(VIDEO) — RANDOLPH, N.H. (WCAX) Thousands of motorcyclists traveled through New Hampshire as a tribute to seven bikers killed in a collision with a pickup truck last month.
That collision happened in Randolph, New Hampshire just over two weeks ago.Those killed were members of the Marine Jarheads Motorcycle Club. The driver of the truck, Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, 23, pleaded not guilty to seven counts of negligent homicide and remains behind bars.
Saturday, a memorial ride and tribute to the fallen was held at the scene of the crash in New Hampshire.
3000 motorcyclist rode the nearly 90 miles from Laconia to Randolph New Hampshire on Saturday.
"The ride was amazing. There were so many people lined up along the side of the roads, there were so many bikes on the roads. That was the most moving part of it for me. I had tears the entire ride up here," said organizer Brian Desimone.
Thunder rolled into Randolph about 30 minutes after the riders. Some took shelter under scattered tents, but the rain couldn't put a damper on this day. There were laughs, and then there were tears, as the ceremony began.
A Jarhead rang seven bells for his 7 fallen brothers and sisters. Aaron Perry, Desma Oakes, Joanne and Edward Corr, Albert Mazza, Michael Ferazzi, and Daniel Pereira.
"It was heart wrenching and it was comforting. I'd say mostly comforting, you know, to have, to see the people that I saw that day that, you know, I hugged, and to see them less in distress, it was a good thing for me," said Corinne Jennings of Gorham, N.H.
Jennings was one of the first on the scene of the June 21 crash. She made the call to 911. She and her husband provided the sound system for the ceremony.
"I was there. I saw, you know, probably their last breath. I was here for two hours, doing what I could, but I've never felt so helpless in my life," she said.
"I feel like people want to be involved in some way, and have their own closure, and I think this gave it to a lot of people," said Desimone.
Closure for people like Jennings, and David Roberts, a marine who walked 120 miles Saturday in solidarity.
"We rise up, we take care of our own. I think it's the first step to healing and moving in a new direction to turn this into somehow something that everyone can look at down the road and cherish and honor and respect," said Roberts.
Roberts was just one of the 4,500 people who paid their respects at the unprecedented showing of unity and camaraderie.
"Local community, you know, never seen anything like this. The EMS, the firefighters, the police, you know what I mean? They're not military, they're not bikers yet they're involved," said organizer, David Broome.
Organizers say the official memorial for the fallen will be revealed at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. on July 13th.
