Motorcycle Ride to Honor Fallen Hero Sunday

On Sunday, motorcyclists will gather to raise money for veterans and honor a fallen hero, Private First Class Evan O'Neill.

Assigned to 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, O'Neill was 19 years old when he was killed by enemy fire in Shkin, Afghanistan, on Sept. 29, 2003.

His parents, Andover Fire Lt. Michael O'Neill and Barbara O'Neill, honor him through continued advocacy and fundraising for veterans and active troops.

Sunday's motorcycle ride will start at Relief's Inn in Lawrence. Motorcyclists must sign in at 9 a.m. The ride will leave at 11 a.m. and head to The Upperdeck in Salisbury and then to Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School -- from where Evan O'Neill graduated -- and then back to Relief's Inn at 2 p.m.

After the ride, there will be a cookout catered by The Chicken Connection. Ironically, Barbara O'Neill points out, they will be serving hamburgers and hot dogs, not chicken.

There will be t-shirts for sale, several raffles and a performance by Lawrence firefighter and musician Frank Skusevich.

"When Evan graduated high school Frank's band played, and how ironic he’s doing it again," Barbara O'Neill said.

Tickets are $15 (whether you're riding or just hanging out). Proceeds will go to Veterans Northeast Outreach, which has a building in Haverhill named after Evan O'Neill.