ST CHARLES, Mo. — Riding to remember. Cars and motorcycles made the trek from Festus to Truesdale to honor military members who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Saturday's ride was arranged by Mark Schmitz, the father of fallen Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, who was one of the 13 U.S. service members killed in 2021 during America's withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Hundreds came together in Festus Saturday morning to honor those 13 with an inaugural memorial ride.
"They always say you have to die twice to be forgotten, and that's to have your name never spoken again. We're going to see to it that these 13 names in particular are never forgotten," Mark Schmitz said.
The group drove a total of 80 miles from Festus to St. Charles and ended up in Truesdale. Hundreds of bikes and motorcycles took over 70 with one main mission.
"To make sure that people recognize that men and women give their lives for this country every day, and sometimes it just feels really senseless in the way that it happens, but man, this freedom, like we say, freedom's not free," Kyle McClain, Faithful Few Motorcycles Ministry Chaplain, said.
The fundraiser also included food, a paintball tournament and live music. All the proceeds from Saturday's charity ride went to Schmitz's family's nonprofit, 'The Freedom 13.'
"Our mission is to build retreat centers around the US, starting here locally in Missouri for the first camp," Jaclyn Schmitz, Jared's mother, said.
The retreat centers, according to Mark, would act as short-term housing and would be free to veterans and their families to serve as a way to disconnect and recharge.
"I think it's goanna be therapeutic for all, and it's something that the that these veterans definitely, definitely need," Mark said.
The goal, according to Jaclyn, is to ensure the 13 on this bus are never forgotten.
"We do feel like we're carrying Jared's torch, like we were called to do something bigger than ourselves," she said.
The miles served as a reminder to honor all of those who didn't make it home.
"It's an incredible sacrifice that most of us will never understand and most of us will never know," McClain said.
Mark hopes to make this charity ride an annual event. You can learn more and donate to 'The Freedom 13' here.