"Ride Across America" for EOD Ready to Roll
On Sunday November 1, retired Virginia State Police Bomb Technician, Bobby Klepper, will climb on his Harley Davidson motorcycle in Virginia Beach, VA and take off on the journey of a lifetime, traveling across the United States to San Diego, all while wearing a bomb suit. Bobby is a 34-year veteran with the state police and has over 30 years in the EOD community, and is no stranger to adversity and intense challenges, yet wearing a bomb suit while riding a motorcycle cross-country could be his biggest challenge yet.
This "Ride Across America" is a fundraiser benefiting the EOD Warrior Foundation, a 501c3 organization that serves the EOD Community by providing assistance to active-duty wounded, injured or ill warriors, wounded veterans and their families, and families of fallen warriors. The organization also maintains the EOD Memorial Wall in honor of fallen EOD warriors. The Foundation believes the EOD family is for life and is committed to providing the necessary assistance and ongoing support to military families stationed around the world.
When asked why he would take on such an incredible feat, Klepper said, "I am doing this fundraiser to show respect and to help my EOD brothers and sisters. I will be riding a motorcycle in a bomb suit, across the U.S., to raise awareness and funds for this worthy organization and to draw attention to the dangerous job that EOD technicians do every day."
Due to the incredibly strenuous task of not only riding a motorcycle cross-country, but doing so in a bomb suit, the journey will require numerous stops and will take approximately 15 days. Bobby and his team will make time to stop at the EOD Memorial Wall at Eglin Air Force Base in FL, to conduct a wreath laying ceremony in honor of the 314 military EOD warriors whose have died while carrying out an EOD mission since WWII.
The final leg of this trip will take him from Scottsdale, AZ to San Diego, CA where he will be met by EOD families, law enforcement officials and friends for a party at Strategic Operations. When asked what she thought of Bobby's Ride, Nicole Motsek, Executive Director for the EOD Warrior Foundation said, "What Bobby is setting out to do is an incredible feat, and will be extremely challenging. We are so grateful to Bobby and his team for their commitment to help raise awareness for those that perform the most dangerous job in the military." The ride is scheduled to conclude at a public ceremony in San Diego on Sunday, November 15.
Detailed schedule of events:
- 24 OCT Pre-Event: Tidewater Tactical (2022 Pleasure House Rd, Virginia Beach)
- 01 NOV iFLY BREAKFAST EVENT (2412 Pacific Ave, Virginia Beach, VA)
- 01 NOV GSS Gear Send-off party (2037 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, VA)
- 01 NOV Ashland, VA: Richmond Harley Davidson
- 04 NOV Nashville, TN: Boswell Harley Davidson
- 05 NOV Redstone, AL: FBI Hazardous Devices School
- 06 NOV Eglin AFB, FL: EOD Memorial Wall (Range Rd. Niceville, FL)
- 07 NOV Shreveport, LA: VETERANS FOR VETERANS (3232 E 70th St, Shreveport)
- 11 NOV Albuquerque, NM: Thunderbird Harley Davidson VETERANS DAY
- 13 NOV Scottsdale, AZ: Harley Davidson of Scottsdale
- 15 NOV San Diego, CA: Strategic Operations (4705 Ruffin Road, San Diego, CA)
About the EOD Warrior Foundation: The EOD Warrior Foundation serves the US EOD community by providing financial assistance and support to active-duty and veteran wounded, injured or ill EOD warriors, families of our wounded and fallen and by maintaining the EOD Memorial at Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. www.eodwarriorfoundation.org
Corporate sponsorship is making the ride possible, but individuals are encouraged to get involved as well. If you would like to support Bobby's efforts for the Foundation, visit: EOD WARRIOR FOUNDATION Ride Donation Page, or visit Bobby's Facebook page at: Facebook Page.
UXOInfo.com is a proud corporate sponsor and will bring you daily blogs to track Bobby's progress and highlight stories of his adventures along the way. You may contact event organizer and chase car driver Tim Pierce, retired NAVY EOD and LDO retired commander, at (757) 477-0139 if you have any questions or need additional information. Pierce will be joined in the support vehicle by: Mary Gill, executive secretary for IABTI, law enforcement, and bodyguard for foreign dignitaries; and Donny Campbell, Virginia Beach police department, swat team, and bomb squad snipper.
The image above is the mural displayed on Bobby's bike.
