Aaron Perry, owner of Gearhead Curios in Galena, Kansas, is participating in the Proud to be IN America Ride from June 28 through July 12 along Route 66.
Perry, an Army veteran, wrote in an email:
I want to invite you to join us for a ride to honor Veterans past, present and future, not just Military but anyone that has donned a uniform for the service of others, to celebrate America turning 250 years old, to wish Route 66 a 100th birthday and to spotlight that we are all proud to be IN America whether we are citizens or visitors of this great nation.
This ride is to raise awareness of the mental and physical demons that Veterans hold in silence. The goal is to encourage Veterans to share their stories and know it is OK to seek help. To show that together we can push through the pain and live impactful lives. If not for these men and women America would not be turning 250 and Route 66 would not have a home that embodies the American dream.
We are partnering with others to make this ride a reality and would love to have your support. Any contribution to the expenses of this event and to our selected Veterans non-profit is greatly welcomed. You can join along our ride (motorcycle, classic car, sports car, family sedan, doesn’t matter), line the streets as we pass by and wave or give social media and traditional media coverage, all of this gets the message out.
I will be riding a 1988 Yamaha Route 66 250cc motorcycle, Cassandra Ringel will led the ride driving her 1991 Corvette. We will leave Gearhead Curios in Galena KS on 28JUN26 at 8am and head east on Route 66 to Chicago. In Chicago we will turn around at the beginning point and travel west to the end point on the Santa Monica Pier, where we will turn back around and ride 66 back to Gearhead Curios. […]
I hope to honor America, Route 66 and each and every Veteran that has served this nation. I want to bring awareness to the pain that each Veteran pushes thru every day that is in silence, masked to most that meet them.
I do this with my ailments from the service which are degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, 3 herniated disks, 3 contacted nerves, 2 of which are displaced, PTSD, depression, anxiety and trauma.
A nonprofit organization that Perry is supporting is Outside the Wire Veterans Foundation, 402 N. Broadway St., Suite B, Pittsburg, KS 66762.
Outside the Wire, veteran-owned and established by Dr. Carol Meza-Bakke, offers Veterans Administration claims assistance, plus recreational services to all service members and their families.
Perry says he will publish his full ride schedule here.
(Courtesy image of Aaron Perry and his 1988 Yamaha Route 66 motorcycle)