PARKE COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — “If you knew her, you were blessed to have known her.”
Those are the words of Allison Herzog – she’s speaking about her daughter Emily, who died eight years ago in a crash at the Lyford Y intersection in Parke County.
Allison and Emily’s father, Steve, have spent the years since their daughter’s tragic death finding ways to keep her legacy alive.
“There’s a saying we hear a lot, and it’s true – when you lose a parent or another loved one, you lose a part of your past,” Steve Herzog shared. “When you lose a child, you lose part of your future. It takes a long time to heal.”
The community support shown to the Herzog family has helped with that healing process, but they still felt compelled to do something in Emily’s honor – and so the Emily Herzog Memorial Scholarship Fund was created.
The fund gives scholarships to two Riverton Parke High School seniors every year through the Parke County Community Foundation. This year, the family is hosting a special benefit to support the fund.
The first-annual Bikes and Buggies event is scheduled for June 10. The event kicks off with registration at Eagles #291 and the benefit ride will take off at 11 a.m. and end around 4 p.m. at the Old Bridgeton School.
Gates open at the old school building at 3 p.m. for other guests and the festivities get underway at 4 p.m. with food booths, bounce houses, a silent auction, live music, a car show and more.
The event is cash only and the family hopes to have the event take place every year – all in order to help future students and honor their precious daughter.
“There was a movie that Emily always liked called Hope Floats,” Allison said. “And there was a scene from it and Emily always liked it – it was a dance scene. Emily always said that if she was ever to have a party, she wanted that scene, so we built it for her back there. So, Emily, if you’re watching, you know that scene is for you back there, baby girl.”
For more information on the benefit, visit the family’s Facebook page dedicated to Emily’s memory.
