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[caption id="attachment_8853" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="An artist rendition of the proposed Kentucky National Guard Memorial"]
LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. (July 24, 2011) -- What’s that rumble in the distance? It’s hundreds of motorcycles descending from points across the Commonwealth and gathering at the Healing Field in Lawrenceburg.
On Saturday, August 13th – rain or shine – riders from across the state will come together with one purpose in mind - to raise much needed funds for the construction of a memorial dedicated to Kentucky Guardsmen who have fallen in the line of duty since March 1912. All proceeds from the event will go to the Kentucky National Guard Memorial Fund, a 501 (c)(3) organization committed to completing the project.
"We are planning for 500 riders, plenty of good food, and hot weather," said Ride Boss Charlie Jones, who is also a colonel in the Kentucky Army National Guard and a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"This will be a family friendly event. It’s open to anyone who would like to participate and support the cause," he said.
Riders will depart at various times from starting points including Ashland, Bardstown, Beaver Dam, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, Frankfort, Georgetown, Glasgow, Lexington, London, Louisville, Owensboro, Paducah, Somerset, Walton, Winchester. Everyone will gather at the Healing Field in Lawrenceburg for fellowship, food, and live entertainment from noon until 3:30 (EST). The event goal is to raise $70,000 for the memorial fund.
Registration fees are $25 for each bike or $35 for couples riding tandem. The fee includes lunch, live entertainment, commemorative T-shirt, and collector’s edition ride patch.
Don’t have a motorcycle? No problem! Non-riders are welcome to join the event at the Healing Field. The $5 admission includes lunch. Rider pre-registration is available via mail until 5 August. Riders can also register the day of the event at any starting point or at the Healing Field.
Visit
www.kyngmemorial.com/ride_to_remember for more information (rider registration form, detailed start point information, and event contact information).
ABOUT THE HEALING FIELD
Lawrenceburg's Healing Field was created by the American Legion Auxiliary as a tribute to fallen Warriors. It is the nation's only permanent Healing Field. The Healing Field is adjacent to American Legion Post 34 and the Lawrenceburg Fairgrounds.
Address is: 725 West Broadway Street, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342. Go one block east on Route 62 (725 W. Broadway) off the 127 by-pass. Lawrenceburg is 10 miles south of I-64 (on 127) from Kentucky's capitol city of Frankfort. It is 3 miles north of the Blue Grass Parkway - about 22 miles west of Lexington, Kentucky.
ABOUT THE KYNG MEMORIAL
In June 2008 the Kentucky National Guard Memorial Fund Project was launched. The vision of the 501 (c)(3) organization is to memorialize Kentuckians that have paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the Kentucky National Guard. Efforts are underway to construct a memorial in Frankfort to honor the brave Kentucky Guardsmen that have fallen in the line of duty since March 1912. Preliminary research has already verified 115 of 346 potential names for inclusion on the memorial. The search is ongoing for the forgotten fallen of the Kentucky National Guard. Construction estimates for the memorial are $700,000. The Memorial Fund has already raised ten-percent of the total. Contributions from the public are essential for the completion of the project.
For more information, please visit:
www.kyngmemorial.com
Ride Questions: Charlie Jones (502) 545-0381
charles.jones3@us.army.mil or
ride_to_remember@kyngmemorial.com
KYNG Memorial Fund Questions: Jason LeMay (502) 330-6358
info@kyngmemorial.com or
ride_to_remember@kyngmemorial.com
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