New Haven Mayor’s Ride
The 5th Annual Veterans’ Memorial Motorcycle Ride is scheduled for this Sunday, May 4, 2014 in New Haven. Registration will begin at 11:00 a.m. at Ehlerding’s River City Harley-Davidson®. (The rain date for this event is set for May 18, 2014.)
Awards will be presented in several different categories including “Best of Show”, “Best of Paint” and “Best Trike.” After the opening ceremony and salute to our military by the Legion Honor Guard and the singing of the National Anthem by City Councilman Tom Didier, this 45 mile motorcycle ride will take off at 1:00 p.m. from Ehlerding’s River City Harley-Davidson® and arrive back in New Haven on Broadway. The ride will conclude in downtown New Haven where many downtown businesses will be open to greet our many visitors and provide them with opportunities to enjoy our community and experience a taste of the town.
Owner Don Ehlerding served with our local Air National Guard in the early 70’s. Ehlerding said, “Ehlerding’s River City Harley-Davidson® and Ehlerding MotorSports located in New Haven, Indiana have long supported our active military and veterans. We have hosted numerous events over the past several years to raise much needed funds for the Disabled American Veterans, Men Of War Charitable Program providing support for PTSD, Fisher House, and Wounded Warrior Project, just to mention a few. We also host a weeklong celebration for Veterans’ Day. We honor our veterans as well as all active military personnel with a free t-shirt, lunch, and other various specials throughout the week.”
Laurie Dague of Ehlerding’s River City Harley-Davidson® said, “We also have several staff members at both dealerships who have served. Additionally, many of our staff have family members who have served or currently serving in various branches of our armed forces.”
H.O.G. ® Chapter (Harley Owners Group)
Terry Longsworth, Director of the local Mad Anthony H.O.G. ® Chapter (Harley Owners Group) is a retired Command Sergeant Major from the U.S. Army with over 27 years of service, including over seven years with the 384th Military Police Battalion in Fort Wayne. Terry said, “Our H.O.G. ® group has many veterans as well as parents and siblings of service members. As a group, we put together care packages for those service members who are currently deployed overseas as well as stateside and send them out every other month. We have a couple in our group who fund all the postage for the packages and all the supplies in our care packages are donated by our H.O.G. ® members. We enjoy riding in the parades throughout the New Haven and Fort Wayne area and participate in the Fort Wayne Memorial Day Parade as well as the Veterans’ Day Parade.”
D.A.V. (Disabled American Veterans) Organization
The D.A.V. (Disabled American Veterans) Organization will be in attendance and will provide a tent from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. providing FREE, professional assistance to veterans and their families in obtaining benefits and services earned through military service provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.) and other agencies of government.
Military members separating from active duty will be able to talk to a Transition Service Officer. The D.A.V. Organization also offers Mobile Service Offices, to reach those veterans with mobility problems, or who simply live a distance from the nearest office. Fulfilling promises to the men and women who served, the Disabled American Veterans Organization is dedicated to a single purpose: empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. This is accomplished by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them; fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill; and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life.
Shepherd’s House
Representatives from the Shepherd’s House will also be available at the event. The Shepherd’s House serves a large population of homeless veterans. Many of these veterans suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and depression. With hard work, motivation, accountability and support from the staff, clients are transformed. The results are life altering and for many veterans, lifesaving.
American Legion Auxiliary
In addition to the other groups and organizations, the American Legion Auxiliary will be at Ehlerding’s River City Harley-Davidson® during the registration period of the Veterans’ Memorial Ride with poppies. This is the memorial flower of the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary. The poppy, a replica of the poppies that bloomed on the battlefields of France, is handmade by disabled Veterans. The memorial poppy is not only a personal tribute to those who gave their lives for our country, but it honors all living veterans. When you wear the little red flower, it helps to keep alive the type of patriotism that is so necessary in this great country of ours. Poppies are only available once a year during the month of May. Donations received from poppies are placed in a separate fund and used exclusively for the rehabilitation of New Haven Veterans and assistance to their families.
Poppies will be available during the registration period of the Veterans’ Memorial Ride event on Sunday, May 4, 2014 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. For more information on the sale of the poppies, please contact the American Legion at 749-0313.
New Haven Mayor Terry McDonald is the proud father of two United States Marines. Sgt. Cameron McDonald is stationed at New River MCAS and Cpl Ryan McDonald is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp. Both sons served tours of duty in Afghanistan. Mayor McDonald said, “We hold our veterans and active military personnel very close to our hearts and support them in any way we can. They were ready to serve at a moment’s notice, and we carry out that same philosophy to support them for serving our country.”
New Haven Parks Director Mike Clendenen said, “Proceeds of this ride will benefit the Schnelker Park Veterans’ Memorial in honor of all military veterans and those who serve this great country.”
For more information, or to pre-register for this event, contact the New Haven Park Department at 749-2212 or register online at www.newhavenparksandrec.org. This event is sponsored by Ehlerding’s River City Harley-Davidson®, Abate, New Haven Print & Copy, Rack & Helen’s, the New Haven Mayor’s Office and the New Haven Parks Department.
