Vet rides to commemorate ‘83 Beirut bombing victims
By MICAIAH WISE?BILGER Sentinel reporter mwise@lewistownsentinel.comArticle Photos
PETERSBURG - Military veteran and Lewistown native Mike Bangert will ride his bicycle more than 550 miles in remembrance of the American lives lost during the terrorist bombings on Oct. 23, 1983, in Beirut, Lebanon.
"The emphasis of this ride is the 25th anniversary of the Beirut memorial," Bangert said.
Bangert will begin his Beirut Memorial Stamp 500 Mile Bicycle Ride today in Petersburg and travel by Oct. 23 to Jacksonville, N.C., where a 25th Beirut Memorial Service will be held.
Jacksonville is the home of the Beirut Memorial, a wall with the names of American service people killed during the multinational peacekeeping mission, he said.
A Beirut veteran, Bangert said, "My own experiences in Beirut were minimum ... but a lot of guys and their families were affected profoundly. I'm doing this for the families and the fallen heroes."
During the ride, he will stop in towns along the way to garner support and donations for House Resolution 887, the Beirut Peacekeeping Stamp, he said.
The resolution would issue a commemorative postage stamp in remembrance of the victims and in honor of the veterans of the peacekeeping mission from 1982 to 1984 in Beirut, Lebanon, he said.
Since 1986, the Gold Star mothers, wives and family members of the 270 fallen heroes, and veterans have tried to have the commemorative stamp issued, he said.
"It is time to finalize this effort with citizen action alert," Bangert said in the press release.
Bangert encourages bicyclists to ride segments of the trip with him in support of the cause.
He also asks citizens to contact congressional representatives to sign on and get enough co-sponsors for House Resolution 887. Already, 21 congressional leaders have signed on to the effort, he said.
Every day of the ride, Bangert will post a new blog on his Web site, www.mybuildersinc.com/BicycleRide, he said.
Donations will be accepted for a Gold Star Mothers National Monument, which is being erected in Washington, D.C., as well as donations for Bangert's bicycle ride.
To donate to the Gold Star Mothers monument, make checks payable to AGSM Monument Fund, and to donate to the Beirut Memorial Stamp 500 Mile Bicycle Ride, make checks payable to Mike Bangert. All donations may be mailed to Mike Bangert, 3242 Charter Oak Road, Petersburg, PA, 16669.
"Please do not miss out on the opportunity to show the families of those who were part of the peacekeeping effort and sacrificed their lives in defense of others that they are appreciated, remembered and loved by all," Bangert said.
