Photos (from left): Nick Hildreth, Jamie Buenting and Justin Martin
Next Saturday, June 17, there will be a large processional of cars, vans, trucks and motorcycles trailing out from the Rockwell City Fire Station in the fourth annual Hometown Heroes Memorial Ride. Volunteer firefighters and organizers, Mike Roller and Todd Richardson, say everyone is welcome to join them, either in the ride or later in the day for the auctions and dinner, to honor their fellow public servants who have died in the line of duty. Roller says, unfortunately, this year they will be adding another name to that list.
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Urbandale Police Officer, Justin Martin, was a Rockwell City native killed on Nov 2, 2016 in an ambush-style attack. The money raised from this event is used in a variety of ways to help others. Some of the proceeds are used to fund scholarships of $500 per semester for two years to students who have graduated from South Central Calhoun High School and are interested in pursuing careers in public service. Roller details other ways they have distributed the money in years past.
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The route changes every year, and this year’s event is sitting right at 145-miles long round trip.
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Riders stop at fire stations in each of these communities in this truly family-friendly event, giving other area firefighters a chance to host fundraisers as well. Roller and Richardson say bring your kids, bring your minivans if you want, in fact organizers have always wanted to see a party bus join their group and they are on the lookout for a couple of police bikes to lead the moving processional.
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Cost of the ride is $25 and includes one t-shirt and one punch card which will get riders a chance to win a half a hog. Additional t-shirts are $20 each. When riders get back to Rockwell City there will be a supper, live auction and basket auction in the air conditioned Expo building at the Rockwell City Park. The group is doing reveals of auction and raffle items on their Facebook page up until the day of the event. One really unique item, Richardson says, is being made by a local artist, Shane Olson of Olson Iron Works out of Churdan, who is turning some old fire department air tanks and a fire helmet into a lamp.
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People can also donate money or auction items at the Rockwell City fire station, by messaging them through their Facebook page or through their email at hhmride@gmail.com. Roller says their hopes and goals for the Hometown Heroes Ride is that in 60 years, when their kids and grandkids are firefighters, that on the third Saturday of June they hold the run, even if they don’t know why. Both men say the entire day is fun, filled with stories and a few tears—but a lot more smiles than tears as they do what they can to honor the legacy of three great men and to recognize the ultimate sacrifice they made in serving others. Registration is 10 to 11 a.m. at the Rockwell City Fire Department. The ride starts at 11 a.m.
Link to Facebook page: