Marine Sgt. Jesse Allen Wilkes, 27, returned safely home in 2009 after two tours of duty in Afghanistan only to meet an untimely death on the streets of Chatsworth, CA. On April 27, 2013, Wilkes, while riding his motorcycle, was defenseless when an automobile driver made a left turn directly in front of him at Devonshire Street and Winnetka Avenue. The 27-year-old died shortly following the impact.
Sgt. Wilkes grew up in the San Fernando Valley and Westlake Village. He attended Hale Middle School (1996-1999) and graduated with honors from El Camino Real High School (1999-2003) where he was active in pole vaulting, football, and helping in his community. In 2003, Jesse attended basic training at Camp Pendleton and then Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. His primary mission in Afghanistan consisted of running the Howitzer guns of an artillery unit. “He gave six years of his life to his country and had dreamed of serving his nation since childhood,” said his mom, Kimber Lee Wilkes. Upon his return from Afghanistan in 2009, the Marine reservist was greeted by a large group of people who were thrilled to have him back home. In the Spring of 2012, he completed his studies at CSUN with a Degree in Cinema and Television Arts.  As a result of this tragedy, the family and friends of Sgt. Wilkes, have been campaigning to prevent similar tragedies from happening to other families. MOMS – Military on Motorcycle Safety and the Jesse Wilkes Memorial Foundation works to raise awareness about cars and motorcycle safety, sharing the road with all vehicles and promoting traffic safety at major intersections.
Our Mission Statement: To promote the implementation of safer stoplights, with regard to protected left hand turn signals at dangerous intersections. To aid the victims of vehicular collisions that occurred at unsafe intersection To aid the families of such victims and to increase public awareness of sharing the
roads with all types of vehicles. The money raised has been used to work with politicians to make safer intersections and also given to families of victims who cannot afford to either get medical treatment or lay to rest their beloved.