By Raven Van Pelt

On Saturday May 12th the American Legion Riders Chapter 9, Flamingo Lake RV Resort and Dick’s Wings hosted the 6th Annual Boots on the Ground Poker Run and Concert to support K9s For Warriors and The Florida Fallen Heroes Memorial Fund. With almost 800 motorcycles and well over 2,000 people in attendance it was another great year of supporting these great Veterans organizations. The weekend started on Friday with over 80 volunteers onsite to set up the Boots on the Ground, America Remembers Memorial Display which consists of over 3,000 boots, each with a picture of a Fallen Soldier or First responder that has perished since 9-11-01 with their information and a flag. Friday Night kicked off the Pre-Ride party with about 300 people attending, with The Third Degree Rocking the house. Then on Saturday, the day of the Poker Run, KSU for the bikers was announced by a flyover by the Dreamland Squadron, a Hot Rod Car Show hosted by Callahan Cruisers and Golf Cart Poker Run as well. Dozens of the best biker gear vendors were on site as well to support. Saturday’s music line up was The Remedy at 8:30am, Hard 2 Handle at noon, No Saints Band at 4:00pm and Blistur at 7:00pm. Once again, Staff Sgt. Tim Chambers, aka the Saluting Marine from Rolling Thunder, was onsite to salute the riders as they left the Resort with the Jacksonville Fire Fighters Pipe and Drum playing to the crowd. Make sure that you mark your calendars to be part of this great event each year. It is always the Saturday before Mother’s Day.