by Caroline Bredekamp for the Preston Times
The 13th Annual Warrior Ride was held Saturday, Sept. 7, beginning at Two Good Park in Preston and traveling a route to Clinton Harley Davidson, Poopy’s, Homeport and back to Preston to the Downtown Pub. The ride ended with a hog roast, auction, and band at the Preston Town Hall. In 2012, Giddings first organized the event in memory of Marine Cpl. Zach Reiff. The founder of the nonprofit Warrior Ride organization Josh Giddings and his assistants stated that this is now the largest such ride in Eastern Iowa, growing from the initial 35 or so motorcycles to hundreds, as well as many jeeps and similar vehicles following behind. All proceeds from the ride will be donated to Definitely Dogs, a Cedar Rapids nonprofit, which receives applications from disabled veterans in the eastern Iowa areas for service dogs. A service dog and training can cost up to $25,000 per animal and this ride helps to defray the cost for veterans in the area. Josh Giddings is a Reiff family friend, who himself served in the US Marine Corps. He mentored Zach when he talked about joining the Marines and throughout his training and service. Giddings had for years been a friend of Reiff’s family and, having served in the U.S. Marine Corp himself from 2000 to 2006, Giddings says Reiff had come to him to talk about joining the Marines. Throughout his training, Giddings acted as a mentor to Reiff. Reiff, aged 22, died Nov. 21, 2011, a in a hospital in Germany. Zach incurred injuries from an improvised explosive device, during his second tour in Afghanistan. Near a veteran’s memorial and honor walk in Twogood Park, stands a monument erected in memory of Reiff. This is where participants gather each year to honor Zach and his ultimate sacrifice before they depart for the Warrior Ride and the day’s events.
Joshua Giddings took point as the leader of the motorcycle and jeep Warrior Ride. Joshua has been instrumental in planning the annual warrior rides and raising funds to pay for training of service dogs for military personnel that need additional support.
Headed back to Preston after an afternoon of travels with stops at Clinton Harley Davidson, Poopy’s, Homeport and the Downtown Pub.
The Warrior Ride was open to anyone that wanted to travel with the group- motorcycles and jeeps were what most people opted to ride.
The family of Cpl. Zach Reiff received much support from friends and family as all joined together to honor Zach during the ride. One hundred and ninety motorcycles (140) and jeeps (50) left Twogood Park together and others joined in at other locations.
The American Flag was proudly on display as a tribute to all service personnel, and especially in memory of the ultimate sacrifice that Cpl. Zach Reiff gave for our country.
