Marine,” he said.

On Saturday Jan. 7, 2017, Jamie died in a major automobile accident. Hope for Hero’s surprised Jamie’s 7-year-old son Austin Clayton with an electric bike. Sipe explained the feeling of the community honoring her son.

“Totally amazing. I’m overwhelmed because it was not what I expected. It was more than what I thought and I appreciate it,” she responded.

Since 2006, Hope for Warriors has been providing a variety of programming including clinical health and wellness, sports and recreation and transition services.

In support of the Warriors Wish program, Nehlsen is raising funds with a a goal of $50,000.

For more information on Riding For Warriors, visit https://support.hopeforthewarriors.org/event/7th-annual-riding-for-warriors/e319457. For more information on Hope For The Warriors, visit hopeforthewarriors.org

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