by Bryan Harley

It was a moment you couldn’t have scripted. On one side you had Scott Prothero, a World War II veteran who had fought in some of the Pacific’s bloodiest campaigns, including the Battles of Saipan and Okinawa. On the other was Josh Stein, a veteran and “Hero’s Ride of a Lifetime” nominee for the 2017 Veterans Charity Ride to Sturgis. Stein is a Purple Heart recipient from the island of Saipan who wears pride of his heritage in the form of a tattoo on his left hand. You could sense the mutual respect the two shared when they met in the form of a handshake, in the closeness when they talked, in the smiles on their faces. Just another one of those unforgettable moments the Veterans Charity Ride to Sturgis tends to create.

​Participants, including Keith Helfrich, center, prepare to depart the Veterans Memorial outside the Sawyer Building, Saturday, July 29, 2017, after an overnight stop during the 3rd annual Veterans Charity Ride from Los Angeles to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal @vegasphotograph

(Kyndell Nunley | KSNV)

LAS VEGAS (KSNV News3LV) — Dozens of veterans are on a multi-state motorcycle ride honoring our nation’s wounded warriors.

At first glance it appears the group on this year’s Veteran’s Charity Ride to Sturgis is any ordinary group of bikers — but there is something more special here. Some of the vets are on modified bikes. Organizers have made sure to include all veterans, even those who were severely injured in combat.

Gayle Anderson was live in Burbank and Sun Valley for the “Veterans Charity Ride to Sturgis,” supported by Indian Motorcycle. Riders depart Friday, July 28th, 2017 on a nine-day journey from Los Angeles to the 77th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Rolling out on Indian Motorcycles, trikes and Champion Sidecars, the 3rd Annual Veterans Charity Ride provides participating veterans a chance to use motorcycle therapy as a way to decompress from the challenges of post-war life.

​Gayle Anderson was live in Burbank and Sun Valley for the “Veterans Charity Ride to Sturgis,” supported by Indian Motorcycle. Riders depart Friday, July 28th, 2017 on a nine-day journey from Los Angeles to the 77th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Rolling out on Indian Motorcycles, trikes and Champion Sidecars, the 3rd Annual Veterans Charity Ride provides participating veterans a chance to use motorcycle therapy as a way to decompress from the challenges of post-war life.

​Gayle Anderson was live in Burbank and Sun Valley for the “Veterans Charity Ride to Sturgis,” supported by Indian Motorcycle. Riders depart Friday, July 28th, 2017 on a nine-day journey from Los Angeles to the 77th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Rolling out on Indian Motorcycles, trikes and Champion Sidecars, the 3rd Annual Veterans Charity Ride provides participating veterans a chance to use motorcycle therapy as a way to decompress from the challenges of post-war life.

Dozens of veterans have participated in the last two rides, and in 2017 twenty deserving veterans and veteran mentors will join the Veterans Charity Ride to Sturgis. The ride provides participating veterans the opportunity to work toward overcoming their post-war challenges while out on the open road. Riding through the most scenic back roads of the western United States, veterans will not only experience the great outdoors and the beauty this country has to offer, but also make stops to meet with other veterans, supporters, riders, and participate in various adjacent adventures. For more information about the Veterans Charity Ride, take a look at their website.

If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to call Gayle at 1 323-460-5732 or email Gayle at Gayle.Anderson@KTLA.com

Source: http://ktla.com/2017/07/28/veterans-charity-ride-to-sturgis/