BY HEIDI ULRICHSEN
When Butch Ouimette became first officer with the Nickel Centre chapter of the Southern Cruisers Riding Club a few years ago, he decided to use his new position to honour Canada?s war veterans.
 |
As first officer for the Nickel Centre chapter of the Southern Cruisers Riding Club, Butch Ouimette helped to organize a ride to celebrate the contributions of war veterans. Registration starts this Saturday at 9 am. |
He and second officer Eddie Marynuk organized the Ride to the Wall, an event where Southern Cruisers? members and their associates ride from Copper Cliff to North Bay where they hold a ceremony at the veterans? memorial wall.
?I always said if there was anything I could do to change...the fact that we only remember our war vets once a year, I would,? says Ouimette, who is also a member of the Copper Cliff branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. His grandfather, a veteran of the Second World War, died a couple of years ago.
?The legions and the veterans are turning into being a forgotten past. I think it?s really important for us to remember that.?
The second annual Ride to the Wall event begins tomorrow (Saturday) at the Copper Cliff Legion. More than 200 people will be travelling to North Bay, where there will be a remembrance ceremony.
The club has chartered a bus so legionnaires can ride to the Gateway City in comfort. Registration for the event begins at 9 am, and the convoy takes off at 10 am sharp.
The event costs $15 a person. After the North Bay ceremony, participants will return to Copper Cliff Legion, where there will be a beer tent, live band, bonfire and a barbecue.
Ouimette has only heard good things from legionnaires about the event.
?It means that we?re not forgetting what they?ve done for us, and what they?ve sacrificed. They?ve had a lot of praise and said a lot of thank yous to the club. Just thanks for doing this and remembering the veterans, and those who have laid down their lives,? he says.
The Copper Cliff Legion has a special relationship with the Southern Cruisers, says legion vice-president Diane Carter. The legion gives the bikers space for meetings, and in return receive a cut from the charity ride event.
?The legion is an organization that is losing its membership. It is dwindling in numbers. Unfortunately, we have situations where branches are closing. Everybody that?s open is trying to remain viable. The contributions from people with this organization does give us some assistance,? says Carter.
The ride promotes motorcycling as a positive and fun activity, says Ouimette.
Worldwide, Southern Cruisers? 32,000 members do charity work and get together for weekly rides.
?Motorcyclists do a lot of good deeds that the public never see. This ride portrays the good in motorcylists,? he says.
For more information about the event, phone Ouimette at 662-3842.
