"Wall to wall" riders expected Sunday afternoon
How fortunate is Tehachapi? Few small towns have the chance to leave their stamp across America. The “Wall to Wall” ride with Wesley Barrientos, Jeremy Staat and Dale Porter, on Feb.19 will give Tehachapi that opportunity.
The “Wall to Wall” cross-county bicycle ride will originate at the “Wall of Valor” in Bakersfield and end at the Vietnam Wall in Washington D.C.
As Tehachapi Mayor Ed Grimes said “We can set the gold standard and show our country how much we love our vets” by turning out in downtown Tehachapi on Feb. 19 to welcome the riders and raise funds for the Jeremy Staat Foundation that helps veterans.
Staat, Barrientos and Porter will leave Bakersfield’s ‘Wall of Valor’ at 8 a.m., Sunday, Feb.19. They will be escorted through downtown Bakersfield by the Patriot Guard Riders, American Legion Riders and other motorcycle groups. The PGR will meet the bicyclists at approximately 2 p.m. at the 202 freeway exit and escort them to Tehachapi.
There will be three motocycle riders with flags representing three branches of the military service. Meeting the riders at Highway 202 and Tehachapi Blvd. will be Scout troops and other youth groups. At Tehachapi Boulevard and Mill Street the Tehachapi High School cheerleaders will have a banner the riders will ride through.
The ride from Bakersfield will end at The Apple Shed restaurant and the riders will be greeted by Mayor Grimes. A mobile Veteran’s Center will be located at the lot next to the restaurant. At all of the venues there will be professional photographers to take pictures of our heroes and children. Personal cameras are also permitted.
The Red House BBQ will begin an “all you can eat and drink buffet” (including beer or soda) for $25, starting at 11 a.m. and continuing until all food is gone. Children 7 to 12 are $10.99 and children under 7 are free. Chef and owner Mano Lujan said all proceeds from the barbecue will be donated to the Jeremy Staat Foundation. Red House is donating all food and the employees of Red House BBQ are donating their time. The Native American Drum Team will be performing during the “all you can eat” buffet.
Estimates of between 1,000 and 6,000 motorcycle riders arriving in Tehachapi as part of this event have been made and event organizers have organized a poker run to help entertain the motorcyclist. The poker run will begin at the Dog House Saloon, 777 W. Tehachapi Blvd., at 9 a.m. and ending at the Veterans Memorial Building between noon and 1 p.m. TK Pizza (across from Kmart) will donate 40 percent of their sales from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to the Jeremy Staat Foundation and the first 75 kids can make their own pizzas.
At noon The Apple Shed, The Moose Lodge and the Veteran's Memorial Building will begin serving spaghetti with lunch offered for $10, adults and $5 for kids. Proceeds from the three spaghetti feeds will also go to the foundation.
The Moose Lodge will have a beer garden open until 8:30 p.m. The VFW is planning a bake sale and auction beginning at 10 a.m. and the winner of the VFW fundraising drawing will receive Omaha Steaks. Burger Spot will donate 20 percent of their sales to JSF and there will be a car wash at their location, with proceeds going to JSF.
A bounce house will be set up at Railroad Park at noon and nearby will be kid activities, such as face painting, crafts and a petting zoo.
Music for the event will be provided by several bands. Debbie and Guy Martin will perform beginning at 11 a.m. at The Apple Shed, Nitro Cowboys begins around 1 p.m. at Centennial Plaza, and Denim Band at noon at the Moose Lodge. Beginning at 4 p.m. will be Moving On at the VFW.
Ambassadors will be walking the streets throughout the day with maps and pertinent information. They will be passing out small American flags to children.
The Jeremy Staat Foundation will be selling T-shirts, jackets, and dog tags, with all proceeds going to JSF. Come out and join the fun and excitement and as Mayor Grimes said, "let's set the gold standard as to how our vets should be welcomed as they ride into towns across America."
For further information contact Harriet Clendenin at 822-1014.
