M A Larkey
2024-09-08 04:42:20 UTC
ST CHARLES, Mo. — Riding to remember. Cars and motorcycles made the trek
from Festus to Truesdale to honor military members who made the ultimate
sacrifice.
Saturday's ride was arranged by Mark Schmitz, the father of fallen
Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, who was one of the 13 U.S. service
members killed in 2021 during America's withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Hundreds came together in Festus Saturday morning to honor those 13 with
an inaugural memorial ride.
"They always say you have to die twice to be forgotten, and that's to
have your name never spoken again. We're going to see to it that these
13 names in particular are never forgotten," Mark Schmitz said.
The group drove a total of 80 miles from Festus to St. Charles and ended
up in Truesdale. Hundreds of bikes and motorcycles took over 70 with one
main mission.
"To make sure that people recognize that men and women give their lives
for this country every day, and sometimes it just feels really senseless
in the way that it happens, but man, this freedom, like we say,
freedom's not free," Kyle McClain, Faithful Few Motorcycles Ministry
Chaplain, said.
The fundraiser also included food, a paintball tournament and live
music. All the proceeds from Saturday's charity ride went to Schmitz's
family's nonprofit, 'The Freedom 13.'
"Our mission is to build retreat centers around the US, starting here
locally in Missouri for the first camp," Jaclyn Schmitz, Jared's mother,
said.
The retreat centers, according to Mark, would act as short-term housing
and would be free to veterans and their families to serve as a way to
disconnect and recharge.
"I think it's goanna be therapeutic for all, and it's something that the
that these veterans definitely, definitely need," Mark said.
The goal, according to Jaclyn, is to ensure the 13 on this bus are never
forgotten.
"We do feel like we're carrying Jared's torch, like we were called to do
something bigger than ourselves," she said.
The miles served as a reminder to honor all of those who didn't make it
home.
"It's an incredible sacrifice that most of us will never understand and
most of us will never know," McClain said.
Mark hopes to make this charity ride an annual event. You can learn more
and donate to 'The Freedom 13' here.
https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/jared-schmitz-12-others-killed-afghanistan-withdrawal-charity-ride/63-173a14d5-2134-4d36-8385-9dac28915b5d
from Festus to Truesdale to honor military members who made the ultimate
sacrifice.
Saturday's ride was arranged by Mark Schmitz, the father of fallen
Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, who was one of the 13 U.S. service
members killed in 2021 during America's withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Hundreds came together in Festus Saturday morning to honor those 13 with
an inaugural memorial ride.
"They always say you have to die twice to be forgotten, and that's to
have your name never spoken again. We're going to see to it that these
13 names in particular are never forgotten," Mark Schmitz said.
The group drove a total of 80 miles from Festus to St. Charles and ended
up in Truesdale. Hundreds of bikes and motorcycles took over 70 with one
main mission.
"To make sure that people recognize that men and women give their lives
for this country every day, and sometimes it just feels really senseless
in the way that it happens, but man, this freedom, like we say,
freedom's not free," Kyle McClain, Faithful Few Motorcycles Ministry
Chaplain, said.
The fundraiser also included food, a paintball tournament and live
music. All the proceeds from Saturday's charity ride went to Schmitz's
family's nonprofit, 'The Freedom 13.'
"Our mission is to build retreat centers around the US, starting here
locally in Missouri for the first camp," Jaclyn Schmitz, Jared's mother,
said.
The retreat centers, according to Mark, would act as short-term housing
and would be free to veterans and their families to serve as a way to
disconnect and recharge.
"I think it's goanna be therapeutic for all, and it's something that the
that these veterans definitely, definitely need," Mark said.
The goal, according to Jaclyn, is to ensure the 13 on this bus are never
forgotten.
"We do feel like we're carrying Jared's torch, like we were called to do
something bigger than ourselves," she said.
The miles served as a reminder to honor all of those who didn't make it
home.
"It's an incredible sacrifice that most of us will never understand and
most of us will never know," McClain said.
Mark hopes to make this charity ride an annual event. You can learn more
and donate to 'The Freedom 13' here.
https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/jared-schmitz-12-others-killed-afghanistan-withdrawal-charity-ride/63-173a14d5-2134-4d36-8385-9dac28915b5d