A local tribute to our everyday heroes, the Hometown Heroes Memorial Ride, is scheduled again this year for the third weekend in June. The group is excited to welcome back another two-wheel variety of transportation–bicycles. One of the committee members and organizers, Todd Richardson, says Laura Judge, with a group called Tour De Force, attended a meeting this winter to talk about their interest into being included in the Rockwell City Hometown Heroes ride again in 2018.
Mike Roller, who is in his fifth year of helping to organize the annual event, says on Saturday, June 16, the bicyclists will ride from Rockwell City to Sac City and back after all the other vehicles start their route. That group will be leaving Rockwell City at 11 a.m., heading to Sac City, Breda, Templeton, Guthrie Center, Churdan and then back to Rockwell City. Prior to that, however, Roller says Tour De Force will be making a special presentation.
Officer Justin Martin, who served on the Urbandale police force, was killed in the line of duty on Nov. 2, 2016. He was born and raised in Rockwell City and is one of the three men in whose memory the ride takes place. Roller says Rockwell City Police Officer, Jamie Buenting, was killed in the line of duty in 2013, and the ride was initiated as the Jamie Buenting Memorial Ride in tribute to him.
The ride consistently hosts more than 300 participants on motorcycles, in cars, trucks, vans, party buses, they’ll even take horse and buggy—anything roadworthy. Riders are invited to stop at the fire stations in each community, where food and entertainment will be provided. This year, organizers are also getting some promotional assistance with UnityPoint Lifeflight from Des Moines and Fort Dodge. Their communications specialist, Hannah Short, says among the many other activities taking place, they will be bringing in a life-saving piece of equipment to the lunch being served at Toyne, Inc. in Breda.
Once riders get back to the Expo Building in the Rockwell City Park, supper will be served during live and silent auctions. A listing of auction items can be found on the Hometown Heroes Memorial Ride Facebook page. Registration is $25 and will begin at 10 a.m. that morning. It includes one t-shirt and a punch card for a chance to win a ½ hog. Additional shirts are available for $20. More details on the ride, access to auction item lists and details about Tour De Force can be found below.
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Hometown Heroes Memorial Ride Facebook Page—includes auction items–https://www.facebook.com/hometownheroesmemorialride/
Tour De Force: www.tourdeforceny.com
More information on the ride, auction or registration, call:
Todd—515-571-2512
Jason—515-571-1697
Or email: HHMRIDE@gmail.com
