Harley Group Bands Together to Help Families of Fallen Vets
On average, 22 of our nation’s heroes take their own lives each day. One group of Harley enthusiasts is working to change that.
Living our daily lives, it’s pretty easy to become complacent with the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. But we have a select group of heroes to thank for that. And far too often, those heroes struggle to transition back to normal lives after experiencing the horrors of battle. As a result, 22 veterans commit suicide each day on average, a truly sobering statistic. And that’s a number that a group of Harley enthusiasts known as Ride for 22 are striving to drive down.
But the organization’s mission isn’t singular, of course. They’re also determined to remember the vets that have taken their own lives, as well as help support their families. “When you say their name for the last time, that means they’re gone,” Ride for 22 co-founder Steve Exceen explained to CBS News 2 in a recent interview. “These veterans will never be forgotten. We’ll always say their names.”
Each Ride for 22 event is filled with Harley riders who bring along the picture and name of a veteran who took their own life. What started out as a small gathering created by three men has quickly grown into an impressive outpouring of support. “We never thought it would get this big,” said co-founder Doug Knehr. “But to see the support from not just the whole motorcycle community, but the community in general is just outstanding.” Their most recent event drew well over 1,000 riders.
In addition to helping a different 501c3 charity each year, Ride for 22 routinely steps in to help families who have suffered losses. Recently, they helped coordinate the construction of a fence for the family of a fallen Marine vet so his kids could have a safe place to play. And those are just some of the good things Ride for 22 is doing to reverse a disturbing trend. If you’d like to help them continue this mission, you can do so by heading over here.
Photos: Facebook
