American Legion Riders 357 hosting their 8th annual stars and stripes forever ride

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The American Legion Riders of Post 357 are hosting their 8th annual stars and stripes forever ride today to honor military veterans.

Many Americans only celebrate on federal holidays but these riders do so on a regular basis.

Today is another day out of many others that you can show your continued support.

The day is getting started early at 8 a.m. at the South Bend Walmart parking lot on Ireland road where the sign-ups will begin.

The director of the legion Wayne Zwierzynski says the community is more than welcomed to come show support to your local veterans who do so much for our country.

The motorcycle ride is set to start at 11 am and will make its way to the American Legion Post 357 at 5414 West Sample Street in South Bend.

Anybody with a motorcycle can join the 60-mile route and those without one can still help the cause by attending the festivities after the ride.

The cost to attend per bike is $15 dollars and $10 dollars for the rider tagging along.

 Zwierzynski says one of the best parts of the annual ride is that seeing the community come together is the best part of the annual event.

“Truthfully it’s just to see the people get on and support us. This is our number one moneymaker for the year and just like I said helps us as we help veterans in the local area,” Zwierzynski said.

It's just one of the many days the American Legion celebrates our military members.

“We want to show that they’re not forgotten and we appreciate what they did for the country. We stand in a flag line and then we march up to their house and present them with the flag,” Zwierzynski said.

All the money raised today will go towards our community for those who served our nation.

By participating today as a rider or attending the event afterwards, you are contributing to that honorable ceremony that takes place throughout the year to different individual veterans.

Again, the day will finish off at Post 357 with music, food, raffles and more.

The legion says they are thankful to the community for their continued support and they hope to see new faces at this year’s event.

“We do this to raise money to help local veterans, it also benefits, we do on the honorariums for World War II, Korea, and Vietnam veterans. We have to be invited by the family and what we’ll do at these honorariums, we present them with a folded flag, this also works in conjunction with homes for heroes that present them with the heroes’ plaque and a gift certificate,” Zwierzynski said.