It’s a great day to ride isn’t it?

With those comments Governor Sam Brownback helped kick off the Governor’s Freedom Rally on Saturday in Junction City.

The event raises money for different causes, including the Wounded Warriors. “A number of these wars I voted to go to whenever I was in the United States Senate, and I think it’s one of those things you need to stand and support those who went and supported this country and kept us free.”

Brownback told a gathering in Junction City’s Heritage Park where the Rally was headquartered  that the U.S. was hit on nine-eleven. “And we haven’t been hit at home since because we took the fight to them. ” He added a number of those who served overseas were wounded. “And we need to stand up for them, and we need to make sure that they get the care that they needed.”

The Governor referred to the scandal with the Veteran’s Affairs medical service. “And that’s why things like this veteran’s scandal make so many people mad, because this is a service that we said we would give, and we need to do it, and we need to stand up with our veterans, and we’re going to do that.”

Other programs supported by the Rally include Brothers In Blue, a faith based program in Lansing Penitentiary to help people change their lives while they’re in prison, and the Scenic Byways. Brownback added the latter involves Kansans promoting Kansas to themselves, so the residents of the State can promote it to other people.

 

Following a kickoff ceremony in Heritage Park, and the laying of a wreath at the Kansas Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, there was an estimate of more than 100 riders that participated in a ride that moved through downtown Junction City and out onto the Historic Main Post of Fort Riley before returning to the Park where an awards ceremony was held.