Bikers on the Square becomes a bigger affair

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- More than 2,000 bikes and 5,000 people crowded the courthouse square last June to celebrate the first Bikers on the Square in Perryville. The event was launched by Lorna Gibbar in partnership with the Perryville Downtown Revitalization Committee, which last year raised about $2,500 for the Wounded Warrior Project.

This year, the group is fundraising for veterans of Camp Hope in Farmington, Missouri. According to its website, the mission of Camp Hope is to allow wounded veterans the chance to participate in outdoor activities with dignity -- such as skeet shooting, hunting, fishing and hiking.

Gibbar hopes this year's Bikers on the Square event can double last year's fundraising goal.

"We would love to give them thousands. I'm hoping, hoping we do really well and give them $5,000," she said.

The event begins at 9:30 a.m. June 21 at the square; there is an early-bird registration for vendors in the event, and the traditional poker run will take place June 20.

Two riders participate in Bikers on the Square in Perryville, Missouri, in June 2013. This year's event will feature a traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and the Budweiser Clydesdales. (Fred Lynch)

Participants also will have the opportunity to see the traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and the Budweiser Clydesdales.

The memorial will be situated the on the north side of town at the soccer park on Highway 51, from Tuesday through June 22.

Gibbar tried to have the Clydesdales in last year's event, but her request was declined.

"Because our focus is on the veterans and because the Veterans Wall is going to be here, I think that helped," Gibbar said, adding that 2013's strong attendance was a plus. "And because we're planning for 10,000 people. So I think with all of those things that helped."

At 10 a.m. Saturday, the parade of motorcycles begins. Gibbar said this was her favorite part last year and that onlookers were blown away by the sight of all the bikers who rode under the giant American flag that hung across the highway along the parade route.

The veterans and Clydesdales will lead the parade beginning on St. Joseph's Street by the square, turn left on Main Street, turn left on U.S. 61, left on Highway 51 and then right to St. Mary's Seminary on West Saint Joseph Street, according to Gibbar. There, the annual blessing of the bikes will take place.

Other events for the day include a bike show, burnout contest, a one-wheel revolution stunt show, a cannon tribute for veterans and live music by Paragon and Superjam. All the events are free, with the majority of contributions coming from vendors and their sales.

"When we first started, people talked about making a charge, but I just didn't think that felt good for some reason," Gibbar said when initially discussing additional parking or entrance fees.

Gibbar said the idea came to her while she was on a ride with her husband to Fayetteville, Arkansas, three years ago.

"We went to Eureka Springs, and there were tons of people there spending money, and then we went to Rogers, Arkansas, and there we're tons of people there spending money, and in every little town around there were tons of people spending money and I'm like, 'There's no reason we can't do this in Perryville,'" Gibbar said.

Gibbar's husband was not sold on the idea, she said, but that motivated her to make it work. She contacted Jack and Ann Larrison, owners of Shady Jack's in downtown St. Louis, who had started a bike rally at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. Her next step was to work with Perryville's mayor and the board of aldermen, and they began planning the inaugural Bikers on the Square event.

Last year's one-day event netted more than $5,000, half of which went to the Wounded Warrior Project. The remainder went to the revitalization committee to help fund sponsorship of the touring Vietnam Wall replica and entertainment for the 2014 event.

Bikers on the Square executive committee members decided to tailor the event to Camp Hope after one of the members suggested the organization last year. Gibbar was enthusiastic about Camp Hope because its cause has always been dear to her.

"Growing up, I always felt sad and upset that [people] were so mean to the Vietnam veterans, and I never really understood it because it was before my time," Gibbar said. "But I always remember feeling sad about it and sad that people didn't treat them better. And then whenever we were doing this and they would come in and talk to me, they would tear up because they were going to have a parade."

Gibbar added, "It was the most emotional, unbelievable thing. So ever since then it's been ... anything we can do to help all veterans, but especially the Vietnam."

Gibbar said all veterans are welcome to participate in the parade; no registration is required.

More information is available at bikersonthesquare.com or by calling 573-768-2339.

smaue@semissourian.com

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Pertinent Address:

15 West Sainte Marie St., Perryville, Missouri