Be a part of Patriot Thunder

Dear editor,

Great citizens and patriots of Mountain Home, your military orders have arrived! On the morning of June 5th, I will be riding with hopefully 1,199 other motorcycles through our great town, enroute to Carl Miller Park (see if you can pick me out on the black and silver Harley Limited Ultra), to recognize our military families.

In our seventh year of Idaho Patriot Thunder, Idaho's largest motorcycle ride, we have raised thousands of dollars to assist our military families who provide a life of freedom and liberties that we enjoy, yet sometimes take for granted. We will be directly supporting our Air Force families at Mountain Home Air Force Base (Operation Warmheart), our Soldiers and Airmen and their families at Gowen Field (Idaho Guard Family Support Fund), and the Phantom Fury Foundation.

Operation Warmheart allows our Mountain Home Air Force Base military leaders to assist hundreds of families during emergencies, deployments, remote assignments and the everyday struggle for young families serving our nation in the military who have sacrificed so much for so little recognition. We are not even asking you for any money (although we welcome donations at Carl Miller Park), as the average rider on this charitable ride will be donating $30 to be in this formation to support our military families.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, will be to line the streets of our route as a five-mile stream of motorcycles come into town around 12:15 p.m. (Exit 95 and down East 8th North past the golf course onward to Carl Miller Park). Once all the motorcycles are parked at Carl Miller Park, there will be a welcome from Mayor Rich Sykes and a presentation to our base leadership.

We all know our great city supports the one percent of the American population who serve and defend our country, come give us a couple hours of your time on Sunday morning. And always remember, "Freedom isn't free!" Hope to see you there.

-- Allen Niksich, Idaho Patriot Thunder committee member