Honor Ride headed to Highground on Memorial Day

Plans are well underway for the 11th Annual Honor Ride Motorcycle Ride and Rally and Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 31. This year’s ceremony includes the dedication of the “Lost 74” tribute.

The Honor Ride will have nine different starting points: Eau Claire, Neillsville, Medford, Appleton, King/Waupaca, Wisconsin Rapids, Reedsburg, Richland Center and Tomah.

Motorcyclists from across the state will make their way to The Highground, stopping at the American Legion #73 in Neillsville, where riders and the general public will join together and try their luck at the annual raffle.

At approximately 1:45 p.m., the procession of riders will travel through Neillsville and out to The Highground where they will be greeted by supporters along a flag-lined path. There they will enjoy a meal prior to the National Moment of Silence at 3 p.m., which will mark the beginning of the Memorial Day Ceremony and “Lost 74” Dedication.

In 2020, a new memorial was placed in the Meditation Garden to pay tribute to the 74 sailors — and more specifically to the three Wisconsin sailors, James R. Cmeyla, 24, of Luxemburg; Michael A. Orlikowski, 28, Milwaukee; and Jon W. Thomas, 22, of Delavan—who died at sea June 3, 1969, aboard the USS Frank E. Evans when it collided with the Australian carrier HMAS Melbourne during a training exercise.

The Highground is honored to work with the USS Frank E. Evans Association (DD 754) and to have USS Frank E. Evans survivor Terry Vjere at the park on Memorial Day for the dedication of the stone. In honor of the Wisconsin fallen, guests in the park that day will hear their names with the Liberty Bell replica tolling over the speakers.

The Highground continues to focus on all who visit—veterans, family, and friends—by honoring those who protect and defend our freedom, educating all on what our veterans have done for our country and providing a safe environment for healing.

As a key fundraiser, the Honor Ride allows The Highground to continue to offer programs like the veterans weekend retreats and onsite PTS/PTSD programs for veterans and families, as well as assistance for homeless veterans.

Supporters who are interested in joining the ride can register online at thehighgroundhonorride.com.

For more information, call Bonnie at 715-743-4224 or send an email to events@thehighground.us.