80-Mile trek planned to honor fallen Wentzville Marine in ‘Angels of Abbey Gate’ ride

(KTVI) A Gold Star father from St. Charles County is taking his cause to the road Saturday, September 7.And he’s doing it in a big way.

Mark Schmitz has organized an 80-mile ride from Festus to St. Charles, in honor of fallen his son, U.S. Marine LCL Jared Schmitz.

The Angels of Abbey Gate Ride is a tribute to Jared, who was 20 years old and among the 13 U.S. service members killed in a bombing at the Hamid Karzai Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan August 26, 2021.

The ride will begin with a gathering at 9 am at the Gold Star Harley-Davidson at 2435 US-67 in Festus. The procession will roll out at 10 am, led by an enormous tractor trailer wrapped with the names and faces of the “Angels of Abbey Gate,” the 13 fallen troops.

Schmitz and his friend, Freedom 13 ambassador, Greg Doolin, a retired U.S. Marine and Army veteran, have been planning the event and say hundreds are expected to take part on the ride.

The ride will then move to the St. Charles Harley-Davidson at 3808 W. Clay Street in St. Charles, with lunch and cocktails. It will include with “Joe’s v. Pros”, a paintball tournament that pits “ordinary Joes” against military veterans and first responders. All proceeds will benefit The Freedom 13, an organization Schmitz founded to honor the fallen 13 members and to support veterans and their families.

For information, including registration, on the Angels of Abbey Gate Ride and  Paintball Shootout, visit www.thefreedom13.org

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