Tour of Honor is a great reason to hit the open road, honor our nation's heroes, and contribute to a few good charities. The event is a season-long, self-directed ride to memorials and monuments in all 50 states, with any route you choose. 2020 is the 10th Anniversary for Tour of Honor.

Their mission is to raise money for charities and also to raise awareness of all the great U.S. memorials. Even if you register and are not able to visit all memorials the goal will have been accomplished.

If you would like to take part in Tour Of Honor you can REGISTER online. Want to DONATE without going through the registration process? All donations go directly to these charities:

• Fisher House Foundation

• Gold Star Family Memorial Foundation

• Police and Fire: The Fallen Heroes

IN1 - Kokomo - Veterans Memorial

Take a photo similar to one shown along with your motorcycle.

548 S Goyer Rd. Kokomo, Indiana. GPS: 40.48122, -86.09734

Howard County knows how to honor their Veterans. It’s one of the first counties in the Country to fly a POW/MIA Flag at every one of its schools. State sponsor Thomas Southwood warns that riders may be moved to tears by the new Blue and Gold Star Family area and it will be a visit that you’ll never forget.

Another statue in the Park is made of bronze with a pedestal of black granite bricks. His pose is kneeling, but he is not resting. His eyes are focused forward, the direction he seems to be moving. His weapon is resting on his leg, and his closed hand is not in a fist.

Made in America: In the nearby town of Peru, is one of THE BEST Air Museums you’ll find. You can tour the inside and out of most of our military aircraft. Admission $6, with discounts for veterans and seniors. http://bit.ly/37UqSZE.

Just a few seconds away is another museum dedicated to the Huey. Here you can see multiple of these birds on display with three of them still operational. They currently don’t charge admission, but donations are greatly appreciated. Find out more at http://bit.ly/30dfe9F

IN2 - Lafayette - Blue Star Tribute (Behind Rush Pavilion)

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1915 Scott St. Lafayette, Indiana. GPS: 40.415104, -86.870888.

Created by artist, Saundra Whiddon, to honor the courage and sacrifice of all parents who from infancy held and nurtured the soldier and now, for the sake of others, must let him go. In the final goodbye, the parents exhibit purpose and unspeakable selflessness.

Full of symbolism, the infant is portrayed as vulnerable and yet secure in the hands of his parents. He is swaddled in the American Flag. The hand of his father lifts him up with determination and purpose; using his strength to hold the head of the infant securely for the entire journey.

The mother’s hand, by contrast, forms a nurturing pose as she reluctantly and slowly lifts her child toward the heavens. The infant is simultaneously emitting a cry of victory and of separation with which the artist hopes to show the ambivalence even the bravest soldier feels when called to war. He clutches the American flag against his chest with one hand clinging to those things that are familiar. With the other hand, he raises his flag toward the Creator showing the courage that soldiers exhibit when they dare to reach higher than others.

Appropriately, a Gold Star Family Monument is nearby.

Made in America: If you’re hungry, stop by and enjoy Indiana's “First and Oldest” drive-In, since 1929. http://bit.ly/39X3XyB The food is wonderful and can get busy, especially when college is in session. If you’re adventurous, try the state sponsor’s favorite burger from the menu, the Duanne Purvis All-American. He says you won’t be disappointed. Plus, they carry the famous Triple XXX cane sugar root beer.

IN3 - Lawrenceburg - War Memorial To The Common Man

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2 Walnut St. Lawrenceburg, Indiana. GPS: 39.091889, -84.846437.

In Honor of the brave men and women who have served in the Armed Forces and who continue to protect us today, a town clock and a bell tower, and a Memorial To The Common Man was erected on the levee overlooking the Ohio River.

There are two parts of this memorial. The first part are three statues paying tribute to the First Responders. Another pays tribute to the Veterans of Vietnam. Take a picture of your flag with the statues paying tribute to the First Responders.

Made in America: Enjoy lunch at the RiverWatch Restaurant next door to the memorial. A floating Key West themed restaurant with a menu filled with tasty burgers and state sponsor favorite, the Captain's Wheel Pretzel. http://riverwatchinc.com/

After lunch, ride down scenic State Road 56 to State Road 156 then back on to State Road 56 all along the Ohio River. Head North on US 421 to the old Jefferson Proving Grounds, near Madison. There at the Proving Grounds you can ride around and explore the old retired Army Base.

IN4 - Magnet - Civil War Gravesite

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17484 Parks Rd. Magnet, Indiana. GPS: 38.0950004, -86.4588353.

On August 21, 1865, the steam-driven stern wheeler USS Argosy, was caught in a storm near here, blown aground and her boilers exploded. Ten fatalities occurred among the soldiers returning home from war service. Here they are buried.

IN5 - Michigan City - The Three Rescuers

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1 Washington St. Michigan City, Indiana. GPS: 41.722916, -86.90502.

This is a police and firefighter memorial dedicated to those who gave their lives in the line of duty. You will see a Policeman, a Fireman and a little girl holding a kitten.

Made in America: Across the street, is the Naval Armory and on the front door steps of the Michigan City Old Lighthouse Museum. http://bit.ly/35K4eSr worth the stop to visit Indiana's oldest lighthouse.

And a nearby park has many different War Memorials and Veteran's Memorials that are worth the visit. The World War I Memorial also has a Doughboy. There is also a memorial for Private First Class Daniel D. Bruce, a young Marine who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

IN6 - Mount Vernon - Soldiers & Sailors Memorial

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300 Main St. Mount Vernon, Indiana. GPS: 37.931749, -87.895160.

In 2008, this memorial was rededicated to all Veterans who served our country in all wars. Five beautiful statues make up part of this memorial. At the memorial you will also find an American Revolutionary War Honor Roll. History buffs might recognize the name of a good friend of Daniel Boone, Andrew McFadden.

Made in America: Take time to look around at the Historical District of Mount Vernon, this court house is one of Indiana's most beautiful.

South of the courthouse is a World War Memorial Coliseum built in the mid-1920's. Three entry doors signify the branches of military service at the time: Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. During the disastrous Ohio River Flood of 1937, the Coliseum served as a hospital and dormitory for citizens displaced by the flood waters.

Pack a lunch and enjoy a relaxing picnic along the Ohio River in the nearby park.

IN7 - Spencer - Soldiers Memorial Pavilion (Riverside Cemetery)

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498 W Jefferson St. Spencer, Indiana. GPS: 39.282533 -86.767083.

Access: Dawn to dusk. Follow the one way drive-way to the left for easy parking on lower part of the hill. Cemetery workers are helpful and friendly.

Dedicated to all who served. The pavilion was designed by E.M. Viquesney of American Doughboy fame. It houses a copy of the artist's "Spirit of America", a.k.a. "The American's Creed" plaque. A monument bears Viquesney's name and reference to his service in the Spanish-American War. It is now the site of special observances, such as Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Made in America: While here, take time to look around at some of the unique family plots. One of them is the final resting place of E. M. (Dick) Viquesney, sculptor of the famous Doughboy Statues. Also just a few blocks away you find one of his iconic sculptures.

Maximum 1 point per Task# for Gold Star Family monuments. Take a photo of Gold Star along with 2021 membership card.

Those in the line of duty risk everything they have to protect this country, sometimes offering their own lives to ensure our continued safety and freedom. Relatives and friends mourn, time passes and wounds heal, and there’s the ever-looming fear of being forgotten. This is why memorials honoring fallen soldiers are so important; they ensure that the brave men and women of this nation are never truly left behind.

Tour of Honor’s Gold Star ride has been created in order to help promote The Hershel “Woody” Williams Congressional Medal of Honor Education Foundation by allowing riders to visit many of the organization’s monuments. The impact of this program can be seen in almost every state, with roughly 50 memorial sites already constructed and another 50 on the way. As of early 2019, only 9 of the 50 states have yet to host one of the foundation’s monuments.

The monuments themselves look similar from the front, but tell a unique story of each community on the back, of Homeland, Family, Patriot, and Sacrifice. And the central cutout figure "represents the Loved One who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the name of Freedom."

Maximum 1 point per Task# for Doughboy statues. Take a photo of Doughboy along with 2021 membership card.

On April 6th, 1917, the United States ended its neutrality and formally entered the "Great War," World War I, to fight alongside European Allies until the end of the war on November 11th, 1918. During this period of time, American Army soldiers and Marines were known as "Doughboys." The term is often explained as coming about during the Mexican-American war after observers noticed US infantry forces were constantly covered with chalky dust from marching through the dry terrain of Northern Mexico, giving the men the appearance of unbaked dough.

After the Great War, writers Earnest Hemingway, himself a WWI Vet, and his mentor Gertrude Stein coined "the Lost Generation" to describe the boys who had come of age and fought during the World War and the effect it had on them when they returned to normal life after the hostilities ended. So horrific were the battle scars, WWI became hopefully referred to as "The War to End All Wars."

The memorial statue of the World War I American infantryman is one of the most reproduced life-size sculptures in the United States. It's proper name is “Spirit of The American Doughboy,” and the original sculptor was Ernest Moore “Dick” Viquesney (EMV), a son and grandson of French immigrant sculptors.

In total, including originals made in Viquesney’s lifetime, replacements of originals, copies, those in storage, etc., about 140 are known to be standing in courthouse lawns, town squares, parks, cemeteries, and other locations, and in storage, all across America. Very few local residents in most of its locations know its full proper name or the name of its sculptor. In most locations, it’s merely called “The Doughboy” or “Our Doughboy.” Still, it’s the focal point of over ten percent of the World War I memorials in the U. S., exclusive of plaque memorials.

Some people believe that, except for the Statue of Liberty, its publicly displayed replications are collectively the “most seen” sculpture in the country.

Maximum 1 point per Task# for War Dog or K9 memorials. Take a photo of War Dog or K9 along with 2021 membership card.

When the United States of America began using canines in combat, there was no going back. It was a decision which would change the course of war forever more, allowing troops to use animal companions in order to accomplish tasks which a human would normally have difficulty doing otherwise.

In the beginning, over 30 different breeds were utilized for the war efforts, including but not limited to Airedale Terriers, Boxers, Shorthaired Pointers, Water Spaniels, and even Poodles. However, it was quickly discovered that certain breeds were better equipped for combat than others. Great Danes, for instance, proved to be excellent hunters due to their incredible sense of smell but were difficult to train because of their size and the fact that they were easily distracted. By the time World War II rolled around, the list of acceptable breeds had been limited down to only five: German Shepherds, Belgian Sheepdogs, Doberman Pinschers, Smooth Collies, and Giant Schnauzers. Others breeds, such as the Malinois and Retriever, were added later as the United States military came to discover their abilities.

World War II was an important time for war dogs. Well over 11,000 canines had been procured and trained by the U.S. army – an impressive amount when one considers the mere 100 that had been enlisted for World War I.

These four-legged soldiers aren’t just working alongside the United States military, they have also been trained to help in various other ways. Law enforcement, first responders, and even fire departments have enlisted the help of canines. Police departments tend to train German Shepherds and Malinois for general K9 detail, Retrievers for narcotics and explosive detection, and Bloodhounds for search and rescue. Other mixed breeds may be used as well, but these are the four most common due to their intelligence and ability to do their job well. First responders have less restrictions on which breeds can be used, mostly because these canines work as therapy dogs to help people cope after a trauma. Search and Rescue dogs may also be used by first responders to help locate individuals who have been lost in a disaster. Fire Dogs, or those canines who work with fire departments, used to help guide horses which would draw the firefighters’ carts of water. Nowadays, Fire Dogs are used as mascots and to locate any accelerants which may have been used to start a fire. With training similar to that used in the military, these canines can help subdue a dangerous individual, locate a missing person, and identify hazardous material.

Maximum 1 point per Task# for helicopters. Take a photo of helicopter along with 2021 membership card.

The Bell Iroquois Utility Helicopter was designed in 1952 (originally designated HU-1 giving it the "Huey" nickname) to meet the United States Army's need for a utility and medical evacuation helicopter. Existing helicopters were too big, too underpowered, or too complex to maintain easily.

In 1963, the UH-1 started seeing use in Vietnam and became a workhorse in that war, extending its use to combat operations with the addition of rocket launchers, grenade launchers, and machine guns. They were commonly called "Frogs" or "Hogs" if they carried rockets, or "Guns" if they had machine guns. They were called "Slicks" if primarily used for troop transport, but even then, they had door gunners. Ultimately, over 7,000 Huey helicopters were deployed in Vietnam and half were destroyed in combat.

After seeing the need for more protection of troop transports, Bell Helicopter introduced the Attack Helicopter (AH-1) Cobra in 1967. It utilized the same engine, transmission and rotor system of the UH-1 and still remains the backbone of military helicopter fleets in several nations.

Over 10% of Vietnam casualties were helicopter crew members, and most of those were the door gunners that protected the helicopter, its crew, and its transports, from their exposed position. The average lifespan of a door gunner on a Huey in Vietnam was just two weeks. RIP, all you courageous young men who answered the nation's call to arms and paid the ultimate price.

Maximum 1 point per Task# for Madonnas. Take a photo of Madonna along with 2021 membership card.

Madonna of the Trail monuments are spread from coast-to-coast. The 12 monuments were placed by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1928 and 1929, and intended to portray the determined spirit of pioneer women who, often singlehandedly, helped tame the American West. The sites were selected to follow the National Old Trails Road, also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway. Large parts of the road later became Highway 40 and Route 66. All 12 states the Highway passed through are represented.

From the immigrant-sculptor August Leimbach of St. Louis Missouri: “The idea I had, when I modeled the design was this: The pioneer mother with her children was waiting for the father at their blockhouse in the wild West, for the father did not come home as he had promised. She, believing him to be in danger, put her little child in a blanket, grasped the gun and with the boy ran out in the field to look for the father.