BOX ELDER, S.D. – Military Appreciation Day at the rally began with the annual Dakota Thunder Ride, which begins at Ellsworth Air Force Base and ends in Sturgis.
This year, more than 70 motorists signed up for the 57-mile ride from Ellsworth AFB through Vanocker Canyon to Main Street in Sturgis.
The ride, which is a local fundraiser for the veteran community, always pays tribute to a South Dakota veteran. Riders pay a $20 fee to participate, which can add up to thousands of dollars raised.
Through the ride’s fundraising efforts, the 68th chapter of the Green Knights Military Motorcycle club donates more than a thousand dollars each year to a retired veteran.
