New Mission for Rick Brown in 2020

Greenfield, IN (February 14, 2020) — Rick Brown, an army veteran who served in Vietnam is honoring those who served and making sure that they are never forgotten. Brown, now spends his time travelling all across Indiana restoring the grave markers of the men and women who have served this country.

Rick Brown working on the Civil War Veterans Burial Site marker

Brown is part of a the group called "Mission: Restore Bronze" with the main is located in Arizona, he heads up the Central Indiana Chapter. “Somebody needs to pay respect. It’s important to show that they’re not forgotten. Veterans need to be respected on both sides of the dirt,” Brown said.

List of Indiana Medal of Honor recipients Rick Brown restored in 2018

Brown has been restoring graves and markers in Indiana for about five years. So far he’s restored hundreds of them. In 2018, Brown accomplished a major goal of restoring graves and markers of all Medal of Honor Recipients interred in Indiana.

RELATED | Veterans gravestones restored at cemetery

For 2020 Raymond’s current target is to restore all Hoosier Vietnam Veteran KIA markers.

Rick Brown restoring a grave marker for a veteran

“You just can’t forget what these guys did for America, and I’m not about to,” he said. Brown, who is disabled due to a car accident in 1969, has been on the receiving end of some increased attention for his efforts.

Honor Restored once again!!
Restoration of Veteran Family Markers in Knightstown,Indiana, Glen Cove Cemetery.
Posted by Mission: Restore Bronze Indiana on Wednesday, May 29, 2019

For his efforts, Raymond was awarded in 2017 the Disabled Vet of the Year Award from the Disabled American Veteran Department of Indiana. Brown described receiving the award as a “great honor,” but says the ultimate gift would be to know that his work will continue when he no longer can. “It would be the best gift, It’d mean an awful lot to me,” he said.

Rick Brown travels all over Indiana with his Jeep and trailer

Brown is actively looking to raise funds to purchase a newer vehicle that would allow him to travel the state and restore more grave markers. Also, additional funds for incidentals such as gas and supplies for cleaning are also encouraged and welcome.

For more information on his fundraiser and Mission: Restore Bronze, you can visit the following:

Donations: PayPal Me
*For those who donate over $250 and want tax exemption, contact Bikersinc at: 317.801.1904
Website: MRBI.Rocks
Facebook: Mission Restore Bronze Indiana

A vintage car and the veteran behind the wheel

Lincoln, Nebraska (October 18, 2019) — Sam Aughe is from Crete, Nebraska, bu has been all over the United States in his everyday car, though, his travels are nothing of the ordinary.

This vehicle has seen 73 thousand miles, and has shared over 32 hundred smiles.

It is not yet done with its life journey.

It is a patriotic testament to those who have lived and died and have served their country as they see it.

"Say, the car isn't about me, it's about what it stands for," Owner and Vietnam Veteran, Sam Aughe said. "There's names inside and outside."

The vehicle has gone all over the states, and with it, collected over 32 hundred plus signatures and names of servicememers- most of those from the military, and some of those from Police and Fire departments.

"...Names from the civil war, world war one world war two, Korea, Vietnam, the stuff in the middle east," Aughe said.

All of the names came with a story to tell.

"Some of the stories, i wish i could remember them all, are heartbreaking. I had a girl sign it a couple years ago. Her brother introduced her to the guy she married. They were both killed by the same IED in Iraq. When she signed it, the bodies were not back yet," Aughe said.

"We end up getting a lot of hugs. They're either 6ft 10in, all dressed up in leather sweaty bikers, or sweet old women just crying. It brings people closure," Aughe's grandson and successor to the vehicle, John Parks said.

The first name on it is Sam's friend he lost in the Vietnam war.

"If I could sleep, this would never happen, but it just came to me in the middle of the night. I can tell you the first name that was on it, and that's Bob Rose, killed in action December 24th, 1969," Aughe said.

The last name will remain a mystery.


Aughe says this project is an extension of his personal journey, and will be passing the car and its responsibility on to his grandson when Sam can no longer drive.

He said he doesn't want it to be pretty, but just a simple reminder of those who risked their lives to serve their country.

If you're interested in inviting the vehicle to a memorial service, you can contact Sam Aughe at 402-418-8329.

SOURCE: KLKN

Motorcycle group helps families grieve

Anderson, IN (September 10, 2019) — More than three dozen wooden memorials mark places motorcyclists have died in crashes across Madison County and remind drivers to be mindful on the road.

For the last three years, nonprofit Madison County Biker Died Here has built and erected wooden memorials for fallen bikers to help ease the minds of families who’ve lost their loved ones.

Nathan and Andrea Pershing said they lost their son Ridge Pershing, 18, at on May 31 at South Scatterfield Road and 53rd Street.

Facebook Photo: Madison County Biker Died Here

“It was Friday evening. He was just driving straight down the road and had a car turn in front of him, and we don’t know if he didn’t see the car or if the car was turning at the last minute,” said Nathan Pershing. “He didn’t have a chance to do anything, but he hit the side of the car and lost his life.”

Josh Shepler, 36, was killed on 38th Street on the same day. His father, Steve Shepler, told News 8 that he was hit by a trailer.

“He only worked 4-5 miles from his house. On his way (to work), a vehicle went to turn into a trailer port here in town and didn’t see him and he T-boned her,” Shepler said.

The nonprofit raises money through various rides and events throughout the year to memorialize fallen bikers. They ride together where the accidents have happened to pay their respects and erect the memorials. So far, 41 memorials dot the county.


“Thankfully, within just a day or two, we started getting notifications from this group saying ‘We’ve got this, we’re gonna take care of this. We don’t know your son, but he means a lot to us,'” Nathan Pershing said.

“There were roughly 150 people on the ride and between those 150 people, the biking community raised $9,000 for the club. That’s the biker community,” Shepler said.

“I lost my son on a bike, but these people right here they would do anything for you and to me, people should look up to these people,” Brandy Neff said.

The memorials have brought comfort to families and awareness for drivers.

Posted by Madison County Biker Died Here on Saturday, August 17, 2019

“Every time I drive by that intersection I take a second to myself and I say, ‘Man I love you, buddy. I miss you dearly,'” Nathan Pershing said. “It’s great to be able to drive by it and see it, but it’s really a shame that we have to.”

The Pershings hope their son’s memorial is a reminder for those behind the wheel.

“Watch what’s going on around you, take the second look. Everybody seems to be in such a big hurry nowadays,” Shepler said.

The Madison County Biker Died Here group will have its next fundraising event Sept. 15.

STORY BY: Aleah Hordges
SOURCE: WISH TV8

Seeking: Independent Insurance Agency

Indianapolis, IN (June 6, 2019) — Bikersinc, a grassroots non-profit organization has opened up their membership options for their 2020 year, starting in the 1st quarter. They are currently seeking an independent insurance agent or agency who can offer several different types of insurance and discounts for their members.

They are looking for a preferred insurance provider to offer the following services:

1. Group life insurance

2. Accidental Death and dismemberment with minimum amount of $3500

3. Motorcycle and Auto Insurance discounts for all types of motorcycles, including coverage on custom vehicles is a must for their members.

Referring agent or agency must be licensed for the State of Indiana. Licenses for surrounding states would be a bonus. Must be an established insurance provider with good credentials, open minded and motorcycle friendly. Military Veteran preferred.

About: Bikersinc is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation with charter members in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois and Tennessee. To inquire:  info@bikersinc.org

Veterans gravestones restored at cemetery

Greenwood, IN (May 13, 2019) — A Greenfield, Indiana man that runs an organization that restores veterans gave markers in Indiana was in Greenwood Saturday. He was assisting a veterans group with cleaning century-old grave markers belonging to Civil War Veterans.

Raymond R. Brown, a disabled veteran of the Vietnam war dedicates his time to restoring Veteran markers in cemeteries throughout Indiana. He is the director for Mission Restore Bronze Indiana and restores Veteran Markers at no charge whatsoever to the family.

Raymond R. Brown of Mission: Restore Bronze Indiana (Photo: Jim Floyd)

On this particular day, he brought his trailer and equipment to Greenwood to assist the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

Every year, on the second Saturday in May, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Benjamin Harrison Camp No. 356 clean gravestones at historic cemeteries around central Indiana. Most members of the organization, whose main focus is educational programming, have ancestors who served in the war.

The SUVCW is a fraternal organization dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of heroes who fought and worked to save the Union. Organized in 1881 and chartered by Congress in 1954, it is the legal successor to the Grand Army of the Republic.

Raymond R. Brown of Mission: Restore Bronze Indiana travels all over Indiana (Photo: Jim Floyd)

This year, Mike Beck, a member of the Benjamin Harrison chapter and former state commander, recommended a graveyard minutes from his home — the old Greenwood Cemetery off Main Street, just west of U.S. 31. He visited the cemetery to check on the condition of two Civil War cannons, and realized many of the gravestones nearby could use some work.

Together, six men in their 40's, 50's and 60's spent much of the day on their hands and knees scrubbing and treating 25 to 40 Civil War gravestones throughout the cemetery. They also had plans to reset one or two that had sunk into the ground or fallen over.

Raymond R. Brown of Mission: Restore Bronze Indiana maneuvers around around gravestones (Photo: Jim Floyd)

Most of the men who help clean and restore the gravestones have gone through a Department of Natural Resources course on cemetery and stone restoration, he said. They learn how to clean and reset stones without causing any harm to the historic markers.

“We try to be as gentle as we possibly can,” said Tim Beckman, Department of Indiana commander for the SUVCW. Using nylon materials — gloves, brushes and scrapers — they removed algae and dirt from the old stones, then rinsed them with D-2, a special solution that’s used in national cemeteries.

LEARN MORE: Mission Restore Bronze Indiana on Facebook
WEBSITE: MRBI.Rocks

LEARN MORE: Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War on Facebook
WEBSITE: BenHarrisonCamp.org