'Ride For Freedom' Memorial Day event honors fallen Locust Valley sergeant and other service members

The Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Chapter 6 held their annual "Ride For Freedom" in honor of 25-year-old U.S. Marine Corps. Sergeant Robert Hendriks, and other veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice.

News 12 Staff

May 30, 2021, 5:50 PM

Updated 1,279 days ago

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Bikers hit the road Sunday to honor a fallen hero from Locust Valley who was killed in Afghanistan back in 2019.
The Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Chapter 6 held their annual "Ride For Freedom" in honor of 25-year-old U.S. Marine Corps. Sergeant Robert Hendriks, and other veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Members of Rolling Thunder Chapter 6 have been riding for the last 33 years on Memorial Day weekend to Washington D.C. But two years ago, they decided to do local rides instead and help bring attention to soldiers who are still missing in action.
"All of those men, and some women, selflessly gave themselves to protect the freedoms we enjoy here today. Too many people take that for granted," said President of Rolling Thunder Chapter 6 William Byrne.
The motorcycles made their way up to Glen Cove and Locust valley where they laid a wreath at a war memorial. The names of the fallen are etched on the monument, including Hendriks.
His mother and family were in attendance to honor him on the somber day. The motorcycle chapter will forever be a part of remembering and saluting Hendriks.
Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Chapter 6 holds the event every year to also raise awareness that there are more than 81,000 American military members who remain unaccounted since World War II.