6/2/2010
Thunder rolls for Wounded Warriors and military families Sunday (June 6)
BOISE - The
Wounded Warrior Fund and several other military-based charities will benefit
from the Rolling Thunder motorcycle ride Sunday (June 6) from Boise to
Mountain Home Air Force Base. The Idaho Transportation Department, as
caretakers of the Interstate and State Highway System in Idaho, issued a
Special Event Permit to clear the way for the ride.
The event will
start at 11 a.m. (kickstands up at 11:05 a.m.) at High Desert Harley Davidson
in Meridian off Overland Road. Escorted by law enforcement, riders will travel
east on Overland to Eagle Road, go north on Eagle Road and take the eastbound
I-84 on-ramp to Mountain Home. Riders will leave the freeway at Exit 90, take
the I-84 Business Loop through town and use Idaho 51 and Idaho 167 to access
Mountain Home Air Force Base.
The return
trip will traverse the same route in reverse, but will exit at the Eisenman
Road Interchange, and go to Gowen Field, entering the base just off Orchard
Street.
In addition to
the Wounded Warrior Project, the Idaho Guard and Reserve Family Support Fund,
and Mountain Home Air Force Bases Operation Warmheart also will benefit from
the motorcycle ride, planned to traverse I-84 from Meridian to Mountain Home
and back again, ending at Gowen Field.
More than 700 riders are expected to participate in the event.
Idaho dignitaries on the ride are expected to include Superintendent of Public
Instruction Tom Luna, Boise Mayor Dave Bieter, Mountain Home Mayor Tom
Rist, Brig. Gen. Bill Shawver (Assistant Adjutant Gen./Commander Idaho Air
National Guard), Bob Ford (Sen. Mike Crapo's State Director of Business, Trade
and Rural Development), Meridian City Council President David Zaremba, Col. Guy
Thomas (116th Brigade Commander), and Dean Ferguson (Congressman Walt Minnick's
Regional Representative).
The event marks Idaho's inaugural motorcycle ride in support of these
military-based support venues. All are 501 (C) 3 approved non-profit charities
focused on military families. Pre-registration of $20 is taking place now, with
proceeds going toward a hoped-for total of $30,000 to benefit the funds.
Day-of-event registration, at $40, also will be added to the proceeds.
Pre-registration
is taking place now at High Desert Harley Davidson, Gowen Field, Mountain Home
Air Force Base, and in the City of Mountain Home. Registration on the day of
the ride will start at 8 a.m. at High Desert Harley Davidson.
"We have not reached our goal as of today," said retired Air Force
Col. Bruce Wong, the event organizer, "but I am confident we will hit it
or come quite close."
The event should conclude at 5 p.m. It will include a WWII Nampa Warhawk
heritage formation flyby with P-40s and P-15s, an Idaho Guard historic cannon
shot gun start using a 75MM cannon, and an Idaho State Patrol/city police
escort for the entire route. In addition, Gowen Field is planning a Blackhawk
flyover and band.
For more information on how you can get involved,
please contact Col. Wong at 860-7621, Todd Godfrey of High Desert Harley
Davidson at 338-5599, or check the Idaho Rolling Thunder website at
idahorollingthunder.com
Contributions and donations can be made at any Pioneer Federal Credit Union
under the Idaho Rolling Thunder account with all proceeds being equally
distributed to the charities.
Contact:
Todd Godfrey, Events Manager
High Desert Harley Davidson
208-338-5599, tgodfrey@highdeserthd.com
Bruce Wong, Colonel USAF (Ret)
208-860-7621, brucewongid@aol.com