Nepsa Ride for Pride honors the fallen soldier while helping others
Family, friends, veterans, and those simply wishing to honor the fallen soldier, participated in the third annual Ride for Pride Cpl. Keith Nepsa Memorial Run that began at Lehman’s Big Open Road at Dover on Saturday, Sept. 3.
A pancake breakfast featuring sausage and eggs was served with Cpl. Nepsa’s mother, Michelle Nepsa, overseeing the making of the pancakes while her partner, Bill Little, manned the outdoor grill where the sausages were prepared.
Cpl. Nepsa died June 2, 2007 from injuries he sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during operations near Qayyarah, Iraq. Cpl. Nepsa was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade, and 1st Calvary Division at Fort Bliss, Texas. Nepsa was 21 years old.
“When you lose a child there is nothing to prepare you for it. There is no instruction book to help you handle the grief,” said Michele Nepsa. “The years go by and you learn to cope but you never get over it. It never ends.”
Proceeds from the benefit will be donated to the Keith Nepsa Scholarship Fund and the Iraq Star Foundation in Keith’s honor. The foundation provides free reconstructive surgery to injured U.S. soldiers of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
“Last year we were able to raise $4,440 because of the support of participants and local businesses,” said event organizer Steve Plaso. “Last year we had 119 registered riders and this year that number is up to 149, our best year yet.” Plaso met the Nepsa family when he worked for the funeral home that handled Cpl. Nepsa’s funeral.
“We were able to make a donation of $1,500 to the Iraq Star Foundation in Keith’s honor. This money was used to pay for all anesthesias in the surgery of U.S. Army Sgt. Marco Robledo of Arkansas, who lost his left arm, left leg and left ear in May 2007. Marco’s last surgery was completed in December of last year,” said Plaso. “Marco is trying to get back to a normal life and is in the process of starting his own foundation that will aid soldiers returning home from the war.”
Owen Lehman, owner of Lehman’s Big Open Road, provided the venue for the event. “Steve (Plaso) contacted me a few years back about doing a veterans event and it just took off. My son, Preston, is in the Army and stationed in Germany. We scheduled this year’s event so he could be here. He will hold the flag when we recite the Pledge of Allegiance,” said Lehman.
At 10:45 a.m., a memorial service was conducted by the Akron chapter of Rolling Thunder and students from Sharon Ricklic’s fifth-grade class at York Elementary in New Philadelphia. Abigail Kneuss and Michael Bihari recited Red Skelton’s classic version of the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the students leading those in attendance in the traditional Pledge of Allegiance.
Rolling Thunder member Harold Murray gave a heartfelt speech and recounted the loss of his own son in 2005 when he, too, sustained injuries in Iraq. “One of my biggest regrets in life was never having joined the service. I had a son on the way and I believed that was more important. I stand here today, serving him once more and honoring Cpl. Nepsa,” said Murray.
Rolling Thunder member Maxwell Leibsla played Amazing Grace on the bagpipes and the ceremony concluded with Taps played by Dover High School trumpet player, Pierce Smith.
The cost of the benefit was $15 per person. In addition to the pancake breakfast, a meal was provided by the Canal House in Tuscarawas.
Organizers were pleased to raise more than $7,300. “After we pay the bills we will be able to donate $5,000 to Keith’s scholarship and the Iraq Star Foundation. It is good to know when you have a scholarship fund someone from New Philadelphia will receive that money and know who Keith was,” said Plaso.
Participants were encouraged to participate in the 50/50 and other raffles that included a Cleveland Browns football signed by D’Qwell Jackson, a 2010 Ohio State football team photo signed by Jim Tressel, former Ohio State coach, a signed photo of Indianapolis Colts Peyton Manning, a signed CD from country singer Toby Keith, a signed photo of actor and activist Gary Sinise, who also serves as a board member of the Iraq Star Foundation, and gift certificates from local restaurants and businesses. The pig raffle brought in $1,600 before the event.
T-shirts imprinted with 2 Timothy 4:7, which said, I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith, were sold in support of the benefit, with nearly every rider wearing one as they headed north to Rafter’s at Canton, the first stop on the run.
A pancake breakfast featuring sausage and eggs was served with Cpl. Nepsa’s mother, Michelle Nepsa, overseeing the making of the pancakes while her partner, Bill Little, manned the outdoor grill where the sausages were prepared.
Cpl. Nepsa died June 2, 2007 from injuries he sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during operations near Qayyarah, Iraq. Cpl. Nepsa was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade, and 1st Calvary Division at Fort Bliss, Texas. Nepsa was 21 years old.
“When you lose a child there is nothing to prepare you for it. There is no instruction book to help you handle the grief,” said Michele Nepsa. “The years go by and you learn to cope but you never get over it. It never ends.”
Proceeds from the benefit will be donated to the Keith Nepsa Scholarship Fund and the Iraq Star Foundation in Keith’s honor. The foundation provides free reconstructive surgery to injured U.S. soldiers of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
“Last year we were able to raise $4,440 because of the support of participants and local businesses,” said event organizer Steve Plaso. “Last year we had 119 registered riders and this year that number is up to 149, our best year yet.” Plaso met the Nepsa family when he worked for the funeral home that handled Cpl. Nepsa’s funeral.
“We were able to make a donation of $1,500 to the Iraq Star Foundation in Keith’s honor. This money was used to pay for all anesthesias in the surgery of U.S. Army Sgt. Marco Robledo of Arkansas, who lost his left arm, left leg and left ear in May 2007. Marco’s last surgery was completed in December of last year,” said Plaso. “Marco is trying to get back to a normal life and is in the process of starting his own foundation that will aid soldiers returning home from the war.”
Owen Lehman, owner of Lehman’s Big Open Road, provided the venue for the event. “Steve (Plaso) contacted me a few years back about doing a veterans event and it just took off. My son, Preston, is in the Army and stationed in Germany. We scheduled this year’s event so he could be here. He will hold the flag when we recite the Pledge of Allegiance,” said Lehman.
At 10:45 a.m., a memorial service was conducted by the Akron chapter of Rolling Thunder and students from Sharon Ricklic’s fifth-grade class at York Elementary in New Philadelphia. Abigail Kneuss and Michael Bihari recited Red Skelton’s classic version of the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the students leading those in attendance in the traditional Pledge of Allegiance.
Rolling Thunder member Harold Murray gave a heartfelt speech and recounted the loss of his own son in 2005 when he, too, sustained injuries in Iraq. “One of my biggest regrets in life was never having joined the service. I had a son on the way and I believed that was more important. I stand here today, serving him once more and honoring Cpl. Nepsa,” said Murray.
Rolling Thunder member Maxwell Leibsla played Amazing Grace on the bagpipes and the ceremony concluded with Taps played by Dover High School trumpet player, Pierce Smith.
The cost of the benefit was $15 per person. In addition to the pancake breakfast, a meal was provided by the Canal House in Tuscarawas.
Organizers were pleased to raise more than $7,300. “After we pay the bills we will be able to donate $5,000 to Keith’s scholarship and the Iraq Star Foundation. It is good to know when you have a scholarship fund someone from New Philadelphia will receive that money and know who Keith was,” said Plaso.
Participants were encouraged to participate in the 50/50 and other raffles that included a Cleveland Browns football signed by D’Qwell Jackson, a 2010 Ohio State football team photo signed by Jim Tressel, former Ohio State coach, a signed photo of Indianapolis Colts Peyton Manning, a signed CD from country singer Toby Keith, a signed photo of actor and activist Gary Sinise, who also serves as a board member of the Iraq Star Foundation, and gift certificates from local restaurants and businesses. The pig raffle brought in $1,600 before the event.
T-shirts imprinted with 2 Timothy 4:7, which said, I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith, were sold in support of the benefit, with nearly every rider wearing one as they headed north to Rafter’s at Canton, the first stop on the run.
Published: September 5, 2011
