Ride To Be Heard Feature
On Saturday, August 15th – the American Legion Portage Post 496 hosted the First Annual RIDE TO BE HEARD in partnership with Thunder Roads Ohio and ReasonsToRide.com. The ride was first created in reaction to Kent State University’s decision to not only feature Jane Fonda as a Feature Speaker on the 50th Anniversary of the National Guard Shooting at KSU – but to also barely even recognize those that served in the Vietnam War as a consideration of the times. They looked to erect memorials for injured protestors but ignored the more than 2.7 million American men and women that served in Vietnam and the more than 58,000 that lost their lives there.
The RIDE TO BE HEARD was organized as a means of not only recognizing all that have served – but to focus particularly on those that served in Vietnam. Regardless of who was speaking on campus and what the KSU was saying – we wanted to make sure that the roar of our engines was heard in HONOR of all who SERVED IN VIETNAM.
Kent Sate University ended up cancelling the events they had planned – but we were determined to still hold the ride in honor of the Vietnam Vets. After having to reschedule it several times, we were finally able to host the ride in Mid August – with riders leaving American Legion Post 496 and riding to the Ohio Veterans Memorial Part in Clinton, Ohio.
Proceeds from the Ride are being donated to the Ohio Veterans Memorial Park and used to support local Veteran service organizations through The Warrior Fund. Special thanks goes out to Kim Kilbourne and the American Legion Riders from Post 496 for sticking with it and following through with the ride – despite all the challenges.
Please Note– in response to many requests from those attending the Ride and those unable to make it, additional Ride to Be Heard Patches are now available. These are the same big 4” full color patches created to honor Vietnam Veterans as part of the ride. The patches and additional Ride Shirts are now available through ThunderRoadsOhio.com in the Shop there. ALL PROCEEDS from the sale of these patches and shirts will go towards the Ohio Veterans Memorial Park and efforts to assist local Veterans.
