National flag tour passes through Amherst in 50-state journey

Each year, a single American flag is transported by motorcyclists across all 50 states in an effort to raise awareness and funds for military veterans. The ride, called The Patriot Tour, is a 115-day journey spanning thousands of miles, stopping at partnering communities on the map as the flag crosses the country. Over the weekend, that flag was brought to Amherst's Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1662, where it was passed along to local members in preparation of the flag's next leg of the journey. "It just goes across all 50 states, which is pretty cool on a bike," said Ken Brown, senior vice commander at the Amherst VFW post and president of the VFW Riders. "It's just so known for this flag being across the United States. … We decided to have it at our post this year so we could actually be part of the honor." Brown said approximately 20 motorcycles would be involved in the next leg of the national tour of the American flag, set to depart this morning. According to Nation of Patriots, the organization that organizes the annual ride, the tour is "to unite Americans beneath the Flag and rally them behind the brave men and women who have served our country's Armed Forces, both past and present." The annual tour raises funds for veterans and their families in "support for the physical, emotional, and economic misfortune that our disabled veterans and their families live with every day," according to a statement by Nation of Patriots. The flag had traveled to Amherst from Fremont on Sunday, Brown said. Mounted on the backs of motorcycles, the flag is robust and durable, explained Eli Semer, president of the VFW Riders ninth district and a member of the Fremont VFW. "If you look at the flag, it's got 10 times the amount of stitching, because after going that long, it starts flapping, rips apart," Semer said. "And then the flag does fly over Washington D.C. at the end." Members of the Fremont VFW rode their motorcycles eastward toward Amherst as they transported the American flag. Today at 10:30 a.m., the flag will be transported to Painsville by members of the Amherst VFW. While riders from Fremont have participated in The Patriot Tour in years' past, this is the first year Amherst has been a location on the flag's path toward Washington D.C. "This is actually the third year that we've done this," Semer said. "It's been great every year." Accompanying the American flag is a banner emblazoned with a Patriot Tour logo. Across the entire banner are signatures and names from individuals who have helped ferry it around the country. Today, the flag will be transported along Interstate 90 and state Route 2 toward Painesville. Jose Torres will be the flag bearer. Torres is an Operation Iraqi Freedom Combat Veteran and Purple Heart recipient and Ohio VFW Junior Vice Commander and Commissioner for Lorain County Veterans Service. Contact Garrett Looker at glooker@chroniclet.com