VAN TASSELL – Nebraska Thunder Run organizer Casey Walton, adjutant of Sons of The American Legion Squadron 34 and sergeant-at-arms for Western Sandhills American Legion Riders Chapter 34 in Gordon, Nebraska addressed those assembled at 10 a.m. on a sunny Wyoming morning. Members of the American Legion Riders, Ferdinand Brandstetter Post No. 1 Commander Dale Miller, Ed Tirado and Chaplain Matthews all listened intently as he described how this years Highway 20 Thunder Run would work and the route that would be taken.

May of 2021 was the inaugural ride on the newly designated Nebraska Medal of Honor highway, routed along highway 20 through Nebraska ending at South Sioux City, Nebraska  at Siouxland Freedom Park. In additional to American Legion Riders there were Patriot Guard riders and other private citizens. They ended up with 239 riders. This year, Walton anticipates many more. While 14 riders left Van Tassell shortly after ten, met up with another contingency in Chadron, Nebraska before traveling on to Gordon where a lunch would be served by the American Legion Auxiliary and an unveiling of Post 34’s new Medal of Honor plaque that honors all of the state’s 74 Medal of Honor recipients. From there a jaunt over to Valentine for an over night stay and then on to South Sioux City for a ceremony. Following that ceremony many riders were planning to cross into Iowa and meet up with those on the “Thunder  on the Missouri” a similar event in memory of fallen soldiers.

This year there is a special ceremony in honor of Nebraska Medal of Honor recipient Charles Hagemeister. This Vietnam War Army veteran was scheduled to be at Siouxland Freedom park in 2021 but passed away three days before the conclusion of the memorial walk. He is also on this year’s Medal of Honor commemorative coin.

The ride was moved by a week to coincide with other memorial rides during Memorial Day weekend. There is hope that it will become a regional event culminating in a massive ceremony in South Sioux City. Organizers know the larger the number of bikes, trikes and cars on the road the more they can call attention to the sacrifice of these Medal of Honor recipients and honor their memory and while many are there for the ride, make no mistake that this comes secondary to participating in an event that honors and uplifts veterans and those who have sacrificed for their country.