The ride was led by Air Force veteran and Hillsborough-based Michael Nehlsen, who was joined this year by U.S. Marine veteran Maj. Gen. Jim Kessler and his wife, Debbie. The event was sponsored by Union, New Jersey-based Hillmann Consulting.

Hope For The Warriors is a national nonprofit dedicated to restoring a foundation of stability, strength, and community for post-9/11 veterans, service members, and military families, according to a press release through Hope For The Warriors.

This year’s 1,600 mile European journey began in Geneva, Switzerland, and traveled through France with multiple stops, including Macon, Bourges, Le Mans, the D-Day Normandy Beach areas, Mont Saint-Michel, La Rochelle, Lourdes, Montpellier, Lyon, and winding up back in Geneva, all aiming to raise awareness and funds for post-9/11 veterans and their families for the Hope For The Warriors’ Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarship program.

Since 2006, Hope For The Warriors has awarded Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarships twice a year. The program recognizes and rewards post-9/11 spouses and caregivers for their strength, fidelity and resolve despite adversity as they assume critical roles in the financial well-being of their families.

Proceeds from the ride are benefiting The Riding For Warriors Scholarship Fund, sponsored by Hillmann Consulting, LLC, and Michael Nehlsen, funding three military spouse and caregiver scholarships for multiple semesters. The goal of the scholarship fund is to award recipients for multiple semesters, allowing them to achieve their educational goals without interruption.

The continuous scholarships military spouse and caregiver recipients include Laura Hentig, based in Colorado who is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in health science, Florida-based Leslie Blankenship who is pursuing her associates of nursing, along with Alaska-based Brenda Higgs, who is studying for her bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Additional funds will also be donated to the overall Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarship Program fund and allocated to those pursing Restoring Self Scholarships (bachelor’s degrees) and New Beginnings Scholarships (certificates and associate degrees).

“This program is vitally important to me for numerous reasons, but the primary reason is that we must never overlook the military family,” shared Nehlsen “This program offers military spouses and caregivers the opportunity to pursue their educational and career aspirations, which are often put on hold while they care for an injured military family member.”

In 10 years, Nehlsen has traveled over 38,600 miles on his motorcycle, raising over $520,700 for Hope For The Warriors’ programs. 

“The Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarship program is very dear to us and it was one of the first established programs at HOPE over 18 years ago,” said Robin Kelleher, founder and CEO of Hope For The Warriors. “We’re in awe of Michael’s support to HOPE through the years with his annual ride ranging across the United States and now through Europe with Maj. Gen. Kessler.

“The funds he raises are truly impactful but so is the awareness he’s bringing to HOPE and the military families that we serve.”

For more information on Riding For Warriors or to make a donation, visit hopeforthewarriors.org/ridingforwarriors2024.

For more information on Hope For The Warriors, visit hopeforthewarriors.org.

Since its inception, Hope For The Warriors has served over 171,000 service members, veterans, military spouses, and caregivers through 10 programs/services focused on providing financial, career and educational stability; physical and emotional strength; and social support that builds community. This includes The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Hope For The Warriors providing confidential, mental health care services.

The wheels were churning for Jessica Davis and Ricklin Harmening following the death of Army Specialist Benjamin G. Moore in 2011 and Pete Reed, a humanitarian worker and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran in 2023.

They both wanted to do something for their fellow Bordentown natives as well as military comrades. Davis and Harmening currently serve in the U.S. Air Force and like Moore and Reed, they attended and graduated from Bordentown Regional High School.

It took a few years, but they came together and have formed Bordentown Hometown Heroes, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for local police, fire departments, EMTs (emergency medical technicians), active military, veterans, teachers, and educators. They are committed to honoring and supporting the brave men and women who serve their community.

“It came about as a mutual interest that brought us together,” Davis said of the non-profit that was launched in March.

They have teamed up with Bill Hartz, of Bordentown Spartan Bootcamp, not only with the nonprofit, but to host a challenge run on Sept 15 at Joseph Lawrence Park.

The trio initially were discussing putting together a 5K and it has evolved into a 1.5-mile challenge run with different exercise challenges along the route.

Funds from the challenge run will support the local firehouses in Bordentown Township and Bordentown City.

Mission Fire Company District No. 1 is a combination of volunteer/career staffed fire company that provides fire, rescue, and emergency services to the approximately 10,000 residents that live in Bordentown Township’s 9.3 square miles.

Derby Fire Company District No. 2 provides public safety, community outreach and knowledge possible to the residents and visitors of the township of Bordentown and all who request services. Derby station staffing includes nine firefighters, three lieutenants, one captain and one chief who offer 24-hour coverage to the township of Bordentown working a three-platoon system. Each platoon consists of one lieutenant and three firefighters.

Consolidated Fire Association is a 100% volunteer firehouse that provides fire, rescue and fire police to the residents that live in Bordentown City.

Consolidated Fire Association was established on July 5, 1966 when the Citizen Hook and Ladder Co., The Delaware Fire Co. and Weccacoe Hose Co. dissolved and merged into one new fire association. The current fire station on Crosswicks Street was dedicated Oct. 24, 1970.

Hope Hose Humane Co. No. 1 has been serving the Bordentown community and its surrounding communities for over 252 years of Fire, Rescue, EMS, and Marine Rescue Service.

Moore gave his life in service to the country while serving in Afghanistan on Jan. 12, 2011. Moore was a 2006 graduate of Bordentown Regional High School, and joined the U.S. Army in April of 2009, training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri before being stationed in Fort Drum, New York.

While serving with the 693^rd Sapper Company, 7^th Engineer Battalion, 10^th Sustainment Brigade, 10^th Mountain Division in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, Moore was killed in action on Jan. 12, 2011 in the Ghazni Province at the age of 23.

Moore was the recipient of numerous awards and decorations for his heroism, patriotism, and service to the United States. These included the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Badge, the Good Conduct Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal.

By all accounts, Pete Reed wore many selfless hats as a humanitarian worker and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He was working with Global Outreach Doctors (GoDocs) on their Ukraine mission “to provide emergent medical transport with 11 ambulances from the UK and Khaled El Mayet,” according to the GoDocs website.

Reed founded Global Response Medicine (GRM) in 2017 in response to the Battle for Mosul. He served as an infantryman in the Marine Corps in Third Battalion, Eighth Marines from 2007-2011. GoDocs has been on the ground since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Reed joined GoDocs as its Ukraine Country Director in January of that year.

Following the Challenge Run, Davis, Harmening and Hartz look to continue to host more events to honor their hometown heroes.

“We are getting the ball rolling to support our firefighters, EMTs,” Harmening said.

For more information and to sign up for the Challenge Run visit https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Bordentown/BordentownHometownHeroChallengeRun.

For more information about Bordentown Hometown Heroes visit www.bordentownhh.org.

Sponsored by Union-based Hillmann Consulting, this year’s motorcycle journey is the Jonn F. Ward Memorial Ride, honoring fallen and deceased heroes. Nehlsen, of Hillsborough Township, will be joined this year by U.S. Marine veteran Maj. Gen. Jim Kessler and his wife, Debbie.

The John F. Ward Annual Memorial Ride is honoring World War II veterans in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of D-Day while supporting the post-9/11 warrior community.

Hope For The Warriors is a national nonprofit dedicated to restoring a foundation of stability, strength, and community for post-9/11 veterans, service members, and military families, according to a press release through Hope For The Warriors.

Since 2006, Hope For The Warriors has awarded Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarships twice a year. The program recognizes and rewards post-9/11 spouses and caregivers for their strength, fidelity and resolve despite adversity as they assume critical roles in the financial well-being of their families.

The nonprofit has served over 171,000 service members, veterans, military spouses, and caregivers through 10 programs/services focused on providing financial, career and educational stability; physical and emotional strength; and social support that builds community. This includes The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Hope For The Warriors providing confidential, mental health care services.

Proceeds from the ride will benefit The Riding For Warriors Scholarship Fund, sponsored by Hillmann Consulting, LLC, and Nehlsen, funding two military spouse and caregiver scholarships for multiple semesters. The goal of the scholarship fund is to award recipients for multiple semesters, allowing them to achieve their educational goals without interruption.

The recipients include Laura Hentig, a military spouse and caregiver based in Colorado who is pursuing her Bachelor of Health Science at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. Also receiving a military spouse and caregiver scholarship is Florida-based military spouse and caregiver Leslie Blankenship, who is pursuing her associates of nursing at Allegany College of Maryland.

The 11-day European journey will begin in Geneva, Switzerland, and travel through France with multiple stops, including Macon, Bourges, Le Mans, the D-Day Normandy Beach areas, Mont Saint-Michel, La Rochelle, Lourdes, Montpellier, Lyon, and winding up back in Geneva.

“For 10 years, I’ve had the honor of serving my fellow military community through Riding For Warriors while supporting Hope For The Warriors and a variety of its programs,” Nehlsen shared. “From assisting with granting Warrior’s Wishes veterans, to providing higher education scholarships to military spouses and caregivers, it’s been a privilege.”

“As the ride continues to provide support to post 9/11 service members, veterans and their families, we must not forget veterans who served in other conflicts. That is why we’ve decided to take the ride overseas to honor WWII veterans in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of D-Day. I continue to be deeply grateful for all who have served, and it is an honor to support the military community in any way I can.”

In nine years, Nehlsen has traveled over 37,000 miles on his motorcycle, raising over $469,000 for Hope For The Warriors’ programs. 

“Michael never ceases to amaze us with his creative and impactful ways he supports HOPE and the military families that we serve,” said Robin Kelleher, founder and CEO of Hope For The Warriors. “It’s important to never forget all who have served and commemorating the 80^th anniversary of D-Day while paying it forward to post-9/11 military families is outstanding.

“The Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarship is one of HOPE’s original programs and it’s monumental to see how many spouses and caregivers we’ve served with scholarships thanks to continued support from donors like Michael and Hillman Consulting, LLC.”

Key sponsors for Riding For Warriors include Hillmann Consulting, LLC, Bill Nelson, and The Wawa Foundation.

For more information on Riding For Warriors or to make a donation, visit hopeforthewarriors.org/ridingforwarriors2024.

For more information on Hope For The Warriors, visit hopeforthewarriors.org, Facebook, X, Instagram or LinkedIn.