We Gift More Than Just a Motorcycle

Riding is an alternative therapy; and our gifts are the tools by which an injured Veteran rider regains its healing benefits. The Harleys we gift are not awards for service, popularity-based decisions or simply thank-you gifts. They are, instead, meant to help redirect, if not save, struggling and at-risk Veteran lives by returning them to The Road. While our goal is to gift one bike a year, since our first gifting in May 2016, SIXTY ONE Wisconsin Veterans have now regained riding in their lives. You’ve put them on beautiful bikes, that they choose from dealership floors, to clear their minds, fill their hearts and reconnect supportive bonds.

We are rolling into our 2026 “gifting season” with a record-breaking plan to gift TWELVE Harleys TO CHANGE TWELVE MORE LIVES this year alone. We can’t wait to meet our new Veteran Recipients and welcome them into our Family. We are currently in fundraising mode for 2027 and greatly appreciate all the support you lend. YOU are the fuel that helps redirect struggling Veteran’s lives–and that of their families and communities… all because a motorcycle reentered their lives.

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LATEST NEWS

MEET RECIPIENT #67: Marine Devin Brom of Warrens, WI. Devin grew up with Harleys in his family tree and riding integral to his life. While working as a Service Assistant at a H-D dealership in high school, he joined the Marine Reserves for the action and discipline that would enhance his future success. As an MP he volunteered for every deployment he could, serving a year in Djibouti, Africa and a year in Afghanistan…never imagining the resulting toll PTSD would take on his life. Despite his own struggles, Devin found himself listening to and guiding other Marines, and later Veterans, through their personal troubles; and in 2017, after years of avoidance and hardships of his own, chose to finally seek his own counseling. Realizing his own gifts and purpose along the way, Devin obtained his Masters Degree in 2025 to become a Mental Health Therapist with the @Tomah VA. Despite all he has rebuilt in his life, saving for a motorcycle has not been financially possible. Hogs For Heroes believed one of our healing gifts would be the perfect tool to help Devin stay on the good path he worked hard to build for himself and his family. Learn more about Devin’s story by clicking here.

INTRODUCING RECIPIENT #68: Army Veteran Shane Magelitz of Oshkosh, WI. As a seventh grader watching the Twin Towers fall, Shane made a promise with his best friend that they “were going in” to fight when they were old enough. His senior year, Shane enlisted in the Army National Guard and after graduating, he worked weekdays as a loan officer and drilled once a month as a truck driver. Shane wanted more action and transitioned to active duty, taking a position within Human Resources. After supporting advanced training programs he sought the chance to deploy…and six months later, in June 2012, found himself in Afghanistan as the HR representative for his Brigade. He moved across their region, from base to base, and living out of a rucksack, to support the restructuring of bases and attending to soldier’s needs. In his short six months he lost several friends and saw many more injured. He saw all the horrors of war, moved through the violent areas and gathered life altering memories and emotions that still challenge him today. And Shane was HR. Shane got his endorsement after separating to boost his spirits and used his bike to balance his mental health until it fell into disrepair in 2024. Without funds to repair his bike, or responsibly buy his someday dream…his mental health has suffered greatly. Hogs For Heroes believed his someday should be now. Catch Shane’s story of dedication and struggle by clicking here.

HERE COMES ANOTHER DOUBLE GIFTING CEREMONY! We will be gifting both of these bikes on Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 4:30 pm at Summit Ridge in Wonewoc, WI following the 9th Annual Operating Engineers Local 139 Poker Run for us! Motorcycles and UTV’s will roll on separate routes to double our fun and the swag, raffles and cash prizes will truly stun you! Check out the flier for all the details by clicking here.

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Here’s #66: Army Specialist Brandon Pszanka of Clintonville, WI. In high school the only thing Brandon knew he wanted was to first serve in the Army National Guard. He specialized as a Combat Engineer after graduation, and less than 8 months later found himself deployed in Iraq. His job was route clearance: rolling through the dark of night to find hidden explosive devices in the area’s roads before others encountered them with devastating effects. In a three month time period, Brandon was directly involved in three explosive blasts to his vehicle, the last of which earned him a Purple Heart and a lifetime of struggle. Brandon’s bike was fully sponsored by the 2025 fundraising efforts of the Operating Engineers Local 139; and he received the keys to his beautiful trike on June 20, 2026. Click here to learn more about Brandon’s story.

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WE SERVED UP ANOTHER DOUBLE! Recipients #64 Natasha Normand and #65 Matt Shadley received their keys on June 7, 2026 during the Smoke on The Water Music Fest for Hogs For Heroes! Scroll down to check out their stories below.

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2026 FIRST TWO RECIPIENTS! We put our first two Recipients of 2026 back out on the road on May, 17, 2026! Catch the story behind Army Veteran Amber Fleitz, #62 by clicking on her button below… and learn more about #63 Army Veteran Seth Walls by clicking on his button below.

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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. See the Harleys they’ve chosen–some new, some barely broken in–by clicking on the Recipient Photos button here or the icon below.

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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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CHECK OUT OUR UPDATED CALENDAR OF EVENTS! So much is going on with Hogs for Heroes, see what’s happening and where here!

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SUPER COOL NEWS: Our Recipients created a way to express their appreciation and pride for the healing gifts your donations have made possible.  In addition to the decals they had made exclusively for Recipient use, they chose to have license plates that reflect their gifting number within the Hogs For Heroes family.  Watch for WI motorcycle plates on the road that read H4H## (i.e. H4H6 or H4H47, etc.).  And please note, Hogs For Heroes does not ask Recipients to tag their bikes (or themselves!) in any way.  They choose to do this.

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