NOP Flag Info

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Bill Sherer, executive director/founder Nation of Patriots: 414.803.3290 nationofpatriots@gmail.com

Dave Hock, Promoter of the Wisconsin Rally 262.613.3641 or davidhock1@aol.com

Wade Fletcher, co-owner, Wisconsin Harley Davidson; 262.569.8500 or wadefletcher@wishd.com

Editor’s note: A schedule of flag homecoming events follows the release and is accurate to-date, but subject to change. Please verify before publishing. Updates will follow as they are available.

NATION OF PATRIOTS: A HOMECOMING FOR THE FLAG

After 14,000 miles through 48 states in 100 days, the Nation of Patriots flag will make its final journey Sept. 4 from Madison to Wisconsin Harley Davidson in Oconomowoc , and then onto the Wisconsin Rally at State Fair Park for closing ceremonies.

OCONOMOWOC, WIS. [AUGUST 16, 2010] – Preparations are being finalized for the homecoming of the American flag that left Wisconsin on May 28 as part of the 2010 Patriot Tour, a 100-day, 48-state journey honoring the families of past, current, and future military personnel and their families, organization officials confirmed today. The flag has been transported city-to-city throughout the 48 states by members of Harley Owners Groups (H.O.G) with Harley-Davidson dealerships as transfer points. The 2010 Patriot Tour and was conceived and organized by Milwaukeean Bill Sherer and his organization, Nation of Patriots.

Riders from across the country will convene in Madison at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4 for the flag’s final journey from the State Capitol to Wisconsin Harley-Davidson, 1280 Blue Ribbon Drive, Oconomowoc. Following the ceremony and lunch, the flag will continue to the Harley-Davidson motorcycle rally for the closing ceremony at the Budweiser Pavilion at State Fair Park, 640 S. 84^th St. in West Allis, and finally be retired at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee on Sunday, Sept. 5. Go to budpavilion.com for a detailed schedule of events for the Wisconsin Rally and the Nation of Patriots ride.

Having traveled some 14,000 miles, the flag will land in Madison on Sept. 1 and be flown over the Wisconsin State Capitol until 9 a.m. on the morning of Sept. 4. A team of flag bearers from the Rock River HOG chapter will then carry it on foot the two blocks to the intersection of King and Doty streets where as many as 500 riders will be waiting to escort it to Wisconsin Harley-Davidson and eventually the Wisconsin Rally, a three day motorcycle rally at the Budweiser Pavilion, for the closing ceremonies, Sherer said.

More than 150,000 riders across the U.S., many of them veterans, answered the Nation of Patriots’ call early in the spring of 2010 and volunteered to take part in this second annual Patriot Tour. Sherer was the lone rider and flag bearer on the 2009 Patriot Tour, traveling through all 33 states east of the Mississippi on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle and, at his own expense, raising awareness and money for the families of wounded veterans. He ended the tour in Milwaukee and worked with the VA Hospital there to direct the money he had raised to military families.

The idea for the Nation of Patriots 2010 tour came to Sherer while on the road: "I was all alone on my bike somewhere in New York state when I realized that my voice was not strong enough to reach coast to coast or all the way to our men and women overseas. This is why I decided to undertake this effort. I wanted to include as many proud American voices as possible to stand with me in a unified and collective salute of appreciation to the U.S. Military."

“One flag, 100 days, 48 states, 14,000 miles, and more than 150,000 rider participants; a Nation of Patriots has fulfilled its mission, and the flag is coming home,” Sherer said. “But our work has only just begun.” “Stop on out and join us at the Budweiser Pavilion at State Fair Park on Saturday September 4^th at 3 pm for Wisconsin Rally Ceremonies! It’s a tribute to all Veterans.

Nation of Patriots is a non-profit 501C3 corporation founded in 2009 by Bill Sherer. A complete map of the 2010 Patriot Tour and more information about the organization can be found at www.nationofpatriots.org.

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