American Tribute Ride kicks off in Wisconsin Rapids to support first responders, veterans and others

WISCONSIN RAPIDS − Motorcycles converged on Wisconsin Rapids Saturday morning to raise money for groups that support first responders, veterans and others.

Saturday marked the 20th anniversary of the American Tribute Ride, said Ron Naab, chairman of the ride committee. It started in 2003 as a way to raise money for the Wisconsin State Fire and EMS Memorial, which is located in Ben Hansen Park in Wisconsin Rapids. Since its first year, the purpose has expanded beyond the fire service to include law enforcement officers and veterans, Naab said.

The money raised by the ride still goes to the Fire and EMS Memorial, but it also goes to the Never Forgotten Honor Flight, the Wisconsin Summer Camp for Burn Injured Youth, Fischer House-Wisconsin and suicide prevention programs for first responders.

The American Tribute Ride differs from a lot of similar rides because the motorcycles visit fire departments, instead of taverns, Naab said. Each year, organizers plan a different route through central and southern Wisconsin. This year's route went to the Rudolph Fire Department for lunch. Then it went to Amherst, Wild Rose and ended in Hancock.

At each stop, the riders were able to purchase drinks, participate in auctions and enter raffles. A short ceremony kicked off the ride at the Wisconsin State Firefighters Memorial with a prayer from retired Wisconsin Rapids Firefighter Tom Anderson.

Jerry Reichert, a member of the Rudolph American Legion Honor Guard, participated in the ceremony at the Fire and EMS Memorial. The American Legion Guard joined the Wisconsin Firefighters Honor Guard.

Reichert said the annual ride is well organized, and he was happy when last October ride organizers asked the Rudolph American Legion to help with the honor guard.

"It is money well spent," Reichert said of the fundraiser.

Pittsville Fire Chief Jerry Minor was present Saturday helping Naab and other volunteers make sure things were staying on track. Minor stood near the entrance to the memorial Saturday morning, giving directions to people and helping with parking. He made sure everyone knew which direction the riders should travel when they left the memorial

A ceremony to honor those in the fire service, law enforcement and military who have lost their lives in service of their communities and country was held at the end of the ride. This year's ceremony honored Harold Baum, Hancock Fire Department, who died in the line of duty on March 26, 1946; Police Officer Peter Jerving, Milwaukee Police Department, who died in the line of duty on Feb. 7; Chief Todd Yandre, Lake Mills Fire Department, who died in the line of duty on Feb. 15; Police Officer Hunter Scheel, Cameron Police Department, who died in the line of duty on Feb. 9: Police Officer Emily Breidenbach, Chetek Police Department, who died in the line of duty Feb. 9; and Deputy Kaitie Leising, St. Croix County Sheriff's Office, who died in the line of duty on May 6.

Naab said the ride ending in Hancock Saturday was not connected to the line-of-duty death of Baum. Coloma Fire Department Assistant Chief Eric Johnson was going through things at his grandfather's house and found stories about a firefighter killed March 26, 1946. Baum was the grandfather's brother-in-law, Naab said. Baum was responding to a fire when something failed on the fire truck and it rolled, killing Baum.

Naab said one goal for this year's ride is to get enough money to pay for black granite plates for the Fire and EMS Memorial. The memorial is running out of room for names and new walls have been purchased, but they need the granite plates to go on them where the names of firefighters who have given their lives in the line of duty are engraved.

Naab said the American Tribute Ride Committee will get together in the upcoming week to decide how the money raised will be divided.

Contact Karen Madden at 715-345-2245 or kmadden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KMadden715, Instagram @kmadden715 or Facebook at www.facebook.com/karen.madden.33.

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This article originally appeared on Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune: Wisconsin Rapids: American Tribute Ride supports first responders, veterans