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Memorial torch motorcycle ride honors fallen soldier in Romulus

Posted at 10:32 PM, Jul 23, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-23 23:12:18-04

ROMULUS, Mich. (WXYZ) — A memorial torch motorcycle ride made its way through Romulus to honor fallen soldiers. It's part of a 22-day, cross country ride that began in Eugene, Oregon on July 14.

The motorcycle ride was honoring fallen Army SPC Holly McGeogh. She was killed in action in 2004. This ride is to ensure those who sacrificed their lives are never forgotten.

"Unbelievable, it just shocked me you know, the whole family was shocked," said Dennis Kovacs, grandfather to Holly McGeogh.

They served our country and made the ultimate sacrifice.

"It lets the families know that they’re not forgotten, they sent their daughter off to war and paid the ultimate sacrifice," said one of the motorcycle riders participating.

Kovacs, the grandfather of 19-year-old Army specialist Holly Mcgeogh, says he was taken back when the Fallen Soldiers Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride turned up at his home in Romulus.

"They’re all soldiers and they’re all honoring the ones that did not get home," Kovacs said.

Army SPC Holly McGeogh was killed in action on Jan. 31, 2004 during operation Iraqi freedom. The memorial ride is A 22-day trek totaling 4,000 miles through communities who lost soldiers serving our country.

"We started on the other side of the country in Washington state traveled all the way to Arlington and stopped to visit families of fallen soldiers," said one of the motorcycle riders.

The riders presented a memorial plaque of distinguished service to Holly's family to simply say thank you.

"We want to make sure that they were on board with this event make it a big event," a rider said.

Kovacs says Holly was a firecracker, and always volunteering to do different things. He says he’s proud his granddaughter served for the best country in the world, and is especially thankful for the memorial torch motorcycle ride traveling across the country keeping the memory of our fallen soldiers alive, including Holly’s memory.

"Holly was one heck of a gal, I’ll tell you that. One heck of a gal," Kovacs said.

This memorial motorcycle ride is expected to arrive in Arlington National cemetery on Aug. 4.