Ride revs up support for Wreaths Across America

Christmas is still more than five months away, but the motorcyclists revving their engines on Saturday will help provide wreaths for veterans' graves in Maple Grove Cemetery come December. The annual Wreaths Across America Ride to Remember is a major fundraising effort for the program, said Sherri Garner Brumbaugh, owner of Garner Trucking. "It's a community event," she said. "We have a very giving community that gives graciously to our veterans and then comes out and volunteers, too." Motorcyclists and drivers on four wheels will depart at noon Saturday from Garner Trucking, 9291 County Road 313, with stops at the Ottawa and McComb VFW posts; the Fostoria AMVETS post; and Route 30 Harley-Davidson in Upper Sandusky. The ride will end at Findlay AMVETS, 423 Trenton Ave., with dinner and live music from South of Six from 6-9 p.m. The cost to participate is $15 for single riders and $20 for doubles, payable in cash only at the time of registration. Registration begins at 10 a.m. the morning of the ride at Garner. The ride will include a 50/50 raffle, a poker hand during the run and a silent auction. T-shirts will be available for purchase. Wreaths Across America is a national event hosted at cities across the country with the mission to remember fallen U.S. veterans by coordinating wreath laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as more than 2,500 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad. Brumbaugh said this is the eighth year that Garner Trucking has been involved in Wreaths Across America. It started when the company took wreaths from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, then brought another load back to Ohio. The following year, Brumbagh's son, Jon, helped bring the program to Hancock County for his Eagle Scout project. The first Ride to Remember drew about 25 bikes, Brumbaugh said. The event now averages about 100 participants. "We're very fortunate to have people who return every year," she said. "We have a strong base that returns for the ride. It's a great event." Brumbaugh said riders come from as far away as Tennessee. "Every year they come back for it. They make a weekend of it. They're so committed to the veterans," she said. "They have some roots still here so they come back and ride." Although the event provides funding to help with the program, Brumbaugh said it doesn't cover all of the expenses. Anyone who is unable to attend Saturday or doesn't have a motorcycle can donate by going to wreathsacrossamerica.org and then searching for Maple Grove Cemetery in Hancock County. The goal is to raise money for wreaths to lay on the graves of 3,000 veterans in the cemetery on Dec. 17. The Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce's Hancock Youth Leadership program helps coordinate the project, while Garner Trucking provides transportation for the wreaths. Checks to support the effort may also be made out to the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber Foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) organization. Wolf: 419-427-8419