Downtown St. Johns is hosting the landing of the Vietnam Legacy Ride on Saturday, August 6, 2011.
This motorcycle ride honoring Vietnam Veterans departs Lansing in the morning and travels north through many communities before arriving in St. Johns around noon. This is the 5th anniversary of this commemorative ride, and averages around 500 motorcycles and riders each year during this celebration of the Veterans who served our country during the Vietnam conflict.
An Honor Guard Tribute will take place at the Veterans Memorial in Downtown St. Johns, with luncheon served immediately afterward by the “Military Moms” organization in the Rotary Park Pavilion at the Train Depot. Dan Miller and His Country Legends Band will provide live entertainment in the Pavilion. Hundreds of motorcycles will be on display during the ride stopover, and the public is invited to come have lunch with our Veterans, view historic Vietnam era memorabilia, enjoy the live music and participate in fellowship with the riders until 3:00 pm.
A percentage of the proceeds of this event will go towards the Andrew Nelson Memorial Scholarship Fund, celebrating the life and ultimate sacrifice of Army PFC. Andrew H. Nelson of St. Johns, Michigan who was killed in action on December 25, 2006 in Baghdad, Iraq. Two scholarships are awarded each year to both a male and female swimmer on the St. Johns High School swim team in memory of Andrew, as he was a four year varsity letterman on the Swim Team and was Team Captain during his senior year. Donation receptacles will also be on hand for the public to give to this worthy cause as well.
Organizations involved in the coordination of this event in Downtown St. Johns include the American Legion, the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, the Military Moms Organization, the St. Johns Honor Guard (comprised of members of the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars), the American Legion Riders Patriot Guard, the St. Johns Principal Shopping District Board, the St. Johns Police Department, the St. Johns Fire Department, the City of St. Johns, volunteers from the St. Johns community and corporate sponsors from the Downtown St. Johns Business District.
This is a family friendly event that gives the opportunity for the public to thank our veterans for their sacrifice and service to our country, plus view an amazing collection of motorcycles and flags lining Clinton Avenue from State (M21) to Railroad Street. Please come join us in Downtown St. Johns on August 6, 2011 at 12 noon for an event you and your children will long remember!
Additional information is available at www.DowntownStJohns.org.
