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Bald Knob resident Charlie Nokes and
dog Daisy are in the process of completing the first leg of an
around-the-country journey, raising money for the March of Dimes.
Nokes has already played a part in raising nearly $2,000. (Photo
Illustration by Philip Holsinger/The Daily Citizen)
By Philip Holsinger
30 May 2004
The Daily Citizen
Charlie Nokes of Bald Knob and his dog
Daisy will ride through Washington D.C. Monday, accompanied by friends
old and new, as part of the National Memorial Day parade.
A person watching the parade on TV might
catch a glimpse of the veteran motorcycler and Vietnam vet if you look
close enough, he said. Just look for the man on a motorcycle with the
goggle-wearing dog, pulling a trailer with three flags: "Old Glory,"
"Stars and Bars," and the Prisoner of War banner.
Nokes, on the road two weeks now, is in
D.C. as part of the first leg of his around-the-nation motorcycle
journey to raise money for the
March of Dimes.
It's a trip Nokes has waited for his
whole life, he said. A trip that is allowing him to see his country,
and along the way, allowing him to raise money and awareness for a
cause close to his heart; the March of Dimes.
To date, nearly $2,000 has been mailed
to the Arkansas March of Dimes on Nokes' behalf, Tina Crowe of the
March of Dimes in Little Rock said. Strangers across the country, from
Searcy to South Bend Ind., to Niagara Falls, to Washington, D.C. have
responded to meeting Nokes by mailing their gifts to the organization.
"It is amazing that he is doing it,"
Crowe said. "We have had envelopes come from different parts of
Charlie's route. He calls and keeps us up to date on his journey. He
is really seeing a lot and is raising money for a good cause."
Nokes left Searcy Wednesday morning, May
12, departing from Sunshine Honda of Searcy after camping out on the
lawn.
He headed to a friend's home in
Tennessee to spend the night, then headed north to South Bend, Ind. to
visit the Studebaker National Museum.
The Studebaker museum, a place he had
always wanted to visit, offered a surprise, Nokes said. He hadn't
known about Studebaker's contribution to WWII through the
manufacturing of tanks and of canon wagons, and learning this bit of
history made him that much more proud of the American company.
"I love Studebakers," he said. "But to
learn that there is a deeper connection, to learn that this company
was also patriotic and contributed to the cause of freedom during the
war, that makes it even more special to me."
While in Indiana, Charlie and Daisy took
part in a city parade and ended up getting their picture placed on the
front pages of three daily newspapers.
"We had a good time in Indiana meeting
people and taking part in the parade," Nokes said. "I had bought Daisy
some riding goggles and outfitted them to comfortably fit her head and
people seemed to really like that. A lot of people took her
photograph."
Nokes said the day after the parade,
when he and Daisy had driven about 70 miles, they saw themselves on
the front page of a newspaper at a gas station. They had also been on
the front pages of two newspapers in the South Bend area.
Nokes and Daisy continued east to
Bradford, Penn., home of the Zippo lighter company.
"We got to see the Zippo factory. I
actually got to stand there while they repaired two of my lighters
right in front of me," Nokes said.
Then it was north by east to Niagara
Falls.
They rolled into Niagara Falls late
Friday, May 21, and camped on the American side.
"We got up and headed to the Canadian
side at 10 a.m. Niagara Falls was great," Nokes said. "Although we
didn't get to walk down into the caves, because of me having Daisy,
you know. And we didn't get to go on the Maid of the Mists boat,
either. But Daisy and I just imagined we were there."
From Niagara, the pair headed south by
east to New York City. Then on to Washington, D.C.
"It took us a while to find a place to
stay around D.C. Everything was already booked for Memorial Day,"
Nokes said. "We finally found a motel about 30 miles south, in
Virginia. And not just any motel, but one owned by great people. When
they met Daisy and I and learned what we are doing they gave us a
discount and even donated to the March of Dimes. It made us feel
good."
While riding in Washington D.C. last
week, Nokes and Daisy encountered a fellow Arkansan during a chance
meeting at a stoplight.
"While we were at a red light a guy
pulled up beside us and saw our Arkansas plates and asked us where we
were from in Arkansas," Nokes said. "I told him the Bald Knob area.
Turns out the guy was Wayne Palmer from U.S. Senator Mark Pryor's
office.
"We have met so many people already,"
Nokes said. "We met a WWII vet at a rest stop in Baltimore on his way
here for the dedication with his son, a Vietnam vet. At the camp,
here, we have met lots of people. We met a WWII vet from Seattle who
was brought down here by his son and daughter-in-law."
Nokes said he is most excited about the
WWII Monument dedication ceremonies.
"There is a lot of sentiment in the air
about the monument," he said. "I think most feel the WWII monument is
past due, that if it wasn't for the WWII vets, many of us would not be
here today.
"No one feels good about all those who
have died, but there is a good feeling about being an American and
it's good that these guys are being recognized. That is always a good
feeling."
Friends of Nokes' are meeting with him
at his camp to ride with he and Daisy in the parade, he said. Jerry
Evans of Searcy rode his bike to where Charlie is, and Jerry's
brother, Steve, is joining the two of them, riding his bike up from
the Atlanta area. And Jerry Yarbrough of Searcy flew into the D.C.
area and was picked up by Charlie and Jerry Evans.
Charlie said that he and Daisy are
running the backroads of America on this trip, running the two-lane
roads and avoiding the highways when possible.
And even with bumps and mishaps -- Daisy
lost her balance on a bumpy road one day and nearly fell to the road,
but was saved by her harness; and the three flag poles vibrated
completely off in the road wind and had to be replaced; and the first
six days of riding, from Searcy to Ohio, was in a constant rain -- the
trip is shaping up to be every bit worth the dreaming, Nokes said.
They will be back in White County
sometime later in the week for a layover and to earn a little more
money before heading west.
Donations to the March of Dimes in honor
of Nokes' journey can be mailed to: Tina Crowe, Division Director,
March of Dimes Arkansas Chapter; attention "Bikers for Babies," 1501
North Pierce, Suite 106, Little Rock, AR 72207. Or you can call:
800-234-8144.
Published Sunday, May 30, 2004
======================
The Daily Citizen
Charlie Nokes is going to do a good
thing.
This Wednesday Charlie and Daisy will
depart for a two month long odyssey around the United States on a
motorcycle, a trip he is billing as a fundraising journey to raise
money and awareness for the March of Dimes, and a trip to reacquaint
himself with the country he says he so dearly loves.
Funding the trip out of pocket and with
whatever donations come his way, all the funds raised for March of
Dimes will completely by-pass him, going directly to the March of
Dimes so no one is left wondering, he said.
From Searcy, Ark. to Chicago; Chicago to
Bangor, Maine; Maine to "ground zero" in New York, then to Washington,
D.C. for Memorial Day and the dedication of the WWII national monument
where Nokes says he hopes to see the President and hear him speak. And
that's just the beginning of the trip.
"I am doing this because I want to do
something good," Nokes said. "I have done some bad things in my life
and I want to give back."
"It's amazing to me that he is willing
to do this," Tina Crowe, Division Director for the March of Dimes
Arkansas Chapter said. "I think he'll amaze us. I've been working for
the March of Dimes 23 years and I have never had anyone take this kind
of interest. He has a commitment to the organization proven by how
much of his time he has given already.
"And the fact that the money from
donations will be sent directly to us just says so much to me. It was
his idea. He wanted to make sure that anyone giving understands
donations go totally the March of Dimes."
The Bald Knob resident has spent the
last three years volunteering for the March of Dimes with their annual
Arkansas Bikers for Babies (ABFB) motorcycle fundraiser, he said, and
it was during this time he conceived of the idea to take this trip.
Starting with only 30 bikers in 1995 the
event raised $1,500, Crowe said. Last year the event involved 2,800
bikers and raised a walloping $150,000. The ABFB will celebrate its
10th year this year.
He has seen what can be done to raise
funds for a good cause, Nokes said, so he figured a ride around the
country with him telling people about the good things they can do can
help. He can meet them and learn about his country and help them help
someone else in the process.
Nokes, who served in the Army and did a
tour of Vietnam, journeyed to Washington, D.C. for Memorial Day last
year and plans to return every year, he said. That is one reason why
the journey begins next week with a tight schedule that will get him
to Washington for the big day.
"I want to be there for the dedication
of the WWII Memorial," he said. "And I would love to see the
President. He is a great man who is not afraid to stand up for what is
right. I know it won't happen, but I would love to shake that man's
hand."
Accompanying Nokes on the journey is
6-month-old Daisy, a
Red Heeler he says is his inseparable partner,
that is including his wife.
"My wife is in support of this," he
said. "She wants me to think, to see the country and to do something
good, too."
Showing confidence in his journey,
Sunshine Honda in Searcy donated a tune-up, new tires and even road
insurance for his bike. Searcy Yamaha donated a new patriotic helmet
for the journey. And friends have offered money.
"A worker at Thomas Auto Parts gave me a
$20 bill," Nokes said. "It really means a lot, you know, because on
this trip if I get low on funds, well, I will just stop and get a job,
clean a parking lot or sweep or something."
Nokes has undergone special classroom
training certifying him with safety skills to help with the organizing
and leading of thousands of bikers, Crowe said.
For those who wish to donate to the
March of Dimes for Noke's journey, donations can be mailed to: Tina
Crowe, Division Director,
March of Dimes Arkansas Chapter, attn.
"Bikers for Babies," 1501 North Pierce, Suite 106, Little Rock, AR
72207. Or you can call: 800-234-8144.
Published Saturday, May 8, 2004
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