Freedom Riders A.B.A.T.E. Of Illinois Inc.

Our Adopt-a-Soldier Benefit was a great success. Thanks to all the active members of the armed forces as well as all former military personal who attended the benefit. We love you guys. We are very fortunate to have such great members of Freedom Riders as well as a great community who support us. We want to thank everyone who came out and supported such a good cause. We will be able to send care packages to a lot of local soldiers. These soldiers deserve so much for all they are doing to safe keep our freedom. Freedom Riders Chapter is very proud to be able to make a lot of soldiers time overseas a little brighter with our care packages.
We would like to thank Joe Blunt and Karen Austin for serving lunch at Slo Joe’s. Very special thanks to Billy and Lisa Scott for allowing us to have our benefit at the Red Dog Saloon. Michelle Beal you are the best bartender I know. Thanks for donating your time and your tips and wages to this cause. You guys and all your patrons are some of the best people in the world. The great band that played at the Red Dog for 6 hours Jeff Widdows, Greg Calvert and Milo Knight.
Brad Williams of Bradley’s Cycles was our auctioneer. Man did he do a fabulous job. Brad could he sell an ice cube to an Eskimo. He had a slide show that brought tears to our eyes and in his spare time he had some great games. (Thanks also to Brad’s wonderful wife Dawn who is always there supporting us.)
We had so many wonderful people bidding and donating to this cause I want to try to thank everyone. John Riley (owner of Endless Summer Tan in Salem), Roy Landers (Landers Towing and Collision Center in Salem), Billy Scott( Red Dog Saloon in Salem), Joe Blunt ( Slo Joes in Sandoval),
Al Wilkins, Tony Garrison, Sam and Darla Robb, Red Deuce & Big Rich Whyers, Shannon and Misty Ford, Denver and Kim Sullens, Melissa Taylor, Ronnie Honecker, Wayne and Ginger Reed, Roger Strange, Earl Felton, Craig Hensley, Brenda Quinn, Dog( for tattoo) Jim Murphy, Stanley Dunbar and Peggy Davidson, Chuck and Jeanette Schulte, Bob and Rose Vensel. Betty and Mike Langhauser, Jason(Opie) Opolomy, Mimi Hawkins, Ken and Mary Hawkins, Dax Monroe, Mitch Denzik and all the people who participated in our contests and last but not least our 2 brand new members that signed up at the benefit, Bradley Smith and Amanda Cloos. You guys are in for a great ride. If I have forgotten to thank anyone please forgive me. Everyone is so important and Freedom Riders really appreciate all you do.
If you have any local soldier (who has been deployed) address please contact Smurf (Connie Murphy) at 618/249-6643 or smurf4uall@yahoo.com so we can get care packages sent.