NEW GLARUS - The Wisconsin State Firefighters Memorial will be holding its eighth annual Ride of Remembrance today, July 23. The event, which begins in Oconomowoc and ends in New Glarus, is a fundraiser to maintain the memorial park that was created to honor Wisconsin firefighters who have died in the line of duty.
Gov. Tommy G. Thompson signed legislation in 1996 designating Wisconsin Rapids as the site of the Wisconsin State Firefighters Memorial.
The memorial is located in the Ben Hansen Park along the Wisconsin River.
It includes a Wall of Honor with 288 names of those who died serving in the line of duty. The park was formally dedicated last June to pay tribute to those that have died in the line of duty and citizens who have served their communities as firefighters, fire responders and emergency medical technicians.
The Ride of Remembrance is held in a different area of the state each year and normally has more than 700 participants and more than 500 motorcyles traveling the 100-mile selected route.
This year the ride will start at Wisconsin Harley-Davidson in Oconomowoc. The convoy will travel through the back roads to Whitewater Fire Station for lunch, then on to Edgerton Fire Station with a stop at Albany.
The final stop will be at the New Glarus Fire Station, where an evening meal will be served, followed by a short memorial service to remember those that have passed away after serving their communities as emergency fire responders along with responders of Sept. 11, 2001.
Gov. Tommy G. Thompson signed legislation in 1996 designating Wisconsin Rapids as the site of the Wisconsin State Firefighters Memorial.
The memorial is located in the Ben Hansen Park along the Wisconsin River.
It includes a Wall of Honor with 288 names of those who died serving in the line of duty. The park was formally dedicated last June to pay tribute to those that have died in the line of duty and citizens who have served their communities as firefighters, fire responders and emergency medical technicians.
The Ride of Remembrance is held in a different area of the state each year and normally has more than 700 participants and more than 500 motorcyles traveling the 100-mile selected route.
This year the ride will start at Wisconsin Harley-Davidson in Oconomowoc. The convoy will travel through the back roads to Whitewater Fire Station for lunch, then on to Edgerton Fire Station with a stop at Albany.
The final stop will be at the New Glarus Fire Station, where an evening meal will be served, followed by a short memorial service to remember those that have passed away after serving their communities as emergency fire responders along with responders of Sept. 11, 2001.