thedrifter
05-04-06, 07:33 AM
Leave it to the tough Harley-riding Marines
Leathernecks make over wounded war vet's yard
By Joe Noga
Staff Writer
May 4, 2006
PARMA — The surprises started rolling in for Marine Staff Sgt. Dan Priestley around 8 a.m. on Saturday.
First, a convoy of tractors, trailers and landscaping equipment pulled up to his Brookdale Avenue home.
Then it was a rough-and-ready crew of Harley-riding Marine Leathernecks who thundered in and started tearing out his worn and weary yard.
Later, friends and supporters joined city officials who stopped by with proclamations, donations and salutations for the wounded Iraq War veteran.
"We wanted to keep the surprises rolling for him all day long," said Tim DeWolf of the Leathernecks Marines Motorcycle Club.
Eventually, it was Priestley himself who was rolling — on a brand new motorcycle of his own from Southeast Harley-Davidson of Bedford. Benefactors helped raise money to defray the cost of the $22,000 bike with special modifications so that Priestley's injured legs could straddle the blue-and-chrome beast.
"I was shocked," Priestley said "The generosity of everybody in the community is unbelievable. It's overwhelming to think about it."
Priestley was seriously wounded in February 2005 while serving as a member of the 3/25th Marine Reserve unit. He returned to Parma later that year and has undergone more than 20 painful surgeries to restore his injured legs.
Ellie
Leathernecks make over wounded war vet's yard
By Joe Noga
Staff Writer
May 4, 2006
PARMA — The surprises started rolling in for Marine Staff Sgt. Dan Priestley around 8 a.m. on Saturday.
First, a convoy of tractors, trailers and landscaping equipment pulled up to his Brookdale Avenue home.
Then it was a rough-and-ready crew of Harley-riding Marine Leathernecks who thundered in and started tearing out his worn and weary yard.
Later, friends and supporters joined city officials who stopped by with proclamations, donations and salutations for the wounded Iraq War veteran.
"We wanted to keep the surprises rolling for him all day long," said Tim DeWolf of the Leathernecks Marines Motorcycle Club.
Eventually, it was Priestley himself who was rolling — on a brand new motorcycle of his own from Southeast Harley-Davidson of Bedford. Benefactors helped raise money to defray the cost of the $22,000 bike with special modifications so that Priestley's injured legs could straddle the blue-and-chrome beast.
"I was shocked," Priestley said "The generosity of everybody in the community is unbelievable. It's overwhelming to think about it."
Priestley was seriously wounded in February 2005 while serving as a member of the 3/25th Marine Reserve unit. He returned to Parma later that year and has undergone more than 20 painful surgeries to restore his injured legs.
Ellie