200 Veteran Bikers Honor Fallen Marine

On a cloudless October Saturday, thunder rumbled through Cherokee County, the sound produced by more than 200 motorcyles -- a rolling tribute to a fallen Marine.

Members of the Patriot Guard, Rolling Thunder, and other veteran motorcylists rode from Quantico, VA, to Gaffney, SC, to honor Lance Corporal Chris Fowlkes.

"Christopher never would have expected all this. I surely didn't expect all this," said Steve Fowlkes, Chris's father.

Lance Cpl. Fowlkes, 20, died last month after being injured by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. Saturday's procession of motorcycles was prompted by something that happened during Fowlkes' funeral procession two weeks ago. A manager at Bank of America on Floyd Baker Boulevard removed American flags from the roadside in front of the bank. The flags had been placed there in honor of Fowlkes since his procession traveled along that route. The move created a public outcry against Bank of America and the story received national attention.

Which is what prompted Greg Harrington, a former Marine from Virginia, to take action.

"When I heard the story, I really did literally drop to my knees and say 'Lord, what are we gonna do? We gotta do something'," said Harrington.

He says he sent emails to Patriot Guard and Rolling Thunder chapters in the Virginia area, asking them to organize a ride to Gaffney, and the idea just gained steam.

"This thing came together in four days," said Harrington.

He said when the group left Quantico Saturday morning, they had only 7 motorcycles and a few vehicles, but as the convoy moved down the interstate, it picked up momentum as more riders joined the group in every city.

"It was amazing to see bikers coming off the exit ramps to join us," said Harrington. The group rolled into Gaffney around 5:45pm, more than 200 strong. They brought with them an American flag and a U.S. Marine flag from the Marine Corps National Museum in Quantico. The flags were presented to Fowlkes' family during an emotional ceremony at Cherokee County's Veterans Museum.

Fowlkes' mother, Donna, says her son would have been proud to see the outpouring of support from strangers.

"He would have wanted to make sure that it's for every military person that's fighting, dying, and still wanting to join the military to fight for their country," said Donna Fowlkes.

She and her husband have seen their son's death unite Gaffney in a way they would have never imagined.

"To see them all come out, I think he would just be so proud of how everybody has come together as a family and a town," said Donna Fowlkes.

Charlotte-based Bank of America has repeatedly apologized for the flags being removed, calling it a "misunderstanding". Steve Fowlkes said today he is ready to move past the controversy and focus on the sacrifices being made by military members.

Click the video tab above to see Chris Cato's story on the bikers' tribute.