Andrew Martin ‘Bo’ Harper Memorial Ride slated for August 15

2015-07-16

Andrew Martin ‘Bo’ Harper

The second annual PFC Andrew Martin “Bo” Harper Memorial Motorcycle Ride will be held on Saturday, August 15, beginning with registration from 9-11 a.m. at Triple S Harley-Davidson in Westover.

Harper, 19, of Maidsville in Monongalia County, was killed in action on March 11, 2011 while serving with the U.S. Army at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan.

The fund-raiser benefits an endowment fund created in Harper’s memory by his father, Steve Harper, and Steve’s friend Kevin Kolar. The fund, managed by Your Community Foundation (YCF), provides annual scholarship assistance to one or more students from Monongalia or Harrison counties.

The motorcycle event is a “poker run” with stops along the route at Gambino’s in Morgantown; White Front, Big Daddy’s and the National Cemetery in Grafton; and Magic’s in Fairmont, with a wrap-up party and raffle at Classics in Morgantown. Riders will draw a card at each stop and the best poker hand will win a $1,000 grand prize.

The visit to the National Cemetery is a “wild card” stop where riders can replace one card, but it has special meaning beyond that, according to Elizabeth Jones, event organizer.

“We stop at the National Cemetery in Grafton to pay our respects to everyone who is buried there – especially Bo,” she said. “This year, Kelly’s Florist is providing us with carnations so that each visitor can place one at Bo’s burial site.”

According to Jones, the event raises money in several ways, with all proceeds going to the scholarship fund. “First off, each rider pays a $20 registration fee and $10 extra if they have a rider,” she said. “We also sell sponsorships to businesses or individuals who want to support us by sponsoring the ride.”

Sponsorships are available for a donation of $200 or more and sponsors can have their logo printed on the ride t-shirt and in promotional materials. Donations of $199 or less are considered “friends of the ride” and their names will appear on the shirts. “We also take donations of items to be included in the raffle,” Jones said.

Andrew’s father, Steve, described his son as “a proud young man” who walked tall with his chin up and his chest out. “He was not only my son, but my best friend,” his father said. “He was not only a hero to me but also a hero to a nation that is indebted to him for giving his all.”

Harper’s Company Commander, Capt. Daniel Bourke, remembered him as “one of the finest infantrymen” in Company I.

Any individual, organization or business can make a tax-exempt contribution to the Andrew Martin “Bo” Harper Scholarship Fund in care of YCF, P.O. Box 409, Morgantown, WV 26507. The original donation and all additional contributions are invested by YCF to increase their value, with net income from those investments used each year to support the scholarship awards.

“Through rain storms and clouded skies, we’ve been able to raise more than $7,000 for this fund,” Jones said. “This year, we hope to top this amount and exceed our expectations, but we can only achieve our goals with the assistance of generous donations from the members of our community.”

YCF is a charitable, non-profit organization that encourages, develops and manages endowment funds and uses the net proceeds to support a long list of community programs and scholarships. The foundation manages assets and pledged assets of more than $12 million and administers more than 160 separate funds.

Information about YCF and a description of its endowment funds is available at www.ycfwv.org or by calling (304) 296-3433.