New Prague area residents who noticed 65 motorcycles in front of the city’s new Veterans Memorial were likely wondering what was happening. The bikes belonged to members of Tribute To The Troops Minnesota, which was stopping in town to honor Gold Star Families of Mary Clare Lindberg, whose son Ben Miller died unexpectedly on June 18, 2008 after two tours in Iraq with the Army and Diane Otto, whose son Daniel, who was in the Navy died in a motorcycle crash on May 26, 2008. Gold Star Families are the spouses, children, parents, siblings or others whose loved one died in service to the United States.
Jim Woodruff, Road Captain and a member of the board of directors for the Minnesota chapter of the national organization, explained they held a ceremony at the memorial for the two women. He said Tribute To The Troops was formed to honor those service men and women who died while on active duty post September 11. They had nearly 120 people participate in the event that was next going to Maple Grove. He said their group is made up of veterans and non-veterans.
Woodruff said the ride was also in honor of Armed Forces Day. The event began in the late 1940s and it is a day to pay tribute to the men and women who serve across all branches of the United States military.
He explained their group also raise funds to help children of Armed Forces members to go to college. They have raised $1 million cumatively over the past 12 years for students.
Tribute To The Troops honors local Gold Star Families
