Bikers celebrate vets with charity ride

The highlights of Delmar Witt's life recently have included a fishing trip and, on Sunday, an afternoon with friends, riders from the "Macho Run" Bikers Helping Veterans poker run.

Witt, a former U.S. Air Force master sergeant, lives at the Missouri Veterans Home.

The day trips are just two ways he and other veterans living at the home have benefited from annual motorcycle poker runs sponsored by Cheri Parson and Tom McGowan, co-owners of T&C Motorcycle Parts in Benton, Mo., and Bluff City Beer. On Sunday, he ate lunch at L&D Patio in McClure, Ill., at a table with nine other residents while surrounded by nearly 100 bikers.

"It's wonderful, the things they do for us," Witt said. Fellow resident and World War II veteran Tommy Thompson, dressed in a Sunday suit, sat next to Witt.

"I couldn't ever have a better place to stay," said Thompson, who served in the U.S. Navy. Looking around the room at the men and women who'd just given a standing ovation and called out their thanks, he added, "This is a nice bunch of guys."

The men and women who organize and participate in the semiannual poker run to raise money for the veterans "have hearts as big as this world," said Debbie Monroe, volunteer services supervisor for the Missouri Veterans Home. She accompanied Sunday's 10 guests of honor, including Robert Hopmann. He'd traveled through northern China while serving as a Marine during World War II. On Sunday, he gazed from his wheelchair at the dozens of motorcycles in L&D's parking lot sparkling in the sun.

"It's good to get out," he said, nodding.

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com "Macho Run" Bikers Helping Veterans poker run

Parsons and McGowan organized similar rides while living in Madison, Wis. In the eight years since starting Southeast Missouri poker runs, they've raised $54,000.

"This does not go for planting trees; it goes to the veterans — if they want a TV or DVDs, chairs, clothes, stamps ... they don't have to go down to the board and wait three or four months," Parsons said. "They served us. Now it's our turn to serve them."

The ride drew locals like retired steel worker Gary Mouser, 52, of Morley, Mo., who arrived on his 2004 Ultra Classic, ready to press the 60,000 miles on his odometer higher. His pal, Bill Anderson (C106 Radio's Cousin Carl), promoted the poker run.

Many riders, like Mike "Mad Dawg" Hinkle, who arrived on his '95 Road Glide and said "it's like riding in a La-Z-Boy," were either members of the Kentucky-based Vietnam Vet Motorcycle Club, Chapter X, or other veteran groups. Bob Dillahay of Uniontown, Mo., a member of the VFW Post 4282 in Perryville, Mo., said he participates in the rides because "I care about the people" and because all poker run supplies and services are donated.

McGowan said it's important that all money raised goes directly to the veterans.

"They've earned that privilege. They don't have to ask for nothin'," he said, adding that Missouri Veterans Home residents receive the donations "regardless of decoration, race, political party. They fought for us."

The ride started at Minors Harley-Davidson of Scott City, went as far west as Marble Hill, Mo., and finished in McClure.

Mike Seabaugh and his son, Ransom, 10, arrived at L&D Patio on a 1980 Harley-Davidson FLT. The two find rides almost every weekend, Mike Seabaugh said. On Sunday, "It was a pretty day. The birds were singing, the sun was shining and the only thing missing was us and the wind."

Ransom Seabaugh, asked to name his favorite part of the ride, did it in one word: "Everything."

Kevin and Kim Woodruff of Fredericktown, Mo., laughed off their losing poker run hands.

"We just do it for the fun," Kevin Woodruff said. Sunday's charity ride capped 30 hours' worth of weekend forays along Southeast Missouri roads on their 1999 Road King. The couple said poker runs are part of their social life. Kim Woodruff said she was familiar with only about 10 others at Sunday's event.

"We always meet new people at these things."

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127

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