It’s not often that a single event can benefit so many.  These three Minnesota based organizations support our Military, Law Enforcement and their families.  It’s all about dignity, respect, and remembrance.

All proceeds from this event go directly to these outstanding organizations.  It’s great … you can join in the fun, and make a difference in the lives of many!

Minnesota Patriot Guard

Minnesota Patriot Guard is a diverse group of riders and individuals with one thing in common: we all have tremendous respect for those who risk their lives every day, whether on American soil or abroad, in securing our nation’s freedoms and liberties. We encourage those who share this respect to join us in support of all those who have served.

Minnesota Patriot Guard welcomes those who do not ride motorcycles, those who are not veterans, and those who come from different states. We only require Respect.

Our primary mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. We do this to accomplish the following:

1. Show respect and honor to our fallen heroes, and support their families and their communities.
2. Ensure an atmosphere of dignity and respect for those in mourning.

Other missions undertaken by Minnesota Patriot Guard include:

• Honor Missions for veterans as requested by families
• Visits to VA Medical Centers and Minnesota State Veterans Homes
• Welcome Home and Deployment Sendoff Missions

Each year the Minnesota Patriot Guard donates significant amounts in program services to Minnesota military members and their families, wounded and injured, families of Fallen Heroes, and our Veterans. Check out the details here.

Your involvement in, or donations towards this year’s ride will truly make a difference.

Minnesotans’ Military Appreciation Fund

Troops from Minnesota have earned their medals, not to mention our respect. Since combat operations began, thousands of Minnesotan military personnel have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

What can we as Minnesotans do to demonstrate our appreciation for our men and women in uniform?

Minnesotans’ Military Appreciation Fund gives us an opportunity to show our troops how much we value their commitment and service to our country. MMAF is a non-partisan, volunteer-run, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation formed to raise money to provide cash grants as a “thank you” to all Minnesota military personnel who have served in a combat zone since September 2001.

With a goal of more than 90 percent of collected funds going directly to eligible Minnesota armed forces, MMAF is financed entirely by businesses and citizens like you.

MMAF provides cash grants in the amount of $5,000 to families of fallen soldiers; $2,000 to $10,000 to those wounded in combat, depending on severity of injury and $500 to those that served honorably in a combat zone.

Since MMAF launched in August 2005, nearly 16,000 grants totaling nearly $10 million has been disbursed to Minnesota service members, thanks to donations from community leaders, individuals and local corporations.

MMAF is an official 501c3 and a copy of their Exemption letter is available by calling them at 1-877-668-4269.

Learn more about the MMAF by visiting their website at www.thankmntroops.org.

Tribute to the Troops – Minnesota Chapter

Rockie Lynne, an Army veteran and country music recording artist co-founded Tribute to the Troops in Minnesota.  Rockie’s hit single “Home” written in honor of a close friend and brother in arms, was used for a video showing the pictures of MN Fallen Heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in the War on Terror.  Using this video as their inspiration the “Mission” of Tribute to the Troops was born.  Tributes first mission was carried out by a small group of motorcycle riders in the 1st Annual Tribute to the Troops family visit ride in September of 2004. This group of riders and passengers visited three families of our fallen heroes in Minnesota all with one goal in mind – To let the families know that the sacrifice made by their loved one and their family  “will never be forgotten”.  This became the central message of the Tribute to the Troops organization.  The heartfelt, emotional day was filled with hugs, tears, and warm smiles as each one of the sixty people on the ride expressed their love, honor, and gratitude to these wonderful families. In 2011 Tribute to the Troops Minnesota became the first of four official chapters with the others being located in North Carolina, Illinois, and Oregon to date.

Tribute To The Troops – Minnesota carries out their mission each year starting with a motorcycle ride on Armed Forces Day, revisiting families of our fallen heroes that have received a visit from Tribute in the past to let them know that we have not forgotten their loved one or their families.   Visits to the families are planned throughout the summer months with our final three day ride event in September that consists of family visits, a dinner banquet with concert by Rockie Lynne where the names of all our Minnesota Heroes lost since the War on Terror are read aloud in a very solemn ceremony as we remember the sacrifices that have been made.  Families of our Fallen Heroes and ride participants gather to honor, love and support each other creating memories that last a lifetime.

In living out the mission, many of the wonderful families that have been visited are now part of these annual rides coming along side and comforting others who’ve lost loved ones.

Tribute to the Troops is a 501c3 charity organization.  Money raised by the numerous volunteers and through various events throughout the state of Minnesota go into the “Minnesota Fallen Heroes Children’s Education Fund” setup and disbursed to children of our Minnesota Fallen Heroes as a way of giving back in the name of those Heroes. Hundreds of thousands of dollars has been raised with many children receiving a start to their higher education thanks to the generosity of patriots all over the country.

For more information on how to get involved, donate, and/or participate in upcoming events please visit our website at: www.tributetothetroops.org or follow us on Facebook.