The third annual Hometown Heroes Memorial ride will hit the highway on the first leg of their trip, from Rockwell City to Manson at 11 a.m. this Saturday, June 18. Co-organizer and Rockwell City volunteer firefighter, Mike Roller, said this ride originated as a way to honor one of their own fallen heroes, and has grown from there.

 

This ride is not only a way to honor these fallen heroes, it provides their friends and peers a way to have their memories live on in variety of ways. The proceeds raised have been used to erect a police officer statue in honor of Buenting in the Rockwell City Park. And, for the first time, they were able to use a portion of the money raised to support young people from the South Central Calhoun School District with the Hometown Heroes Memorial Ride Scholarship.

Any and all vehicles are invited to join in the run, which will continue on from Manson to Gilmore City, Algona, Livermore and then back to Rockwell City. Once people get back into town, there will be a dinner and auctions in the air-conditioned Expo Building at Rockwell City Park. Roller said organizers reached out for input on ideas to improve the annual event.

They are anticipating around 30 baskets for the auction, with items that appeal to a very broad range of tastes and interests. Roller said the goal is to have anyone who can’t make the ride join them for the auctions. The cost to register for the ride is $20, and that includes a t-shirt and a punch card to enter into a drawing for door prizes. You must be present to win door prizes, one of the biggest this year being half of a hog. The other half of a hog will be auctioned off. For more information, you can log onto the Hometown Heroes Memorial Ride Facebook page or you can call Roller at 515-408-7785.