It might seem strange to see motorcycles driving around a baseball field, but that is exactly what happened last night at Lowell Park. Several motorcycles and ATVs donned with American flags rode around the outside of the field, motors blaring and honking their horns.
The motorcycle brigade was part of Big Nick’s Ride, a motorcycle ride started in 2009 in memory of Corporal Nick Xiarhos and other members of the military who were killed in action. According to the organization's website, Nick’s father, Yarmouth Police Lieutenant Steven Xiarhos, wanted to create something in memory of Nick and other service members killed in action after 9/11. He reached out to a family friend, U.S. Marine Veteran Ben Perry, who is a member of Cape Cod Law Dawgs Motorcycle Club. Perry suggested a memorial motorcycle ride, and since 2009, the ride has continued to blossom.
“The ride starts over at the Barnstable correctional facility [in Bourne] where over 1,000 motorcycles will be there on Sunday,” said ride coordinator Jim Matthews. “All the riders pay to ride; it's interesting that they pay to do something they could do for free. There’s t-shirts and a lot of other gear that’s available. All the money that’s raised there is then collected and distributed throughout the Cape to veterans groups and community groups.”
Some of the groups the money goes to include the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center, Gosnold Cape Cod, Massachusetts Military Support Foundation Inc., Yarmouth Parks and Recreation, and many others. The full list of organizations is on the Big Nick’s Ride website.
The Kettleers got involved with Big Nick’s Ride three years ago as a way to celebrate the organization and the Cape Cod Fallen 16, servicemen and women from Cape Cod who were killed in action since 9/11. Gold Star families of the Cape Cod Fallen 16 ride in the motorcycle ride in jeeps every year.
“We have the Red Shirt Friday and we were looking for something different,” said board member Shelley Tomyl. “I knew that they had this big motorcycle ride every year and thought that would be a great opportunity. Then we were able to get permission to go on the field, which is great with the bikes.”
“One of the things it does for us from Big Nick’s Ride is it gets the word out about what we do for the folks around the Cape,” said Matthews.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of Big Nick’s Ride happening. The ride will happen this Sunday, July 21st, starting at 10 a.m. at the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office in Bourne. There will be a ceremony there beforehand at 9 a.m. as well. Matthews gave several options for people interested in supporting Big Nick’s Ride.
“We have a website and there are sponsorships available and donations available,” Matthews said. “One of the most important things is that if they look at the website and see the route of the ride, the main portion of the ride goes along Route 6, and to get out there and cheer for the riders. I’ll tell you as a rider, there’s nothing better than seeing all those people come out waving flags and cheering us on.”
There will also be a livestream of the ride, with Matthews having cameras on his motorcycle. The live stream can be found on Facebook or YouTube.
To learn more about Big Nick’s Ride, Corporal Nick Xiarhos, other members of the Cape Cod Fallen 16, and ways to donate, the website is linked here.
