The Nation of Patriots (NoP) is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) charity raising money to support disabled American veterans experiencing financial distress. Started by CEO/Founder Bill Sherer in 2009, NoP has raised $2.5 million and awarded it to more than 840 veterans to help them on their path to financial stability.
The Patriot Tour is NoP’s sole national fundraising event and involves the transport of a United States flag carried on motorcycles through all 50 states. The motorcycles are typically piloted by veterans and escorted by dozens – occasionally hundreds – of other riders. There are approximately 120 flag-transfer stops during each tour and, along with the transfer of the flag from one flag bearer to the next, money is raised to support disabled veterans.
Photos by Larry Goldstein and 2026 Patriot Tour participants.
Each year, NoP selects a host from proposals that it solicits from recent flag stops and other communities interested in having the honor of serving as the hub for the launch on Armed Forces Day (May 16 this year) and the homecoming that will occur on Sept. 19. The successful proposal to host the 2026 Patriot Tour was submitted by American Legion Riders Chapter 264 in Glenville, Minnesota.
Bruce Camerer (director), Larry Larson (assistant director), and Scott Kallberg (road captain) spearheaded the effort. They enlisted numerous volunteers from within the Legion Post to staff the six committees needed to coordinate all of the moving parts of the annual Patriot Tour launch. One of their most critical decisions was recruiting the physical location for the launch ceremony – Bergdale Harley-Davidson in nearby Albert Lea. Another was arranging to use the vacant lot next to the Legion building to set up a tent in case of rain during the pre-launch party the night before.
Beyond recruiting the volunteers and selecting the host location, they invested incredible efforts to engage the community. Albert Lea and Glenville residents participated throughout the planning and execution of the launch. Numerous residents, businesses, and local governments supported the effort, and it showed up in the quality of the activities and the participation levels. They were so successful the Glenville Post won a national public relations award from the American Legion for their efforts to promote The Patriot Tour.
To get to the launch site, I planned to take two days on my 2025 Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide for the roughly 17 hours of saddle time needed to cover 1,100 miles from my home in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
This launch was extra special for me because it would be my first. Despite being a flag bearer and flag-stop site coordinator since 2019, and NoP Mid-Atlantic Regional Commander beginning in 2023, I always had a schedule conflict. But not this year! (I also became NoP’s chief advancement officer in 2025, so I serve on the National Executive Committee. It’s amazing what retirement enables one to do!)
The route I chose took me through West Virginia, Ohio, and Indiana. Trying my best to avoid storms and not fully succeeding, I arrived at the launch site two days later and in time to enjoy the festivities.
The Legion Riders planned the pre-launch Friday night party as a major community event – not something just for Patriot Tour riders. The Glenville Post’s building was open to everyone, and its members (and their families) mingled with numerous Glenville and Albert Lea residents as well as visiting Patriot Tour riders and NoP officials. To an outsider, it felt like the entire populations of both towns turned out to have a good time. Some families had four generations of revelers!
The large tent next to the Legion building had a stage that was used by two live bands to keep the crowd entertained. There were also two food trucks and two bars operating continuously – one in the Legion building and another under the tent. No one had an excuse for being hungry or thirsty!
An extended rainstorm forced most adults into the Legion building or under the tent. However, several small groups of children took advantage of the opportunity to run around and play in the quagmire that developed outside the tent or the puddles that formed along the curbs in front of the building. A few parents were paying attention, but the kids were just enjoying themselves while getting wet and a little dirty. Amazingly, not one person complained about the weather. In fact, we were reminded that one of the biggest concerns about choosing Albert Lea was the possibility of snow in mid-May. This rain was minor by comparison!
Saturday morning brought perfect riding weather – moderate temperatures and sunny skies. The dealership and the folks from Glenville American Legion had everything under control for the ceremony while also registering riders and passengers for the ride. NoP had its canopy tent set up and was doing brisk sales with 2026 Patriot Tour merchandise.
The ceremony was well planned and ran smoothly. Along with honoring Purple Heart recipients from wars dating from World War II through the Global War on Terrorism, there was a POW table and a moment of silence to remember those unable to be with us. We recited the Pledge of Allegiance and heard a beautiful rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” along with a prayer by a chaplain. The flag-folding ceremony followed, after which a local resident, Rhonda Allison, read a poem she wrote for the occasion. Albert Lea’s mayor, Rich Murray, gave moving remarks and a proclamation. Multiple donation checks were then presented to Bill Sherer. After brief remarks by Bill, the flag was presented to the tour’s first flag bearer and launch ride leader, Scott Kallberg, and the ceremony concluded with a ride briefing. Within a few short minutes, the Albert Lea Police Department was leading us out of town and toward Iowa. There were approximately 200 bikes with many riding two up.
Scott had planned an excellent route covering 75 miles and lasting just short of two hours over country highways with reduced speeds as we passed through small towns. It was moving to see folks of all ages lining the streets and waving flags along with American Legion and VFW Post members assembled in formation and saluting the flag’s passing. Our police escort stayed with us through Minnesota, and there was a seamless handoff to the Iowa police departments.
Our destination was the 2026 Patriot Tour’s first flag-transfer stop – Mason City Harley-Davidson in Iowa. The HOG chapter was waiting with an excellent cookout of burgers, dogs, and accompaniments. Once everyone had a chance to visit the restroom, grab a souvenir, and eat lunch, the flag-transfer ceremony began. Kyle Easley, historian of Mason City H-D’s HOG chapter, was the emcee for the event. Activities included remarks by a local official, the singing of the national anthem by a young girl, and the first flag transfer of the 2026 Patriot Tour from Scott to Marine veteran Charlie West!
Once the ceremony ended, I said my goodbyes and mounted my bike to begin my planned two-day journey home. As everyone reading this knows, most rides covering nearly 2,500 miles include unexpected events. On my second day of riding, intense pain from a kidney stone had me looking up the location of a hospital in Illinois, where I was given a shot to ease the pain and some medication. Happily, the pain meds were nonnarcotic, so I was cleared to ride. After another overnight on the road, I arrived home in time to start the treatments for the stone. It would have been an eventful trip without the kidney stone, but it ensures I will not forget my first Patriot Tour Launch!
In preparing this story, I reached out to the three Glenville organizers and Kyle from Mason City to ask why this was important to them. Two things from the discussion stood out. First, they believe in Nation of Patriots and fully support its mission of serving veterans experiencing financial distress. Second, they were all confident they could meet the challenge – and they did!
The Patriot Tour Homecoming is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19, and I hope to see lots of riders in Minnesota. I will be joining the last ride of the 2026 Patriot Tour, which will start Saturday morning at Wild Prairie Harley-Davidson in Eden Prairie. If you’re near Glenville on Friday, Sept. 18, join us for the pre-homecoming party that night.
Visit NationOfPatriots.org and select the Patriot Tour tab to find the nearest remaining stop on this year’s tour. Everyone is welcome to join the ride. If you’re interested in donating to Nation of Patriots, select the Donate tab at the same website. Be sure to include your location in the comments to ensure veterans living in your state benefit from your donation.
The post United by The Flag—The Patriot Tour Rolls On appeared first on Rider Magazine.
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The Patriot Tour is NoP’s sole national fundraising event and involves the transport of a United States flag carried on motorcycles through all 50 states. The motorcycles are typically piloted by veterans and escorted by dozens – occasionally hundreds – of other riders. There are approximately 120 flag-transfer stops during each tour and, along with the transfer of the flag from one flag bearer to the next, money is raised to support disabled veterans.
Photos by Larry Goldstein and 2026 Patriot Tour participants.
Each year, NoP selects a host from proposals that it solicits from recent flag stops and other communities interested in having the honor of serving as the hub for the launch on Armed Forces Day (May 16 this year) and the homecoming that will occur on Sept. 19. The successful proposal to host the 2026 Patriot Tour was submitted by American Legion Riders Chapter 264 in Glenville, Minnesota.
Bruce Camerer (director), Larry Larson (assistant director), and Scott Kallberg (road captain) spearheaded the effort. They enlisted numerous volunteers from within the Legion Post to staff the six committees needed to coordinate all of the moving parts of the annual Patriot Tour launch. One of their most critical decisions was recruiting the physical location for the launch ceremony – Bergdale Harley-Davidson in nearby Albert Lea. Another was arranging to use the vacant lot next to the Legion building to set up a tent in case of rain during the pre-launch party the night before.
Beyond recruiting the volunteers and selecting the host location, they invested incredible efforts to engage the community. Albert Lea and Glenville residents participated throughout the planning and execution of the launch. Numerous residents, businesses, and local governments supported the effort, and it showed up in the quality of the activities and the participation levels. They were so successful the Glenville Post won a national public relations award from the American Legion for their efforts to promote The Patriot Tour.
To get to the launch site, I planned to take two days on my 2025 Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide for the roughly 17 hours of saddle time needed to cover 1,100 miles from my home in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
This launch was extra special for me because it would be my first. Despite being a flag bearer and flag-stop site coordinator since 2019, and NoP Mid-Atlantic Regional Commander beginning in 2023, I always had a schedule conflict. But not this year! (I also became NoP’s chief advancement officer in 2025, so I serve on the National Executive Committee. It’s amazing what retirement enables one to do!)
The route I chose took me through West Virginia, Ohio, and Indiana. Trying my best to avoid storms and not fully succeeding, I arrived at the launch site two days later and in time to enjoy the festivities.
The Legion Riders planned the pre-launch Friday night party as a major community event – not something just for Patriot Tour riders. The Glenville Post’s building was open to everyone, and its members (and their families) mingled with numerous Glenville and Albert Lea residents as well as visiting Patriot Tour riders and NoP officials. To an outsider, it felt like the entire populations of both towns turned out to have a good time. Some families had four generations of revelers!
The large tent next to the Legion building had a stage that was used by two live bands to keep the crowd entertained. There were also two food trucks and two bars operating continuously – one in the Legion building and another under the tent. No one had an excuse for being hungry or thirsty!
An extended rainstorm forced most adults into the Legion building or under the tent. However, several small groups of children took advantage of the opportunity to run around and play in the quagmire that developed outside the tent or the puddles that formed along the curbs in front of the building. A few parents were paying attention, but the kids were just enjoying themselves while getting wet and a little dirty. Amazingly, not one person complained about the weather. In fact, we were reminded that one of the biggest concerns about choosing Albert Lea was the possibility of snow in mid-May. This rain was minor by comparison!
Saturday morning brought perfect riding weather – moderate temperatures and sunny skies. The dealership and the folks from Glenville American Legion had everything under control for the ceremony while also registering riders and passengers for the ride. NoP had its canopy tent set up and was doing brisk sales with 2026 Patriot Tour merchandise.
The ceremony was well planned and ran smoothly. Along with honoring Purple Heart recipients from wars dating from World War II through the Global War on Terrorism, there was a POW table and a moment of silence to remember those unable to be with us. We recited the Pledge of Allegiance and heard a beautiful rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” along with a prayer by a chaplain. The flag-folding ceremony followed, after which a local resident, Rhonda Allison, read a poem she wrote for the occasion. Albert Lea’s mayor, Rich Murray, gave moving remarks and a proclamation. Multiple donation checks were then presented to Bill Sherer. After brief remarks by Bill, the flag was presented to the tour’s first flag bearer and launch ride leader, Scott Kallberg, and the ceremony concluded with a ride briefing. Within a few short minutes, the Albert Lea Police Department was leading us out of town and toward Iowa. There were approximately 200 bikes with many riding two up.
Scott had planned an excellent route covering 75 miles and lasting just short of two hours over country highways with reduced speeds as we passed through small towns. It was moving to see folks of all ages lining the streets and waving flags along with American Legion and VFW Post members assembled in formation and saluting the flag’s passing. Our police escort stayed with us through Minnesota, and there was a seamless handoff to the Iowa police departments.
Our destination was the 2026 Patriot Tour’s first flag-transfer stop – Mason City Harley-Davidson in Iowa. The HOG chapter was waiting with an excellent cookout of burgers, dogs, and accompaniments. Once everyone had a chance to visit the restroom, grab a souvenir, and eat lunch, the flag-transfer ceremony began. Kyle Easley, historian of Mason City H-D’s HOG chapter, was the emcee for the event. Activities included remarks by a local official, the singing of the national anthem by a young girl, and the first flag transfer of the 2026 Patriot Tour from Scott to Marine veteran Charlie West!
Once the ceremony ended, I said my goodbyes and mounted my bike to begin my planned two-day journey home. As everyone reading this knows, most rides covering nearly 2,500 miles include unexpected events. On my second day of riding, intense pain from a kidney stone had me looking up the location of a hospital in Illinois, where I was given a shot to ease the pain and some medication. Happily, the pain meds were nonnarcotic, so I was cleared to ride. After another overnight on the road, I arrived home in time to start the treatments for the stone. It would have been an eventful trip without the kidney stone, but it ensures I will not forget my first Patriot Tour Launch!
In preparing this story, I reached out to the three Glenville organizers and Kyle from Mason City to ask why this was important to them. Two things from the discussion stood out. First, they believe in Nation of Patriots and fully support its mission of serving veterans experiencing financial distress. Second, they were all confident they could meet the challenge – and they did!
The Patriot Tour Homecoming is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19, and I hope to see lots of riders in Minnesota. I will be joining the last ride of the 2026 Patriot Tour, which will start Saturday morning at Wild Prairie Harley-Davidson in Eden Prairie. If you’re near Glenville on Friday, Sept. 18, join us for the pre-homecoming party that night.
Visit NationOfPatriots.org and select the Patriot Tour tab to find the nearest remaining stop on this year’s tour. Everyone is welcome to join the ride. If you’re interested in donating to Nation of Patriots, select the Donate tab at the same website. Be sure to include your location in the comments to ensure veterans living in your state benefit from your donation.
The post United by The Flag—The Patriot Tour Rolls On appeared first on Rider Magazine.
Continue reading...