Shortly after 11 AM Saturday morning (August 2nd) it was ‘kickstands up’ at Fatman’s Warehouse in Danville, and the Walnut Street parking lot emptied once again for the 16th Midwest Veterans Association THUNDER RIDE for homeless Veterans.
(3rd Picture) Riders head across the street for their bikes after driver’s meeting and taking of group picture.
Beforehand, we talked to a couple of visiting U.S. Army Veterans participating in the ride.
AUDIO: (Craig) Craig Swearingen from Villa Grove, Illinois. (How many times have you been in this event here?) I think this is the fourth year I’ve been. (Chris) This is my first one. Chris, and I’m from Charleston. (Wonderful, so you came up from Charleston. How’d you find out about it. I ride with a group, and they told me about it.
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(Middle Picture) Army Veteran Craig Swearingen from Villa Grove, IL poses with his riding partner and stepfather.
We also spoke with Jake from Jake’s Aerial Photography, who had his drone ready to fly; and Midwest Veterans Association President and Executive Director Susan Gutterridge.
AUDIO: (Jake) I think it’s going to be a great, beautiful day to get some aerial shots; catch the bikes traveling through the city and out in the countryside. I think it’s going to turn out pretty cool. (Susan) It’s always going to be a big turnout; anything that helps the Veterans; there’s going to be a turnout. Silent auctions; we have the raffle prizes; we’ve got larger prizes that will awarded at the end of the night.
(Middle Picture) Haubstadt, IN resident Brian Rexing, 69, admires the award he received as the oldest rider in 2025’s THUNDER RIDE. Rexing served in the United States Army, stationed in the Panama Canal Zone.
A special guest of the event was Directors Choice at the Little Miss and Mister Sweet Corn Pageant Katie Hagley. Her great-grandfather Donald Blackford is alive today at 99 1/2; a WWII and Korean War Veteran, who enlisted in the Army Air Force. Hagley led the Pledge of Allegiance at the driver’s meeting.
AUDIO:(Katie) It’s a really big honor. I want to help as much people, especially the Veterans. It’s just a huge honor to do this. (Susan) I mean, what she represents, with her great-grandfather, is outstanding. And the fact that he’s 99 1/2 years old is amazing.
Katie Hagley, great-granddaughter of WWII and Korean War Veteran Donald Blackford, leads the Pledge of Allegiance at the pre-Thunder Ride drivers meeting.
As the riders made their was across the Illiana area, after a breakfast of biscuits and gravy and/or fruit, cereal bars, and coffee; silent auction items remained available for bidding; with the hope that last year’s total of about $14,500 raised for homeless Veterans would be surpassed.
