Riding for charity and in support of soldiers - A story from The Daily Register in Harrisburg, IL.

Riding for charity and in support of soldiers
By Brian DeNealStaff WriterPublished: Saturday, September 30, 2006 7:39 AM CDT

VIENNA - Chuck Welch of Bloomington, Ind., passed through Harrisburg Wednesday and Thursday on a bicycle ride to Branson, Mo., for a reunion with his Vietnam War shipmates.Welch was a radio operator on board the USS Indra, a World War II landing ship tank converted into an auxiliary repair landing ship during the Vietnam War. The ship traveled up the rivers of the Mekong Delta and anchored in the middle of the river where the crew repaired damaged boats, Welch said.Welch retires as battalion chief of the Bloomington Fire Department in December after 31 years. Welch has been planning his trip for two years and is dedicating it to the men and women of the armed forces.
Weather caused Welch to make a repeat trip through Harrisburg Thursday. The first day, Tuesday, Welch reached Mount Carmel and Wednesday he was in Harrisburg."I did 68 miles (Wednesday). Because of the horrendous wind I gave up at Harrisburg Ponderosa," Welch said.His daughter was driving along as his support and took him to Vienna. Five minutes after loading the bike they saw the lightning and rain as a strong storm passed through.
Thursday morning Welch's daughter brought him back to Harrisburg so he could complete the Harrisburg to Vienna section honestly and by Thursday afternoon he was on Illinois Route 146 past Vienna on his way to Cape Girardeau, Mo., speaking on a cellular phone as big trucks zoomed past on the highway.He had ridden through some cold, nasty rain and was a day behind schedule. He had expected to make the trip in five days, but was allowing seven days for bad weather.Welch was in a good mood and was looking forward to his reunion.
"It's going to be amazing for me to see how people are doing. We'll be able to sit and talk about fun things we did, some serious things and about ones we lost recently," Welch said.There will also be a two World War II veterans who had served on the same ship during that war at the reunion.Welch said everyone he told about the ride assumed he was riding to raise money for a charity, so he decided to promote two charities that are important to him: The Ellettsville Masonic Lodge mortgage fund and the Bloomington Metropolitan Firefighters Local 586 for its Shop With a Firefighter providing needy youth with Christmas presents.
He asks anyone who wants to send a check to mark either Masonic Lodge Mortgage -- Branson Bike Ride or Shop With a Firefighter -- Branson Bike Ride on the memo line.Checks may be sent to Ellettsville Masonic Lodge, care of Gary Brinley, Treasurer, P.O. Box 65 Ellettsville, Ind. 47429 or to Bloomington Metropolitan Firefighters Local 586, P.O. Box 474, Bloomington, Ind. 47401.Welch invites people to follow his progress at the website www.ridingwithchuck.blogspot.com.