Peacekeepers ride includes stop in Mount Pulaski

[July 23, 2013]  MOUNT PULASKI -- Over 200 motorcycles and 350 riders participated in the ninth annual Central Illinois Peacekeepers Ride & Rally on Sunday. The ride began with opening ceremonies at Springfield's Camp Lincoln, where Gen. Reeves had the Illinois State Historic Museum open for riders to get an up-close view of some of the most sought-after military artifacts in the country.

At 12:29:59, the ride commenced to American Legion Post 447 in Mount Pulaski, then on to Middletown and Athens. The riders would then return to Springfield for an early evening of food and live music.

This annual event helps fund two Illinois organizations, the Illinois Law Enforcement Education Foundation and the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund for deployed soldiers, according to ride coordinator Mylas Copeland, general manager of Springfield's Green Toyota, Scion, Volkswagen, Audi. Copeland said the ride was developed several years ago to assist men and women who protect the residents of Illinois. The Peacekeepers organization is dedicated to serving law enforcement and military service personnel and their families.

On the website for the Peacekeepers, Gov. Pat Quinn is quoted: "It is the duty of all those on the home front to support the families of those who bear the battle. When the brave men and women of Illinois answer the call to duty, they should not have to worry that their families are suffering financially at home. All of us in the Land of Lincoln can help our military families by donating to the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund."

The Illinois Military Family Relief Fund was established in 2003 to assist Illinois National Guard members and reservists who were called to active duty in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Four out of 10 service members activated suffered a salary cut in order to serve their country. The fund has distributed almost $14 million to more than 26,200 military families.

IMFRF grants are intended to help service members and their families defray the costs of food, housing, utilities, medical services and other expenses that become difficult to afford when a wage-earner has temporarily left civilian employment to be placed on active military duty.

Beginning in 2004, there has been a voluntary checkoff on Illinois individual income tax forms for donations to the fund. Quinn signed Senate Bill 2148 into law effective Nov. 23, 2009, that increased the casualty-based grant from $2,000 to $5,000 and added eligibility to active-duty service members who are Illinois residents. This is not retroactive; therefore, injuries on or after Nov. 23, 2009, are eligible for consideration for the $5,000 casualty-based grant.

The treasurer of the Springfield Area Peacekeepers chapter, David Wesselman, remarked that never before have over 200 cycles been able to congregate at one time in one central place. He praised the American Legion for their huge parking lot. Wesselman was also impressed with all the preparation. Hosts and hostesses were set up to serve outside and at a full bar inside. The Legion also has four restrooms. The group's first 45-minute stop was a very pleasant and restful one.

As the group left the Legion, host and hostesses, all members of the Mount Pulaski American Legion, Auxiliary and Sons of American Legion, rushed out to give a standing ovation to the departing Peacekeepers.

[By PHIL BERTONI]