Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
When Mingo Saloon Inn and Lodge owner Joe Sells was living full-time in Reading, Pennsylvania, he was a member of the Reading Motorcycle Club, which hosted an annual POW/ MIA bike run and ceremony to show their support for veterans and service members who are still classified as Prisoner of War or Missing in Action.
“The very first one started off in 1994 with seventy-five motorcycles and has progressed in thirty-two years,” Sells said. “The thirty-second run is this year and now, we typically have a thousand plus motorcycles.”
When he came to West Virginia, Sells said he wanted to continue his support of the bike run. In working with Reading Motorcycle Club former president Bernie Bigham, an 82-year-old Vietnam Veteran, Sells has organized a POW/MIA bike run to to take place Saturday, September 20, from the Mingo Saloon and Lodge to the Elkins City Park.
Sells and his partner, Jami Arbizu, have organized the run and hope locals will participate – either at the ceremony or simply by showing support along the route.
“We notified a number of fire departments – we’ll notify all of them – and hopefully they’ll participate; maybe pull the trucks out,” Arbizu said. “The one they do in Reading – it’s amazing because all along the fourteen-mile route, wherever they can, there are people in lawn chairs, even at shopping centers. All singing the whole route, waving flags.”
Once the bikes arrive at Elkins City Park, there will be live entertainment, food and a ceremony including speakers who have family members who are POW/MIAs.
Sells said he reached out to documentarian Calvin Grimm, of Charleston, who has made a series called “Bring Them Home,” that focuses on the 17 POW/MIA soldiers from West Virginia who were taken prisoner or who went missing during the Vietnam War.
Grimm shared contact information for families of those soldiers and Sills hopes they will be able to attend the ceremony.
“It’s short notice,” he admitted. “We’re looking to expand on that next year and do some more research for other surrounding counties.”
With this being the first year, the couple said they are hoping to have 100 motorcyclists show up to make the trek and join in the ceremony.
Sells said it is a sight to behold. He estimated that 50 motorcycles, riding side by side down the road, will stretch for a mile. He’d like to see them stretch for miles for this event.
The run will begin at the Mingo Saloon and Lodge with breakfast at 7 a.m., followed by a bike blessing at 10:15 a.m. and kickstands up at 10:30 a.m.
There’s no charge to join in, but Sells and Arbizu do ask of those who wish to participate to reach out to give them a head count for breakfast. The lodge may be contacted at 304-339-6917 or on Facebook at Mingo Saloon and Lodge formerly Brazenhead Inn.
