Bruce Springsteen performs on stage during a concert in the Rock in Rio Festival on September 21, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo : Getty Images/Buda Mendes)
Bruce Springsteen was riding his Moto Guzzi cycle and was stranded near the Allaire State Park, Wall Township in Freehold, New Jersey on Nov 11, Friday. Fortunately, three men stopped to help him and he gave them a celebrity treat of a lifetime.
Dan Barkalow, 55, from Freehold returned from a Veterans Day event with his two fellow Freehold American Legion members. He was with Ryan Bailey and Bob Grigs when they stopped to help a stranded motorcyclist, the famous "Born to Run" rocker Springsteen. Barkalow recognized the musical artist who was wearing a brown jacket with a red handkerchief.
The three unsuccessfully tried to have Springsteen's bike run again. The living America legend hopped on the back of Bailey's bike and they went to Farmingdale's Original Mulligans Grills. While waiting for his ride, the musician bought his rescuers a round of drinks. The four men reminisced old bands in Freehold and found the singer nice and down to earth.
The four men also discussed about motorcycles and the musician promised to give his new friends free tickets when he is in the area. Freehold-raised Springsteen still lives in New Jersey. His father was a veteran and it makes him eligible to join the American Legion, USA Today reported.
The feel-good story was posted on the Facebook page of New Jersey's Freehold American Legion Monmouth Post 54 on Nov. 12, Saturday. It drew positive attention at first but later had political bashing with the wake of the presidential elections. Donald Trump followers attacked Springsteen who was not a supporter of the president-elect.
Loyal patriots complained why Legion Riders helped a liberal while everyone argued whether real Americans just have to ignore stranded people. The three bikers who helped the musician never expected the backslash as they never talked about politics. The frustrated Post 54 pleaded for peace and to stop the hate.
Springsteen was a vocal Hillary Clinton supporter during the presidential campaign. He was one of the celebrities who performed at campaign rallies for the Democratic presidential candidate. However, a survey showed that celebrity endorsements have less or no effect on people's decision on who to support, The Atlantic reported.
Watch Springsteen perform at a Clinton rally below:
