Big Nick’s Annual Ride for The Fallen Raises $68,921 For Local Military Families & Veterans

Hundreds of motorcycles participated in “Big Nick’s Ride for the Fallen” this summer. Thousands of people lined the 35-mile route to show their support for our local heroes. The event, now in its ninth year, raised $68,921 for local military families and veterans.

The moving, patriotic ride is sponsored by the Nicholas G. Xiarhos Memorial Foundation Fund of The Cape Cod Foundation.  It was started to memorialize U.S. Marine Nicholas Xiarhos who was killed in Afghanistan in 2009 while going to the rescue of his fellow Marines in combat.  It continues to honor active service members and veterans from Cape Cod and to pay tribute to 15 others who have lost their lives in service since the September attacks in 2001. They include:

United States Army Staff Sergeant Alicia A. Birchett of Mashpee
United States Army Private First Class Paul E. Conlon of Mashpee​
United States Navy Captain Gerald F. DeConto of Sandwich ​
United States Army Sergeant Alexander H. Fuller of Barnstable
United States Army Sergeant Matthew R. Gallagher of Falmouth
United States Navy SEAL Kevin A. Houston of Barnstable
United States Marine Captain Eric A. Jones of Mashpee
United States Marine Corps Private First Class William B. Kiernan of Falmouth
United States Marine Private First Class Daniel A.C. McGuire of Mashpee
United States Army Sergeant Matthew A. Pucino of Bourne ​
United States Army Staff Sergeant Stephen A. Sprague of Yarmouth
United States Army Private First Class Clinton E. Springer II of Bourne
United States Army Sergeant Zachary D. Tellier of Falmouth ​
United States Army Sergeant Mark R. Vecchione of Eastham
Commander Francis T. Williams of Sandwich

This year’s ride also honored fallen Yarmouth Police Sergeant Sean Gannon and Weymouth Police Sergeant Michael Chesna who were killed in the line of duty in April and July, respectively.

The memorial fund provides financial assistance to local military families and wounded warriors and supports numerous programs for veterans throughout the community. The fund also supports a scholarship at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, Nick Xiarhos’ alma-mater. 

Steven Xiarhos, Nick’s father, said, “This annual ride has become a powerful way for the community to honor all those who have served—and continue to serve—our country.  It also gives us the resources to continue to help those who have made it home.”

For more information about or to donate to the Nicholas G. Xiarhos Memorial Foundation Fund, contact Foundation President and CEO Kirstin O’Malley at 508-790-3040 or visit capecodfoundation.org.