Page 54 - 2019 Laconia Rally News

FTHE RIDE TO THE ROCK
JUNE 13, 2019 ~ THURSDAY at 7:00 PM
26TH ANNUAL POW/MIA FREEDOM RIDE,
HESKY PARK, MEREDITH
31st Anniversary of the Vigil • 26th Anniversary of the Freedom Ride
“As an American asked to serve, I was prepared to fight, to be wounded, to be captured and even prepared to die, but I was not prepared to be abandoned.” – Former POW Eugene “Red” McDaniel
or tor the past 26 years bikers attending Laconia Motorcycle Week have joined
forces on Thursday evening and made his-
tory in the Northeast. Over the past several
years, over 20 thousand motorcyclists have
ridden their motorcycles in the Northeast POW/MIA Network® Freedom Ride. This year join us for the ride from all points in Country to “The Rock” Hesky Park, Meredith “The States Original POW/MIA Memorial”.
Ike was held along with Captain Donald Cook who received the Medal of Honor posthumous-
The Northeast POW/MIA Network Vigil in Meredith gained nationwide attention some 31 years ago when a small group of veterans began holding weekly Thursday night vigils to bring to
the Honor of bringing Captain Ike Camacho and Cpl. Charlie Craft together after 30 + years after their return home here in Hesky Park. Ike received the Silver Star for his actions and a few years ago that was upgrad- ed to the Distinguished Service Cross by George W. Bush. However, Ike was put up for the Medal of Honor, so why not? Could it have been because they were held
light the nation’s lack of effort to account for all service men and women missing from Vietnam. Through times of basking heat, ridged rain storms and mid-winter snows, this small group of peo- ple held vigils to gain people’s attention to the fact that members of our armed forces were unac- counted for and forgotten.
by not only North Vietnamese Army but “Cubans” and Ike was debriefed for weeks in Hawaii after escape. Would that fact along with the fact that Ike was Mexican have any- thing to do with it receiving the Medal of Honor as he was put in for?
ly and the USS Donald Cook was later named after him. Also held as a POW along with them was Cpl. Charlie Craft from Maine. Capt. Ike Camacho who was a
Green Beret was the first POW to escape from a Vietnamese POW Prison Camp. The Network had
The Freedom Ride is
slated to begin at 6:00pm
on Thursday, June 13,
2019, with line up beginning at 5:00pm at the Rt 11, 1407 Lakeshore Road, Gilford, NH 03249 (Lowe’s park- ing). This year looks to break all years in participation as the Northeast POW/MIA Network has joined forces with Blue and Gold Star families of N.H., all veterans and veteran organizations, together with all bikers and biker organizations, followed with the Northeast POW/MIA Network Vigil.
The Network along with Senator Ayotte‘s office worked on this issue and after many
Two issues the Network has been working on this year and is asking for your active support.
months received a letter from the Pentagon signed by a Lt. JG. Stating, “an award can only be upgraded once” that is the reason Ike could not Now receive the Medal of Honor. What I ask as President of the Northeast Network is that you read the history of Ike Camacho and judge for yourself and IF you agree then work with Those Who Stand The Vigil to Right the Wrong on behalf of this American Hero! In fact there is a book, “Ike Camacho, an American Hero” which details the whole history....Let’s join Together and bring Ike Back to Meredith with the Medal of Honor!
1. Captain Ike Camacho, was first put up for the
Medal of Honor for his actions in 1963 when Captured and held for 18 months in a Vietnamese Prison Camp. 52
2. Michael Joseph Blassie was an officer in the United States Air Force. He was awarded the Medal of Honor meritoriously for serving as America’s Unknown Soldier
Photo Courtesy: Michael Lichter - lichterphoto.com