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Community Corner

The Fourth Annual Callahan's Run

Continuing The Noble Legacy Of An American Hero

 

The fourth annual Callahan’s Run was held this past Saturday — and it was the best turnout and most money raised of all the Callahan’s Runs to date.

Callahan’s Run is a motorcycle rally and “rolling thunder” event held in memory of Easton resident, United States Marine Corps Sgt. Bill Callahan, who gave his life for his country when he was killed in action on April 27, 2007 in Iraq. He was 28.

Sgt. Callahan was an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technician. EOD techs disarm and defeat unexploded bombs and mines and other munitions. It is highly technical and highly dangerous work.

Money raised at the run is given to the Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation .

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“Bill loved motorcycles; he had a Harley,” said Amy Callahan, who had been married to Bill Callahan for a little more than four years at the time of his death. “”And he loved being an EOD tech — and he loved the EOD techs he served with. A motorcycle rally that raises money for the Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation is the right way to remember and honor Bill.”

Bill and Amy Callahan's only child, Daniel Allan Callahan, was 17 days old on April 27, 2007.

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Sgt. Bill Callahan never met his son.

Daniel Allen Callahan is named for Sgt. Daniel Tsu and Navy Petty Officer Allan Cundanga Espiritu — close comrades of Sgt. Callahan’s. Sgt. Tsu and Petty Officer Cundranga were killed when a vehicle they were in detonated an explosive device in Iraq in November 2005.

Sgt. Callahan, also in the vehicle, sustained non-serious injuries.

(Here is a to a column that ran in this space last July that was about the third annual Callahan’s Run and which provided background on the Callahan family. )

More than 200 motorcyclists — a record number of riders — participated in this year’s Callahan Run. A large percentage of the riders are U.S. military veterans

Riding two abreast, the riders leave , located on Washington St./Rte. 138, at noon and ride through local towns and arrive back at the Villa about an hour after their departure.

The Union Villa and its owners, the Richard family, host Callahan’s Run every year.

When the riders return to the the Villa, there is food, drink, and live music provided by the band Slider.

Local businesses are generous in donating to the cause — including D’Angelo’s, which gave sandwiches for this year’s ride.  Many volunteer their time and effort to making Callahan's Run a success.

Money is raised through Callahan’s Run in that each rider pays a riding fee. As well, there are raffles held after the riders return to the Villa.

Amy Callahan, a 1995 grad, said that this year's run was the most emotional for her. She said that this was because this was the first Callahan’s Run in which some of her husband’s fellow EOD techs were able to attend and were on site for the event.

“Those EOD techs won’t want their names mentioned,” Amy said with a smile. “But they wanted to be here; it was so important to them.”

Callahan’s Run and the example and energy of Sgt. Bill Callahan, and the caring of all those who participate in and support the run, are keeping vibrant the legacy of an American hero — and are giving to a cause that that American hero believed in so fervently.

Click here to learn more about Callahan’s Run; click here link to visit the Callahan's Run Facebook page.

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