 At 12:29:59, the ride commenced to American Legion
Post 447 in Mount Pulaski, then on to Middletown and Athens. The
riders would then return to Springfield for an early evening of food
and live music.
This annual event helps fund two Illinois organizations, the
Illinois Law Enforcement Education Foundation and the Illinois
Military Family Relief Fund for deployed soldiers, according to ride
coordinator Mylas Copeland, general manager of Springfield's Green
Toyota, Scion, Volkswagen, Audi. Copeland said the ride was
developed several years ago to assist men and women who protect the
residents of Illinois. The Peacekeepers organization is dedicated to
serving law enforcement and military service personnel and their
families.
On the website for the Peacekeepers, Gov. Pat Quinn is quoted:
"It is the duty of all those on the home front to support the
families of those who bear the battle. When the brave men and women
of Illinois answer the call to duty, they should not have to worry
that their families are suffering financially at home. All of us in
the Land of Lincoln can help our military families by donating to
the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund."
The Illinois Military Family Relief Fund was established in 2003
to assist Illinois National Guard members and reservists who were
called to active duty in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks. Four out of 10 service members activated suffered a salary
cut in order to serve their country. The fund has distributed almost
$14 million to more than 26,200 military families.
IMFRF grants are intended to help service members and their
families defray the costs of food, housing, utilities, medical
services and other expenses that become difficult to afford when a
wage-earner has temporarily left civilian employment to be placed on
active military duty.
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Beginning in 2004, there has been a voluntary checkoff on
Illinois individual income tax forms for donations to the fund.
Quinn signed Senate Bill 2148 into law effective Nov. 23, 2009, that
increased the casualty-based grant from $2,000 to $5,000 and added
eligibility to active-duty service members who are Illinois
residents. This is not retroactive; therefore, injuries on or after
Nov. 23, 2009, are eligible for consideration for the $5,000
casualty-based grant.
The treasurer of the Springfield Area Peacekeepers chapter, David Wesselman, remarked that never before have over 200 cycles been able
to congregate at one time in one central place. He praised the
American Legion for their huge parking lot. Wesselman was also
impressed with all the preparation. Hosts and hostesses were set up
to serve outside and at a full bar inside. The Legion also has four
restrooms. The group's first 45-minute stop was a very pleasant and
restful one.
As the group left the Legion, host and hostesses, all members of
the Mount Pulaski American Legion, Auxiliary and Sons of American
Legion, rushed out to give a standing ovation to the departing
Peacekeepers.
[By PHIL BERTONI]
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