CLEVELAND — Dozens rumbled into downtown Cleveland early Sunday to honor our servicemen and women at this year’s Rally for the Troops.
Motorcycles lined the street near the Veterans Memorial Plaza shortly before 10:30 a.m.
They drove in from several local Harley Davidson dealerships across our area to support the rally and the people who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
This is rally’s 17th year.
The event honors the sacrifices of our active military, veterans and Ohio’s 283 Gold Star families -- those who have lost loved ones in combat since September 11, 2001.
The family of Green Beret SPA Joseph Collette of Lancaster were honored at the event.
The 29-year-old was killed during a mission in Afghanistan in March.
His name was read aloud along with his 282 fellow fallen comrades.
“To me it’s so important that we don’t forget these young men and women who haven’t come back, so it’s very emotional for me because we’ve been to a lot of the funerals with the Gold Star families. And I know one year the media asked me am I going to stop doing these events I said how can you talk about that when you talk about a Gold Star family who has lost a loved one for every holiday and every anniversary, their son and daughter won’t be able to join them. So, that’s what we’re here for," organizer John Kikol said.
The 283 Gold Star families honored at Sunday’s rally join 7,000 others around the country who have lost loved ones since 9/11.
