LEEK Hunting and Mountain Preserve will host its 8th annual Open House Fundraiser & Benefit Motorcycle Run this weekend.
The event, which begins at 1 p.m. Friday and ends with breakfast Sunday morning at the Oswayo hunting preserve, helps raise money to provide outdoor hunting, fishing and recreational experiences for wounded and disabled veterans.
The cost to participate in the motorcycle run is $10 per person, paid at the registration table between 9 and 11 a.m. Saturday. There is also a $10 donation for meals which goes to benefit outdoor experiences for wounded veterans as well.
Meanwhile, the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association will hold a benefit motorcycle run from noon to 4 p.m., with a $500 cash prize donated by Ed Fisher and his wife, Kate. There will be a drawing of riders’ names to choose the winner.
Ed Fisher, who operates the preserve, expects as many as 2,000 attendees throughout the weekend — many from out-of-state, traveling from New York, Maryland, Ohio, New Jersey and beyond.
Fisher said the event is very family-oriented and attracts young and old alike to come enjoy themselves and honor those who have sacrificed serving in the military. In fact, the preserve will host the families of four veterans starting Wednesday and carrying through the weekend with myriad outdoor experiences such as a visit to Cherry Springs State Park, paddleboating, cookouts, fishing and a tour of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission hatchery.
“We have a pretty packed weekend for them,” Fisher said. “That’s what this is all about.”
The big thing this year, according to Fisher, is the dedication of the Dunham Hall building currently in the first of three phases of construction on the preserve. It is being built in honor of Jason Lee Dunham of Scio, N.Y., a corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps who was awarded the Medal of Honor after heroically throwing himself on a grenade to save his men when attacked on patrol in Iraq.
In early 2004, Dunham was serving as a squad leader with 4th Platoon, Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force; his unit was based in Al-Karābilah. On April 14, 2004, the battalion commander’s convoy came under attack near Husaybah, Iraq, and 4th Platoon was dispatched on patrol to investigate.
Dunham and his squad intercepted a number of cars spotted near the scene of the attack, which the patrol detained to search for weapons. When the squad approached a white SUV and discovered AK-47s, the driver left the vehicle and attacked the Marines in an attempt to flee. Dunham responded by closing in for hand-to-hand combat to subdue him. During the fighting, the individual dropped an armed Mills 36M hand grenade. Dunham, to save the rest of his men, deliberately threw himself on the grenade, attempting to use his helmet to shield himself and others from the explosion, warning the others to “watch his hands.” Dunham, the insurgent, and two other Marines nearby were all wounded by grenade fragments, and he died eight days later of his injuries at the age of 22.
Marine Corps Lt. Col. Trent Gibson, Dunham’s company commander in Iraq, will speak at the building’s dedication at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. The talk will be followed by a ribbon-cutting for Dunham Hall, which Fisher was proud to say will be self-sustaining, hosting weddings and other events. Construction broke ground in February.
Speaking at the closing ceremony for the event at 5 p.m. Saturday will be retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Arthur G. Austin Jr.
Also at the event, a silent auction and a Chinese auction will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, followed by a live auction at 7 p.m. A few of the items to be auctioned include guns, art prints, sports memorabilia, modern metal sculpture art by Ron Stinson of Mechanicsburg and donated items from Zippo Manufacturing Co., W.R. Case and Sons Cutlery and Cutco.
Another silent auction will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday with live music by the band Over the Limit, performing southern rock, country and blues.
Vendors will be on hand with everything from knives and guns to art, antiques and furniture for sale; and there will be many food vendors serving up funnel cakes, tacos, hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream and more, according to Fisher. He noted a chainsaw carver will also be there demonstrating his skills and selling his wares.
A turkey shoot for youth accompanied by a parent will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday. There is a $5 entrance fee — participants will pitch-in money and the person with the most BBs in the circle on the turkey target will win the pot, Fisher explained.
The family fishing derby will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday with prizes given out for the biggest fish, most fish caught and other accomplishments during the derby — no one walks away empty-handed, according to Fisher.
Also, Pastor Jim Kazimer of the First Church of God in Eldred will perform a sunrise worship service at 9 a.m. Sunday, followed by breakfast.
All tickets can be purchased in advance at www.leekpreserve.org or by contacting Ed Fisher at 410-322-4610 or 278LEEK@gmail.com.
