Big Nick's Ride for the Fallen 2026
Honoring Cape Cod's Fallen Heroes
Veterans and Athletes United
Fallen Heroes Memorial
Big Nick’s Ride for the Fallen, in cooperation with Veterans & Athletes United, is honored to host the Global War on Terror Fallen Heroes Memorial during the 2026 Big Nick’s Ride weekend at Sea Dog Brew Pub in South Yarmouth. The Memorial will be assembled beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, in the Sea Dog Brew Pub parking lot and will remain on display throughout the weekend. It will be taken down at approximately 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 19, following Big Nick’s Ride for the Fallen.
Created by Veterans & Athletes United, the Memorial is composed of more than 7,000 engraved dog tags bearing the names of members of the United States military who lost their lives during the Global War on Terror. The dog tags form an American flag in the shape in which it is draped over the casket of a fallen service member. The Memorial stands six feet tall and 28 feet wide and includes 50 gold stars honoring Gold Star families across the nation.
“Behind every one of these dog tags is a personal story of true heroism and selfless sacrifice,” said James Howard, founder and president of Veterans & Athletes United. “We hope this Memorial brings awareness to the tremendous price that has been paid for our freedom and provides visitors with an opportunity to honor, reflect and heal—to remember all those who gave their lives defending our country during the Global War on Terror.”
For Big Nick’s Ride founder and Gold Star father Steven Xiarhos, bringing the Memorial to Cape Cod carries a particularly personal meaning. “Big Nick’s Ride began with the promise that Nicholas would never be forgotten,” Xiarhos said. “Over the years, that promise has grown to include all of our Cape Cod fallen and every family that has experienced this unimaginable loss. Each dog tag represents a name, a life, a family and a story that must continue to be told. We are deeply honored to bring this powerful Memorial to our community and to provide a place where people can pause, reflect and remember.”
The public is invited to visit the Memorial throughout the weekend. Additional information regarding viewing hours,with the assembly and breakdown of the Memorial will be announced as plans are finalized.
ABOUT VETERANS AND ATHLETES UNITED
Veterans & Athletes United is an all-volunteer, veteran-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering wounded, injured and ill veterans through adaptive sports and accessible recreational programs and retreats.
The second part of VAU’s mission is to honor those who lost their lives during the Global War on Terror and to support their Gold Star families. VAU completed its first traveling Fallen Heroes Memorial in 2018 and now operates two Memorials that travel throughout the country. Together, they have appeared at more than 200 locations nationwide.
Proceeds associated with the Memorial’s travels help support Gold Star family organizations and the National Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation’s mission to establish a national memorial in Washington, D.C.
Additional information and video of the Memorial may be found at:
Website: www.vetsau.org
Memorial: www.vetsau.org/memorial
Facebook: VAU — Veterans & Athletes United
Instagram: @VetsAU
