Motorcyclists Pay Tribute to Fallen Rochester Marine

Freedom may be the beauty of America, but that freedom often comes with a price.

Each and every day, this country loses hundreds of loved ones who have fought and died for our rights. Some lost the battle overseas while others lost the fight right here in our backyard. Between the PTSD that blankets our beloved veterans like a shell-shocked cloak from hell and our wounded warriors who fight for their lives on the daily, it's never an easy feud that can be overcome overnight.

It's been about two years since the SouthCoast community lost a local Marine who was fighting for his life from a rare yet deadly flesh-eating disease. This soldier's name was Becket Kiernan and he was only 18 years old when he passed.

Kiernan was an Old Rochester Regional High School graduate who also attended the Fall River Young Marines Program before enlisting into the United States Marine Corps. This Rochester native was well known and although he left this world a couple of years ago, a special motorcycle group made sure to remind the SouthCoast on Tuesday to never forget this young man.

These motorcyclists have been riding cross-country to honor the fallen and their families, spreading the message and raising awareness that our perished soldiers will always be remembered, despite how long they've been missed from this world.

Visiting Kiernan's family yesterday was just one of the stops on a 22-day, 4,100-mile tour they set out to honor a handful of America's finest men and women who gave their all to protect this country. The bikers will complete their ride on Sunday, August 11 at Arlington National Cemetery to pay their respects one last time as a tribute to all who have served, are currently serving and who have lost the good fight from combat depression.

To those men and women who are making the difference from coast to coast, reminding us that our rights come with a price and that our military is the backbone of our freedom and democracy, I take my hat off to you.

Thank you for taking the time to remind us of how great this country truly is and to never forget those who have protected and are currently protecting us all. Lastly, to the family of Marine PFC W. Becket Kiernan, we thank you for raising a bright and courageous young man who selflessly enlisted into the military to better the lives of all who live in the sweet land of freedom we call the United States of America.

#SemperFidelis