Veterans ride to take place Sunday

<span>A benefit ride for the Wounded Warrior Project will take place Sunday starting at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta.</span>

<span>Coordinated by Joseph Price, all types of vehicles are welcome for a ride that will travel to Maeystown, Prairie du Rocher, Evansville, Chester, the Sparta VFW and then back to the shooting complex.</span>

<span>"The worst injury a soldier can suffer is being forgotten and as long as I'm alive, that's not going to happen," Price said.</span>

<span>Price is not a Veteran, but has brothers who served in Vietnam and Korea.</span>

<span>"This way, I can tell my brothers 'thanks' and tell the rest of the veterans 'thanks,'" Price said.</span>

<span>The cost is $10 per person and live music is planned. Registration will begin at 9 a.m., with the ride to begin at 11 a.m.</span>

<span>"The Wounded Warrior Project gets every dime," Price said. "I wanted to do something for Veterans, fallen Veterans and those who lost arms and legs in Iraq because my son was there."</span>

<span>Price said the reason for choosing the WSRC was after reading news articles regarding its threatened closure by Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration.</span>

<span>"I was reading the articles in the paper about Gov. Rauner wanting to close the shooting complex and I went to bed that night thinking about it," he said. "To run Veterans off taxpayer property is not what he wants to do. I think he's realized that and you cannot remove Veterans from taxpayer property."</span>

<span>The Rauner administration has previously threatened to "suspend operations" at the complex effective Sept. 1 if no state budget agreement was in place.</span>

<span>Layoff notices sent to nine WSRC employees, included as part of 171 statewide layoffs announced on Aug. 5, specified an effective date of Sept. 30.</span>

<span>"We're going to sit in the shade of the shooting complex and be proud," Price said.</span>

<span>Those seeking more information about Sunday's event can contact Price at 618-363-0454.</span>