Tour of Honor, LLC

There are more than 35,000 veterans currently living in homeless shelters or on the streets, many of them not knowing where their next meal is coming from. The struggle is real. As Tour of Honor riders know, memorial sites often have one or two homeless individuals there, perhaps thinking back on the day when a brotherhood took care of each other.

It was during a 2023 visit to a memorial site in Nashville, Tennessee, when rider Larry Downing encountered a homeless veteran that left a mark on his heart. The young soldier pointed at Larry's flag and said that he "Remembered." What Sgt. Fox, US Army, remembered was the day he got hit by shrapnel from an IED in Afghanistan in 2005. The proud soldier held Larry's flag for the photo of the memorial. As Larry rode away, he wished he had something to hand the soldier and that's how the idea started. This year, he's armed with a number of different cards to fast food restaurants, all good for a free meal for a homeless veteran, and another conversation that he'll probably remember for the rest of his life.

Expanding further on the idea, Larry asked a friend -- a grade school teacher -- if her class would be willing to design "Thank You for your Service" notes on 3x5 index cards that he could hand out with the meal cards. She enthusiastically said YES! and explained about the teaching moment and how much the kids enjoyed making them while listening to patriotic music. The index cards will make the gift card a little less of a HANDOUT, and a little more of a THANK YOU.

"Our class has completed their cards. I wish you could have been here to see them planning and then drawing and coloring their index cards! My red, white and blue heart was filled to overflowing!"

The challenge to Tour of Honor riders isn't about trophies or certificates, it's for everyone to get at least one meal card into the hands of a homeless veteran who needs it.

If anyone is interested in donating gift cards, or would like to design "Thank You" cards, or know of educators willing to help out (cards could include a first name only, their age and city/state), Tour of Honor will make sure they get into the hands of the riders who request them.

Please send them to:
Tour of Honor Motorcycle Ride
521 N 10th St., #198
Caldwell, Idaho 83605

Thank you!