 Well, for 14 years, the annual ride for the troops has rumbled down northern Minnesota roadways in an effort to raise funds for military families and veterans. This year's ride will begin at Marketplace Foods parking lot in Bemidji and then travel down to Lake Itasca, native wash, Zirkel and then back to Bemidji with various pitstops in between. An estimated 500 bikers take part in the yearly ride, all in an effort to show support and raise funds for military members, veterans and their families. I mean, we still take care of our local veterans with what we can, but with the deployments being down, now we stretch out farther for veterans that anywhere within the Greater Minnesota Area that was involved in the battalion, which covers a huge part of northern Minnesota. For more information on the ride and how to contribute, you can visit their website at rideforthetroops.com. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.