News Photo by Julie Riddle Military veterans prepare to depart for Traverse City to provide an honor guard for the remains of a Korean War veteran returning home Thursday.

ALPENA–An honor guard of black leather-clad military veterans roared out of town early Thursday morning, headed to Traverse City to honor a fallen soldier.

A small group of motorcyclists met just after sunrise to head across the state, adding fellow veterans to their number as they traveled. They were headed for the Cherry Capital Airport, where, along with veterans from around the state, they would provide an honor escort for the remains of a Korean War casualty recently released by the Korean government.

Cpl. Charles S. Lawler of Traverse City was reported missing in action in North Korea in 1950, when he was 19. His remains, recently identified, were to be flown home Thursday.

Representatives of the Agent Orange Riders, Patriot Guard, and Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association were invited to converge at the Traverse City airport to accompany the remains as they were transferred to a local funeral home, bike flags flying proudly.

The opportunity to honor a fellow veteran was worth the early start and long drive, according to rider Skip Brown of Alpena, retired from the Army Reserve.

“You’ve gotta do your due respect,” Brown said.

Following the summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in June 2018, North Korea turned over 55 boxes they said contained the remains of American service members killed during the Korean War. As of May, the U.S. government had identified six Americans from what may be the remains of up to 200 soldiers.

Over 7,600 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Bob Cummings of Ossineke, organizer of the local Agent Orange group, said that such homecomings are important to veterans. He recalled a recent similar honor guard in Niles attended by 3,000 motorcyclists.

The local motorcycle enthusiasts with a common bond of military service and deep patriotism do their best to provide an honorable escort “whenever a brother comes home,” Cummings said. “Nothing more important than a brother, or sister,”

Julie Riddle can be reached at 989-358-5693, jriddle@thealpenanews.com or on Twitter @jriddleX.