Fallen Marines to be remembered in weekend ceremonies

Three area Marines will be among the fallen service members recognized in the 13th annual Ride to Remember, being held this weekend.

The more than 300 mile long motorcycle ride will start Saturday morning in Batesville and end Sunday in Versailles. Along the way, 16 fallen service members will be recognized with ceremonies along the route.

Each ceremony will be about 25 minutes long and includes a plaque, a reading of the service member’s biography including medals and accomplishments, the laying of a rose and recognition of the surviving Gold Star family.

Area service members will be the last three stops on Sunday.

There be a ceremony at the Jackson County Courthouse in Brownstown to recognize Marine Lance Corporal Hunter “H-D” Hogan, of Norman who died in 2012. That will be at 2:15 p.m.

Marine Lance Corporal Jacky Koening Jr. of North Vernon, who died in April of 2017, will be recognized with ceremonies at the Vernon Cemetery at about 3:45 p.m. Sunday.

Marine Corporal John C. Bishop of Columbus, who fell in September 2010, will have a ceremony at Cliff Hill Cemetery in Versailles at 5 p.m. on Sunday, the last stop of the ride.

The ceremonies are open to the public and you do not have to have a motorcycle, be a veteran or be a Gold Star family member to take part.

You can get more information at https://inpatriotguard.org