​Eagle will offer up support for a group of wounded combat veterans when they roar into town Wednesday on board some roaring Indian motorcycles as part of the 2017 Veteran’s Charity Ride.

On 28 July 2017 at 0815, Veterans from all walks of life converged together at Firehouse #77 in Sun Valley, CA for a ride in a lifetime across to #Sturgis2017. This will be the first noted point into the story behind the ride.

After arriving at the Fire House, both new and last year’s riders met each other with hand shakes and smiles. The news crew from the Los Angeles area interviewed them on their thoughts and excitement for the ride. The overall vibe throughout was happy and nervous. As the time grew closer to 0845, the riders packed up and took their last pictures. They placed their helmets on one by one in an orderly fashion and proceeded to line up. The guide waved his hand and then the motorcycles started.

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.