Erickson Memorial Ride set for Aug. 25

The ninth annual Caleb Erickson Memorial Day Ride is to be held Friday, August 25 and Saturday, August 26 at American Legion Post 228 in Waseca. Proceeds from the event are used to support veterans. Donations are being accepted both before and during the event to further this goal. “Any donation or anyone who attends is helping our veterans: Our proceeds go to help various organizations, local and state wide. They gave up everything including their lives. It is the least we can do,” said Karla Scherff.

Friday night, a meal of wings and tots is available from 5-7 p.m.; Andy Tackett will provide entertainment in the bar from 7-10 p.m.

The highlight of Saturday's schedule is the motorcycle ride. Registration for the ride is available from 10 a.m. to noon. There will be a “blessing of the bikes” at 12:45, and kickstands go up at 1 p.m. The ride is open to motorcycles and other vehicles. The cost to participate in the ride is $30 per driver, $20 for drivers with veteran status, and $10 per rider. These costs include lunch.

In addition to the motorcycle ride, Saturday will feature a Bloody Mary bar from 9 to 11 a.m., a lunch of hamburgers with fixings from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a dinner of pulled pork with fixings from 5 to 7 p.m., and a free jukebox from 7 to 10 p.m. The cost for a meal is $10.

New this year are two prize drawings, the winners of which will be announced at the Legion following the ride. One winner will receive “Caleb's Basket,” a cooler which contains items from the event and which Caleb liked; another will win a “50/50 drawing” which awards the winner half the total ticket sales.

A special “Caleb's Drink” will be available all weekend.

For updates, watch the Facebook page, “Caleb Erickson Memorial Day,” or the website, calebericksonmemorial.com. Scherff also notes for those interested in the event and supporting veterans that next year's will be the tenth and final Caleb Erickson Memorial Day and will be “a big one.”