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September 23, 2022 - 4:45 pm to 5:45 pm
They say that “a Hero dies twice ~ once when the last breath leaves their body, and again when their name is spoken for the last time”. The Gold Star Mission strives to preserve the memories and ensure the names of our nearly 300 Fallen Illinois Service Men and Women live on!
The Sixth Annual Gold Star 500 – a five day, 520+ mile endurance bicycling event, which honors the service and sacrifice of the nearly 300 Service Men and Women from Illinois who made the ultimate sacrifice in honor of our great nation, since September 11, 2001. The nearly 300 died while protecting and aiding people of foreign lands, people they likely never knew or even met. They died so others could have a better life; their names must live on!
On September 20, 2022, a team of primarily, Veteran and Service Member bicyclists (projected total of 35-40 riders) will begin the 520+ mile journey, with the intent of this ride, to carry the torch of personal sacrifice in honor of these service members, to carry on their stories, their courage, and to honor the legacy of their names. The very abbreviated highlights of the route:
➢ Day 1: Springfield, Mt. Sterling, to Quincy;
➢ Day 2: Quincy, Macomb, to Galesburg;
➢ Day 3: Galesburg, Rock Island, to Rock Falls:
➢ Day 4: Rock Falls, Rockford, to Woodstock;
➢ Day 5: Woodstock, Fort Sheridan, to Great Lakes Naval Station.
These events are a way of honoring the service members by assisting Gold Star Families and others in need through scholarship opportunities. This ride will preserve the names of the fallen by honoring their service and sacrifice, for we must Never Forget!
Times are approximate
Event Location:
1301 Sunset Ridge Road
Woodstock, Illinois 60098