Angels in Arms is hosting the Vetstravaganza and Straight to Hell Bike Run at the Woodland Mall, 1234 N. Main St., in the back parking lot on Saturday. (supplied photo)
By Alex Holwerda
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
Angels will lift veterans up, roaring into Bowling Green on Saturday for the first-ever Vetstravaganza.
Angels in Arms is hosting the Vetstravaganza and Straight to Hell Bike Run at the Woodland Mall, 1234 N. Main St., in the back parking lot.
There will be free admission, with a fee to play games, visit the food trucks and bake sale. There is a $22 fee to participate in the bike run per person and a $22 fee to have a car in the car/bike show.
“We lose 22 veterans a day to suicide. We are trying to get the suicide rate to drop,” said Mark Shamp, veteran and founding member of Angels in Arms.
“Being a veteran myself, I know how hard it is to ask for help. Once they know who we are and what we do, they are able to receive the help that they need.”
Beginning in 2019, Angels in Arms is a nonprofit organization that supports veterans and their families. The organization supports local law enforcement, first responders and veterans in need. In the past, Angels in Arms have provided help such as hosting food drives, holiday assistance, hygiene needs, groceries and car repairs.
“I got involved in the organization because I am friends with Mark and Mary Lou. It was a good group to be a part of,” said Jennifer Genson. “We had a veteran family who was in need one time of immediate needs. We provided those needs within half an hour.”
Genson’s father, grandfather and uncle are all veterans. Her brother is currently in the Navy reserves.
Before Shamp started Angels in Arms in 2019, he used to belong to a different veterans organization.
“He (the founder of the other organization) had cancer and was passing away. He told me to start a veteran’s organization,” Shamp said.
“The day I started this, the founder of the other organization passed away. August 2019 was when we started, right before the pandemic.”
The biggest part of the Vetstravaganza consists of the bike ride — straight from Bowling Green to Hell, Michigan.
Activities at the Woodland Mall include kids’ games, cake walk, bake sale, craft and vendor show, food trucks, auctions/raffles and live music. The event starts at 9 a.m. with check in and registration, 10:15 a.m. blessing of the bikes and national anthem, 10:30 a.m. kickstands up.
Pre-registration for the bike run and car show is now open.
“We would love to come out and support our events, so we can continue to help them,” Genson said.
To register for the bike run, car show or are interested in being a vendor or sponsor for the craft & vendor fair, contact Genson at 419-575-0809 or Shamp at 419-601-4117, or send an email @[email protected].
