MUSCODA - Dan and Patty Behrens, owners of Sportsmen’s Lounge and Honkers in Muscoda will be hosting their 15th annual Memorial Day Run. This year the run will be benefiting the Muscoda American Legion and Ladies Auxiliary on Saturday, May 30. 

The long running event got its start as a way for Behrens to honor his long standing military family background. 

“I come from a military family and when I owned Doolittles in Cuba City we decided to start doing a ride on Memorial Day to help be able to donate money to an area military organization,” Dan shared recently. When the couple moved to Muscoda and purchased their two establishments they decided to keep the tradition of the ride going. 

“Over the years we have donated to different organizations. One of which was the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 67 out of Mineral Point,” Dan explained. “My father was the commander there for 13 years.” He explained that the ride also helped to write checks for The Vets Roll Program as well as Vietnam Vets. 

This year Dan will also be teaming up with the Blue River Bottoms Bar in Blue River to help benefit the local Legion and Auxiliary. 

“Another local establishment stepped up and wanted to do a gun raffle,” Dan said. “A good friend of mine, Tony Gonzalas has already raised $1,000 towards the donation.” Dan explained that in addition to the fund raising, his wife Patty and himself will also be making a substantial donation towards the organization. “I’ll have to match or beat Tony in donations or he’ll give me a hard time,” Dan shared with a chuckle. 

The run this year will leave from Honkers at noon with sign up beginning at 11:30 a.m. Dan notes that any vehicles are welcomed to join, not just motorcycles. “We would love for everyone to get involved, we hope to see lots of classic cars, motorcycles, everyone is welcomed to come ride with us,” Dan said. 

The ride will take participants on a ride through lovely Southwestern Wisconsin’s Driftless region with stops at Turbos in Richland Center, the Hillsboro Brewing Company in HIllsboro, a to be announced stop in Viroqua, and then looping down to Boaz, Blue River and ending up at Sportsman’s Lounge where riders can relax and enjoy themselves on the patio. There will be music by My Moms Band as well at Sportsman’s Lounge for patrons to loosen up and dance to after a long day riding.