Road to freedom

By Kris Leonhardt

GREEN BAY – A Green Bay man was among three Wisconsin veterans to receive a Harley Davidson motorcycle through the 2023 Hogs for Heroes program.

Injured U.S. Army Veteran Paul Kruse, of Green Bay, was able to select a bike from Doc’s Harley-Davidson in Bonduel, along with U.S. Marine Veteran Tim Bahr of Crandon and fellow Army Veteran Mike Erickson of Oconto.

The keys were presented to the three veterans during a ceremony on May 6 in Bonduel.

This is the seventh year that the program has gifted motorcycles to Wisconsin veterans, putting 34 bikes in the hands of those who were injured while serving.

Hogs for Heroes was created in 2014, fundraising began in 2015 and the first motorcycle was gifted in 2016.

Nine bikes were presented to the state’s veterans in 2022.

“That’s nine more lives fractured in service that will regain peace, freedom and control from riding,” the organization explained.

“Riding is an alternative therapy and our gifts are the tools by which one gains its healing benefits.”