Motorcyclists from across the country will gather in Patrick County on Saturday, April 29 for the 19th annual Cpl. Jonathan W. Bowling Memorial Bike Ride. The memorial ride is both a way for fellow veterans and servicemen to remember fallen Marine Jonathan Williams Bowling, and a chance to continue his legacy of giving back to the community.
Bowling was a police officer, firefighter, elder at his church, and a corporal in the United States Marines. During deployment in Iraq in 2005, he made the ultimate sacrifice. Because Bowling was also an avid biker, the Chapter 11 Red Knights Motorcycle Club instituted an annual bike ride to honor his memory.
The event to honor his legacy begins at 10 a.m. at Patrick County High School (215 Cougar Lane) in Stuart, Virginia and features live music, food, and door prizes. The ride begins at noon. Registration is $15 per vehicle, and each entrant has a chance to win prizes.
Trophies are awarded to the participant who travels the farthest. All proceeds from the ride will go toward the Corp. Jonathan W. Bowling Memorial Scholarship, which was established to honor his legacy and provide a Patrick County student with funding to attend Patrick & Henry Community College (P&HCC).
“The ongoing passion of the motorcyclists who participate in the event to honor Corporal Jonathan Bowling is a testament to the life he lived,” said Tiffani Underwood, Director of P&HCC’s Foundation. “Through the Bowling Memorial Scholarship, the legacy that is so intertwined with Jonathan’s life can be carried forward by Patrick County students who also have the desire to dedicate their lives to serving others. P&HCC is honored to partner with the Bowling family to preserve Corporal Bowling’s memory in this way.”
Each year, the Corp. Jonathan W. Bowling Memorial fund provides money for two Patrick County students to attend P&HCC. Students with a desire to enter into a public service career are given priority.
To learn more, visit www.cpljonathanbowling.us.
