Poker Run raises money for wreaths

Thursday, June 27, 2013
Participants of the 2nd annual Silver Eagle Poker Run take a break and stretch their legs at the Five Corners Rest Stop in Fort Scott before finishing their ride to the Fort Scott National Cemetery. About 40 riders, passengers and and others got together on Saturday to raise more than $500 for the Wreaths Across America veteran recognition program.

If you were wandering through the Nevada Square area Saturday morning you might have heard a little rumble, or seen many lovely motorcycles and brightly colored flags flapping in the breeze.

And if you wondered what it was, it was the 2nd Annual Silver Eagle Poker Run, which supports Wreaths Across America. Wreaths Across America is a veteran recognition program that was started in 1992 by Morril Worchester in Harrington, Maine.

Worchester had a bumper crop of live spruce wreaths, and remembered a childhood trip to Arlington cemetery. That year they adorned the first graves and the image of marble with a green wreath adorned by a red ribbon frosted in white became an Internet sensation representing a passing memory of a hero who sacrificed their safety and comfort to allow for our today.

This then spread to every cemetery through the land. It is all done through private donations. Well, two local men started laying these wreaths four years ago with some friends down south. Then they decided to work closer to home at the Fort Scott National Cemetery only to find it lost and forgotten.

This cemetery is one of the original 12 national cemeteries commissioned in 1864 by President Lincoln giving Fort Scott the No. 1 designation. As the men stood there on that cold December morning their heads hung in sorrow for the rows of wreaths honoring each soldier they had laid down south. They were not to be found here at home. That year, spread among the graves of 4,000 heroes, were only 175 wreaths.

The men looked at each other and vowed before leaving that day to do something about the injustice. Now the question was what will they do? Their answer was simple. Since they both liked riding motorcycles and knew many friends of the road who were patriots as well a poker run was the logical choice.

This year, for the second time, these two called on everyone they knew and the grand parade of two wheelers wound its way from our beloved Square to the resting place of heroes. At 10 a.m. June 22, Nevada police led the patriots off the Square and down Austin Boulevard to hand them over to a Vernon County sheriff's deputy to escort them proudly, with lights flashing and flags waving to Fort Scott, where the Fort Scott Police took over and led them on into the hallowed ground of the cemetery.

The men played some music including "Till the Last Shots Fire" by Trace Adkins and spoke kind words. They acknowledged contributions of a veteran's widow who helped with the event.

Then 22 motorcycles and one little car, all hauling about 40 participants roared off down the road. They contributed a little more than $500 to the cause that day, and hopefully, raised a little awareness. The group has had two corporate sponsors, American Standard and the local Potters Union, commit to help with this effort so far. There is more ground to cover; they hope more help will be found along the way.

The fundraising drive finishes just after Thanksgiv-ing. For more information, look up wreathsacrossamerica.com and specify Fort Scott or call Mike Freeze at 417-667-3212.

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