News

Jul 17, 2023

Fallen bikers remembered on Motorcycle Memorial Wall

Hopedale is home to the Fallen Motorcycle Memorial, a monument to riders gone

Hopedale is home to the Fallen Motorcycle Memorial, a monument to riders gone too soon. A Motorcycle Memorial Wall, similar to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC, contains names of fallen brothers and sisters from all 50 states and other countries. The memorial, established in 1993, is funded by the Motorcyclist Memorial Foundation, which cares for the memorial located behind the American Legion Post 682 in Hopedale.

Gas-powered motorcycles began back in 1885 in Germany. This early motorcycle was a wooden frame with a gas engine attached. Things have certainly progressed from that early time and today there is a wide assortment of motorcycles from which to choose.

Riding a motorcycle is fun and exciting with the freedom to enjoy the open road with a sense of adventure. Some like it for speed, while others find it a relaxing way to spend a day as they ride the back roads and enjoy the scenery. Many like the camaraderie of riding in groups, where they often help with community projects such as collecting toys for Christmas giving.

Of course, riding a motorcycle is an easy way to commute to work and saves on the gasoline bill. Their gas mileage rivals the most economical small cars. Caution must be taken to stay out of a car's blind spot and motorists need to be aware of watching for motorcycles on the highway.

Those who enjoy the thrill of riding motorcycles directed the building of the Motorcycle Memorial Wall with incredible detail. Milligan Memorials of Coshocton etched the Indian Black Stone, the darkest of all marbles, which stands atop a grassy knoll. The inscription on the stone was written by Dan Waterfield of Oregon, Ohio. Anne Milligan etched the image of the man and woman riding their motorcycles on the winding road while Tim Milligan installed and etched the names of the loved ones lost on the gray pillars.

Each end of the wall is bookended by a full-size 2-D motorcycle carved from that same black granite. The bikes can slide outward as new sections are added for fallen bike riders. In 1993, there were only two slabs with names. Today there are dozens of slabs listing names of bikers who have gone on so there will be a permanent memory of fallen brothers and sisters of the open road.

Around the memorial is a "Walkway of Memories," paved with bricks that have been inscribed with custom epitaphs. A gazebo contains a guest book for signatures of visitors and a binder for finding names on the wall.

Every year during Memorial Day weekend, they rededicate the wall and add the names of newly fallen riders to the pillars on each side of the monument. Last year 102 names were added. This year a bagpiper led family members to the place where new names had been etched in stone. Nearly 1200 show up annually for this event.

The Memorial Wall is located at 48225 Rabbit Road in Hopedale. If you have any questions, call 740-317-3433. If you are ever in the Hopedale area or just want to take a motorcycle ride on those backroads, stop by and see the Motorcycle Memorial.