By Patrick Baron
BLOOMINGTON – With the road in front of him and the wind at his back, Governor Bruce Rauner is riding to Springfield for veterans today.
Rauner set out this morning for the 3rd Annual Governor’s Ride to Springfield. Rauner is riding along Route 66 from the suburbs of Chicago, seeking to raise money to fly veterans to Washington, D.C. to be honored for their service. Rauner explained veterans from wars as far back as World War II will be thanked for their service.
“It’s a time when we come together, motorcycle riders from all across the state of Illinois, hundreds of us,” said Rauner. “We ride to Springfield and celebrate our veterans and raise money for Honor Flights, so we can honor our veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and fly them to Washington so they can be vetted and celebrated for their service and their patriotism.”
Coming from different parts of the state, several groups of riders will meet in Springfield by the end of the ride. Rauner, who left from Countryside, said he expects thousands of dollars to be raised for Honor Flights.
“We expect we’re going to have around 400 riders this year and we’ll probably raise $8,000 to $10,000 for Honor Flights, which is wonderful,” Rauner explained.
Rauner and his fellow riders have planned stops in Dwight, Lexington, and Lincoln on the way to Springfield – it’ll mark the first time since 1908 an Illinois governor has set foot in Lexington.
Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].
