More than 200 motorcyclists converged at Frankie’s Too in Falcon May 18 to celebrate the Defenders of Freedom Veterans Recognition Ride.Individual riders paid $10 and couples paid $15 to participate in the ride. The event raised $3,000, and all of it was donated to The Wounded Warrior Project, said Brian Wess, a Colorado Springs real estate agent who organized the event.”It’s important to recognize our soldiers,” Wess said. “The ride is a recognition and tribute to honor all the men and women who serve, have served, have been wounded or have lost their lives in service to our country.”The purpose is to raise funds for The Wounded Warrior Project, which helps our severely wounded service members from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. The project does tremendous work in transitioning soldiers back into civilian life.”Organizing the event wasn’t easy, Wess said. The route took the riders from Highway 83 and Interquest Parkway, past Peterson Air Force Base, along Highway 94, up Curtis Road, west on Judge Orr Road and then down Highway 24 to Frankie’s Too.”The Colorado Springs Police Department helped plan the route and provided an escort,” Wess said. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office assumed escort duties at Highway 94.”It was a good ride,” said rider Mark Jehning. “I like running red lights legally.” Jehning’s wife, Michela, who is a bus driver for Falcon School District 49, also rode.Several local motorcycle groups also participated, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Warriors and the Zebulons.Wess credited Frankie’s Too as the event’s first sponsor. Frankie’s hosted the after-ride party, offering discounts on food and drinks. Berwick Electric Company, the Law Tigers (lawyers specializing in motorcycle accidents) and Colorado Springs eatery, Thunder & Buttons, helped cover the cost of the CSPD and sheriff’s escorts. Other sponsors included Rocky Mountain Coors & Miller and Lockheed Martin.The ride was so successful that Weiss said they plan to make it an annual event.For more information, visit www.brianwess.com/VeteransRide and www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
