All Revved Up for a Wreaths Across America Fundraiser
Sixty-five motorcycles with 97 riders were revved up as kickstands were raised in anticipation for the 135-mile ride on Saturday.
A member of the St. Marys American Legion, Post 103, for 38 years, Veteran David Schutz said he served in the Navy from 1974 through 1978 aboard an aircraft carrier working. “I was never sorry that I went in,” Schutz said. He said he was happy to be a veteran when he got out of the Navy.
Schutz said he has been participating in the Kane VFW’S Annual Fallen Soldier Memorial Motorcycle Ride for years and it is a worthy cause.
Treasurer for the Legion Riders Post 103 out of the St Marys Legion, Veteran Tim Ruffner said he comes to Kane frequently for the rides to help raise funds for the Kane VFW.
Ruffner stated that he has been riding with other individuals as a club. A group of eight motorcyclists joined the Kane Annual Fallen Soldier Memorial Motorcycle Ride.
“We, as a club, donated $500 to the Kane VFW today,” said Ruffner.
Ruffner said he began serving in the Army in 1976 at Fort Dix, NJ, and Fort Campbell in KY.
Dave Swanson, Commander of the Kane Legion, Post 1132, said the riders were going to travel from the Kane VFW Legion to the Clarendon VFW, then to the Bradford VFW, the Eldred VFW, the Port Allegany VFW, the Wilcox American Legion, and then back to the Kane VFW Legion
The St. Marys VFW Legion donated $500. The Class of 1977 donated $500. The American Wilcox Legion donated $500. Swanson said those were the large donations but there were more donations that raised a total of $4,600.
The fundraiser goes towards the $17,000 that is needed for the Wreaths Across America that the Kane VFW will be doing this year for the cemeteries with a ceremony in the Kane area.