The Carolinas’ Full Throttle Magazine
44
Sgt. Dillon’s Ride By: Gary Steelman n honor of the memory of
Sgt. Dillon C. Baldridge, a ride was held on his birthday on July 18 starting at Crossroads Harley-Davidson of Wilkesboro, North Carolina. This was an escorted ride through the countryside and the Blue Ridge Mountains to Dillon’s gravesite for a wreath laying ceremony. Friends and family and over a hundred bikes were present to wish Dillon a happy birthday and to help fulfill the promise made to the family that Dillon’s sacrifice and his life would not be forgotten. Patriot Guard riders, members of Rolling Thunder, and the Christian Motorcyclists Association were there in force to assure the family that promise had not been neglected. Dillon, at just 22 years old, was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge and the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster. His prior awards and decorations include the Army
Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with three oak clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, and the Expert Infantryman Badge. Dillon’s life was taken on 6/10/17 while serving in Peka Valley, Nanghar Province, Afghanistan while supporting Operation Freedom’s Sentinel alongside Sgt. Eric M. Houck and Sgt. William M. Bays whose lives were also taken by the Taliban on June 10, 2017. The ride was spectacular, over 100 bikes and seven or eight chase vehicles and Freightliner’s Ride of Pride, toured the mountainous highways through Wilkesboro, Sparta, West Jefferson, and Deep Gap to Ashelawn Memorial Gardens and back to Crossroads Harley-Davidson in Wilkesboro. Of course, everyone rode over the newly constructed bridge bearing Dillon’s name.
