Christian Motorcyclists Association’s “Freedom Flight” Keeps Veterans’ Sacrifice Alive Each Fourth of July

Every year, when fireworks echo across Indiana skies, a small but mighty tradition rides alongside the rumble of motorcycles: a dove takes flight, carrying with it the hopes and gratitude of a community that refuses to forget its veterans.

From Balloons to Birds: A Gentle Change

It wasn’t always a dove. Tom Wilkinson, chaplain for the local Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) chapter, remembers how it all started with balloons.

They’d gather for their Fourth of July ride, then let helium balloons slip skyward — simple, heartfelt, and easy to do.

But once Wilkinson learned about the impact those balloons had on wildlife and local farms, he knew it wasn’t the right way forward. “I got home and did some research,” he said. “Turns out those balloons gotta come down somewhere. Bad for the environment, bad for folks baling hay.”

One short line here: That revelation turned the group’s tradition on its head.

The Birth of “Freedom Flight”

Instead of giving up, the CMA found a gentler symbol. By the next year, they’d partnered with DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home in Columbia City to borrow a single white dove.

One bird, one release, one big message.

That was 2016, though the idea took root back in 2015. Wilkinson smiles when he tells it — a simple conversation at a chapter meeting: “We said, ‘Why don’t we give the dove a name?’ Someone piped up: ‘Freedom Flight.’ And that was it.”

Since then, every Fourth of July, the riders gather, say a few words, bow their heads, and watch Freedom Flight lift off into the summer air.

A Small Gesture, A Huge Meaning

Why a dove?

Wilkinson says the dove means more than just a nod to peace. It’s freedom made visible. It’s a gentle stand-in for every man and woman who’s served.

“If it wouldn’t have been for those gentlemen and ladies that lost their life, we wouldn’t have the freedom that we have today,” Wilkinson said.

One line here: Simple as that.

And while the sound of roaring engines and fireworks fills the day, that brief hush as the dove takes off says something words can’t.

Faith, Fellowship, and the Open Road

For Wilkinson, who joined CMA in 2010, the ride is only part of the mission.

One short paragraph: It’s the people — the bond, the prayers, the shared meals — that keep him here.

“We donate to people in need,” he said, rattling off moments when the group stepped up for local families, helped pay a utility bill, or delivered food to someone down on their luck.

CMA’s foundation is faith. The motorcycles are just a vehicle — literally — to reach others. “Strong morals, strong people,” Wilkinson says, nodding. “We take care of each other.”

A Ceremony That Keeps Growing

The annual dove release is a small moment, but it’s become a signature for local riders and veterans alike.

Each year, more folks hear about Freedom Flight. They come for the ride, sure, but they stay for the quiet part — the part that feels bigger than all the chrome, leather, and fuel put together.

One paragraph here: Riders line up their bikes in neat rows. Flags wave from handlebars. Kids cling to their parents’ sides. For just a few minutes, the loudest thing in the lot is the flutter of wings.

The Cost of Freedom: Never Forgotten

It would be easy, Wilkinson says, to let these sacrifices fade into the background.

Fourth of July parades, cookouts, fireworks — they’re all fun, but it’s the deeper part, the remembering, that matters most.

One short line here: Freedom Flight is their way to make sure the real cost of freedom stays front and center.

At the ceremony, riders often share stories of family who served, friends who didn’t come home, or neighbors still struggling to heal.

“It’s a fulfilling day,” Wilkinson said, looking out at the crowd during last year’s event. “We get to honor people who deserve it.”

What’s Next for the Christian Motorcyclists?

The local CMA chapter isn’t slowing down. Between rides, they gather for charity work, food drives, and fellowship.

One line here: Some rides raise money for veterans’ organizations; others help local families in crisis.

Wilkinson and his crew already have next year’s dove lined up. “Same bird, same hope,” he jokes.

A Snapshot of the Tradition

Here’s a quick look at how Freedom Flight has grown:

Just One Small Bird, But a Lot of Love

It’s not fancy. There’s no big sponsor, no national TV crew, no fireworks display choreographed to a pop anthem.

But the people who gather say that’s the point. The simplicity makes it real.

One line here: Freedom Flight is a gentle reminder — freedom isn’t just fireworks. It’s fragile, like a dove’s wing, and worth protecting every day.

Wilkinson looks forward to every release. He says he thinks about those who can’t be there to see it, the veterans gone too soon, the sacrifices made long before his time.

One last line here: “We owe it to them to remember,” he says, “and a dove in the sky is a pretty good way to start.”