MORGANTOWN — Bikes lined the parking lot at Triple S Harley Davidson for the annual Memorial Day Celebration Monday. People came out to support Operation Welcome Home, a nonprofit that helps veterans coming back to civilian life with job preparedness.
Food was provided by Stone House Restaurant and Inn with live music by 3 nuts and a Woody. There was also a bikini bike wash by the International Bikini Team.
Ashley Anderson, events manager for Triple S said the store has a Memorial Day tribute every year. She said while it is for the veteran community, everyone is welcome to come and acknowledge those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
“Operation Welcome Home has been great. We’ve worked with them many times and they specifically help with resources for veterans so we want to get that message out there,” Anderson said.
She said she believes sometimes the real meaning of Memorial Day can get lost, and she wants people to see that they’re there to remember those who could not come home, giving the rest of us a chance to celebrate.
“Everything we get from the food and drink donation today 100% is going to Operation Welcome Home. … We usually get anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 [dollars],” she said.
She said it’s great to see so many people coming out to support veterans.
“It’s times like this that remind you why you do it. It also helps shed that image of bikers. They’re not bad people. We’re here to help a great organization,” she said.
Tyler Lane, program manager for Operation Welcome Home, said the partnership with Triple S allows for a large space for the community to come together and support the nonprofit.
Lane said it is of the utmost importance that people remember the fallen on days like Memorial Day. Without the heroes who have fought for our freedom, Americans wouldn’t be able to do what they do here at home, she said.
Throughout the year, Operation Welcome Home does multiple resume workshops and community events. Lane said soon the organization will have an Veteran Resource Fair. Next week, a group of veterans will go to a Pittsburgh Pirates game free of charge.
“It’s just little things like that these donations help us to continue to serve the veterans of our area,” said Lane.
People could enter a drawing for a custom firearm made for Operation Welcome Home by Wolfpack Armory out of Fairmont. These proceeds will also go back into Operation Welcome Home’s programming.
