Local Patriot Guard, St. Louis Cardinals honor fallen hero

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) – Local members of the Indiana Patriot Guard took a trip to Missouri to honor a fallen hero this weekend. 

The Indiana Patriot Guard Southeast Region is led by members Tim Kieffer, Ron Powell and Mike Buettner.

Each June, they organize the Ride to Remember which is a 300-mile motorcycle ride that honors soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice 

One of the soldiers they honor annually is Army Sgt. Steven P. Mennemeyer, of Granite City, Illinois. 

Sgt. Mennemeyer was 26-years-old when he was killed in a Black Hawk crash in Iraq on August 9, 2006. 

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While he is not buried in Indiana, his dad and stepmom reside in Clark County, Indiana and the Ride To Remember honors Mennemeyer in New Albany every summer. 

Saturday marked the 20th anniversary of Sgt. Mennemeyer’s passing and local Indiana Patriot Guard members were given the opportunity to honor him at his resting place. 

Nearly a dozen local motorcyclists rode to St. Louis on Saturday.

The St. Louis Cardinals also chose to honor Mennemeyer and invited his family as well as the local Patriot Guard members to Busch Stadium. 

They were given the opportunity to watch the baseball game in the suite that belongs to Cardinals owner William DeWitt. 

Former Cardinals catcher and MLB Hall of Famer Ted Simmons also stopped by the suite and presented an authentic jersey that honors Mennemeyer. 

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“Even if you’re not a baseball fan it was a really cool experience. Ted was great and very personable and took time to meet with each of us,” Kieffer said. 

The Cardinals also honored Mennemeyer on the jumbotron during the game. 

On Sunday, the Ride to Remember traveled to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery to honor Mennemeyer at his resting place. 

The local Indiana Patriot Guard members were joined by the Illinois Patriot Guard, the Missouri Patriot Guard, the Illinois State Police and the O’Fallen Police Department. 

Kieffer said there was a moment at the cemetery that he will never forget, and is one of the major reasons that Ride To Remember exists.

Mennemeyer's sister told Tim, "I have thought about my brother everyday for 20 years. I am happy to see I am not the only one and he is still remembered by other people."

The Ride to Remember was created in 2011 and they honor soldiers from Batesville, Sunman, Aurora, Versailles, Madison, Bennington, Vernon, Scottsburg, Sellersburg, Heltonville, New Albany, Clarksville, and Brownstown. 

You can follow Ride To Remember by clicking here.

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