For Immediate Release Share This News Release
3/30/2016

Documentary ‘Welcome to Soldier Ride’ at Riverhead's Suffolk Theater, Proceeds to Aid Student Vets at Suffolk Community College

The documentary ‘Welcome to Soldier Ride’ will be screened at the Suffolk Theater followed by a discussion with the film’s director and writer Nick Krauss.

All proceeds from the evening’s screening will go to a Suffolk County Community College-wide emergency fund for student veterans, as well as the Sgt. Louis Bonacasa Scholarship and the Bobby Hommel Memorial Scholarship. 

Former Suffolk County Community College student and Air National Guard Sgt. Bonacasa was killed in an Afghanistan terrorist attack four days before Christmas in 2015.

Bobby Hommel, 29, an army veteran and former Suffolk student was killed in a car crash last October.

Welcome to Soldier Ride is the story of Chris Carney, a bartender at The Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett, NY, and his decision to ride his bike for charity. With the support of Talkhouse owner Peter Honerkemp and Talkhouse promoter Nick Kraus, Chris completed a 4,000 mile coast-to-coast bicycle ride raising over $1 million to help injured service members aid and assist one another. Chris was joined in 2005 by two soldiers who were injured serving in Iraq: Staff Sergeant Heath Calhoun - a double leg amputee, and Staff Sergeant Ryan Kelly - a single leg amputee - to ride again, raising community awareness, and meeting fellow veterans along the way.

The ‘Welcome to Soldier Ride’ screening is Thursday April 7 at 6 p.m., at the Suffolk Theater at 118 East Main Street in Riverhead. Tickets are $15 per person and must be purchased through the Suffolk Theatre website: www.suffolktheater.com.

A recumbent bike will be presented to a wounded veteran and current Suffolk County Community College student after the screening.