Freedom
Harley-Davidson has organized the first-ever Law Enforcement
Appreciation Day to be held on Sunday, April 30, 2006 at Six Flags
Elitch Gardens.The event will begin with a Law Enforcement Day Walk
at 9:00 a.m. and the 2 nd Annual Donnie Young Memorial Ride at 9:00
a.m.The day will culminate with a parade at 2:00 p.m. and a
ceremony honoring law enforcement.One hundred percent of the
proceeds will go to the Denver Police Foundation, which supports
police programs and assistance to families of officers killed in
the line of duty.
Held in June 2005,
the First Annual Donnie Young Memorial Ride was organized by
Freedom Harley-Davidson to commemorate the life of
Donnie Young, a decorated Denver police officer who was shot and killed on
May 8, 2005.Freedom Harley-Davidson approached Young's wife about
the fundraiser idea, as Young was an avid Harley-Davidson
motorcycle rider.The 2005 memorial ride raised $15,000 and drew a
crowd of more than 600 riders.
"This year, we
decided to create a day to honor law enforcement to coincide with
the 2 nd Annual Donnie Young Memorial Ride," commented
Ken Allen, owner of Freedom Harley-Davidson."Six
FlagsElitchGardens knew this was to be a family-centered event, so
they stepped up to host it."
The inaugural Law
Enforcement Appreciation day will consist of many activities,
including:
- Law Enforcement
Day Walk: a less than 2-mile walk starting at
SixFlagsElitchGardens, continuing along Little Raven , and
returning back to the amusement park
- 2 nd Annual
Donnie Young Memorial Ride: a motorcycle ride beginning at Six
Flags and circling the city on I-25, I-70 West and C-470.
- Event Day Parade:
a parade featuring Justice League characters, a marching band,
motorcycles, and other entertainment, culminating with a ceremony
honoring Donnie Young and law enforcement officers.
- Harley-Davidson
Giveaway: one lucky participant from the walk and one lucky
participant from the ride will win a new Harley-Davidson
motorcycle. Need not be present to win.
- Pavilions,
Stages, and Booths:an area to showcase law enforcement through
displays, demonstrations, and appearances by official police
helicopter, dogs, horses.
Pre-registration
is encouraged online at
www.freedomh-d.com beginning April 10, 2006 or at the Freedom Harley-Davidson
store, 8020 W. Colfax Avenue, Lakewood.
Harley-Davidson as
a company celebrates a long history of supporting law enforcement,
dating back to 1908, when the first Harley-Davidson was sold for
police duty to the Detroit, MI, Police Department.Today,
Harley-Davidson police motorcycles are presently in service in
thousands of law enforcement agencies nationwide and serve in
several countries abroad.