Supporting Wisconsin Veterans.

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Hogs For Heroes came to life in late 2014 with a small family vision and our nonprofit designation. We raised our first dollar in the spring of 2015 and hoped to reach our goal of giving one Harley a year to change one life a year. Right on plan, we gifted our first bike in May of 2016…and with the close of our 2022 riding season, our tiny force had put a total of 31 injured Wisconsin Veteran riders back on the road with a beautiful Harley-Davidson motorcycles that they choose.

Riding is an alternative therapy and our gifts are the tools by which one gains its healing benefits: they are NOT awards for service achievements, popularity or simply thank-you gifts. They are meant to help redirect, if not save, struggling Veteran’s lives by returning them to The Road. The past three years have been tough on everyone and despite this, you, our amazing Supporters, helped us change more lives than we ever thought possible. With your support, we will put another NINE Veterans back on the road during 2023’s riding season. That’s nine more lives fractured in service that will regain peace, freedom and control from riding. That’s nine more families who will benefit from their loved one’s healing gains. And that’s nine more Veterans that will reconnect with the supportive brotherhood found in riding…all because a motorcycle re-entered their lives.

WE GIFT MORE THAN JUST A MOTORCYCLE
We work year round to raise funds for bikes and are currently fundraising for our 2024 Giftings. FOLLOW US & SHARE US on Facebook—this is how we communicate most news! The more others know what we’re doing, the faster we can make our vision a healing reality for another injured WI Veteran rider.

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2023’S LAST RECIPIENT: SUPPORTING #40 Bryan Knez of Oostburg, WI dreamt of nothing but service to his Country since he was a young child listening to the stories of war and service from his father, a Vietnam Veteran, and his grandfather, a WWII Veteran. Pride, patriotism and glory flowed through his household, as did immense pain. When he was old enough, Bryan joined the Army National Guard his junior year of high school and focused as a Unit Supply Specialist for his next four years. Frustrated with the lack of employer support and searching for his purpose, he joined the Inactive Ready Reserves list while he evaluated his options. In 2002 a call from an Army Reserves Recruiter gave Bryan the chance to become the MP he wanted and the likelihood of combat deployment. What Bryan didn’t realize was that he was joining an Army Garrison Support Unit, and before he could even reclassify, he received orders for a 30 month domestic deployment to Fort McCoy, WI where he worked as an Armorer. Although proud to contribute to our war’s effort, he “wasn’t over there” and he felt slighted and guilty—emotions he still carries today. While on active duty a knee injury would require three surgeries, prevent his MP training, remove his chance for combat deployment and end his plans for military retirement. There began his life of pain and financial struggles until he decided to pursue his law enforcement dream. Now a Sheboygan County Deputy Sheriff and forging a good path for himself, managing his pain remains a constant, but managing his own mental health and stress management has become harder since he had to sell his motorcycle in 2021. Hogs For Heroes admired his dedication to service and felt our gift could help Bryan stay on path he’s carved out for himself. Catch Bryan’s story of service and strength by clicking here. Join us for his Presentation of Keys Ceremony on Saturday, September 2, 2023 at 2:30 pm at West Bend Harley-Davidson. Click here for event details.

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BACK ON THE ROAD: #39 John Olen II, of Appleton, WI, joined the Navy for the discipline and guidance his wayward life needed. To get out of mopping one day, he attended a U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard meeting and advanced in their selection process, eventually becoming one of the chosen few. Stationed in Washington, D.C., he joined a prestigious group of men who would ceremoniously honor our Fallen and our Veterans in the last capacity our nation can offer at Arlington National Cemetery. He estimates that he presented in over 750 funerals during his two-year term, bearing the physical pains the job inflicted and enduring the emotional anguish of family in attendance, all of which settled deeply within to build the PTSD he suffers today. He went on to serve as a Corpsman, started a family, and got his first motorcycle. Riding helped him manage the deep depression he couldn’t acknowledge; but as divorce became inevitable, John lost the bike he thrived on. For additional income, he joined the Army Reserves in 2016 for the next six years; and after he found himself spiraling and at his lowest point of desperation, he reached out for support. Years of therapy, a new love and a combined family have returned joy, but here are still days where dad can’t be dad and life’s challenges are harder to endure. Hogs For Heroes admired John’s strength and courage, and believed our gift of wind therapy would enhance his healing. John received his keys on August 19, to a brand new Street Glide that was fully paid for by the fundraising efforts of Wisconsin Tavern League members across the state. Read John’s story here.  Read John’s story here.

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INTRODUCING #38: Joshua Hameister, of Sun Prairie, WI, joined the Marine Corps in 2003, asking for Infantry and the fastest deployment possible. The Assaultman found himself on a MEU that took him to Iraq and placed him in the midst of hostility, explosive violence and death…and upon leaving combat, he deeply buried everything he saw and did. After separating Josh still wanted to serve and protect; and rather than reenlist, he chose to become a Police Officer. The tolls of combat from long ago began affecting every part of his life today; and in the fray of finding himself, he left his profession, divorced and lost the bike that “saved his life”. Hogs For Heroes believed our gift could help Josh move along on his rough road and he received his keys on July 15 during the Harley-Davidson 120th Anniversary Celebration at Milwaukee H-D. Read Josh’s story here.

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CATCH THE STORY ON #37! Marine & Army Veteran Earl Beaudry, Jr. of Plover, WI regained the healing benefits of wind therapy on June 24, 2023 following Wisconsin’s International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 139 Benefit Ride for us, the same group whose 2022 fundraising efforts fully sponsored this Harley. Not only did this Purple Heart Recipient serve 24 years of active duty, he served them as an Infantryman with five combat deployments and deep physical and mental wounds as a result. Having sold his beloved Harley to return to Wisconsin to care for his aging father in 2021, he’s been unable to afford another bike since. Hogs For Heroes believed reconnecting Earl with a Harley and riding that “is oxygen for my soul” would help him on his healing journey and ease his transition back into civilian life.

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CATCH OUR LATEST NEWSLETTER!  Find out the latest happenings and updates in our most recent Hogs for Heroes newsletter.  Read it here!

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LEARN ABOUT PAST RECIPIENTS! Miss the stories of our past Recipients?  Catch them below by simply clicking on the Veteran’s name button.

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SUPER COOL NEWS: Once again, our Recipients came up with a way to express their appreciation for the healing gifts you made possible in their lives. In addition to the decals they previously made, they recently chose to have license plates that designate their gifting number for those who want them. Watch for WI motorcycle plates on the road that read H4H 1-31 (i.e. H4H 6), with hopefully more numbers to come. And please note, Hogs For Heroes does not ask Recipients to tag their beautiful bikes (or themselves) in any way. They choose to do it.

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