For Hub City Times

NEILLSVILLE – The 18th Annual “Ride to Remember™” Motorcycle Rally to benefit The Highground Veterans Memorial Park in Neillsville is registering riders now for the Aug. 18 rally event.

The Highground’s Ride to Remember is dedicated to remembering veterans, KIAs, POWs, and MIAs. Each year, the Ride gives a special nod to a particular area of the military or aspect of The Highground. This year’s rally has chosen “Those Who Serve in the U.S. Merchant Marine – Past, Present & Future”.

The 2018 “Ride to Remember ™” opening ceremony is Aug. 17 at 5:30 p.m. at The Highground. Riders can register for the Saturday event at that time, purchase a Ride to Remember T-shirt, enjoy the brief ceremony, and tour The Highground.

On Aug. 18, rider registrations begin at 10 a.m. at the Neillsville American Legion No. 73, located at 6 Boon Blvd, Neillsville.  Guided rides begin at 11 a.m. from the Legion and procession to The Highground at 3 p.m.  From 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Legion, the annual Ride to Remember Raffle & Silent Auction will be held. The public is invited to take part in the raffle and silent auction; all proceeds go directly to The Highground to continue its mission of “healing and education for veterans, their families, and all who visit.”

The public is invited to welcome The Ride to Remember riders as they enter the Highground on Saturday. Volunteers will be lining up to welcome the riders at 3 p.m.  Neillsville residents and businesses are also encouraged to line the streets on the parade route through Neillsville as the Ride to Remember travels through town starting from the American Legion at 3 p.m. The parade route will proceed from the American Legion on Boon Boulevard to Hewett Street, north on Hewett Street to 18th Street, west to Grand Ave., and south to State Highway 10.

Once the riders have entered The Highground, they will be served a lunch put on by The Highground and the “Ride to Remember ™” ceremony will begin at 4 p.m.  A special remembrance for Terri Johnson is included in the ceremony.  Terri, who passed away on July 7, was a longtime much loved volunteer at The Highground. She and her husband, Al, volunteered during the Ride to Remember for several years.

While at The Highground, riders and visitors can view the new Learning Center exhibit, “WWII – The Pacific Theatre” which includes a rare Imperial Japanese Naval flag which was taken by U.S. forces on Iwo Jima in March 1945. The Learning Center Veterans Museum is also complete and is full of military memorabilia and many rare items which were donated to The Highground.

For more information on the “Ride to Remember™” or The Highground, please call 715-743-4224, email events@thehighground.us, or visit www.thehighground.us. The Highground is located at W7031 Ridge Rd, Neillsville.