2010 Warrior Ride

September 23 - 26, 2010

This year was the Fifth Annual Warrior Ride of the Willis Foundation. The riders rode bicycles 247 miles from Traverse City to the Fort Custer National Cemetery in Battle Creek where Corporal Christopher Kelly Willis is buried.

They continued to the Battle Creek military base where a reception for the riders, families, guests, and service people from the base was held.

Riders had the option of participating in the full four (4) day ride or "Last Leg" on the final day of the ride which is fifteen miles from Kalamazoo to the Battle Creek military base.

This year's scholarship award recipient was Elizabeth Julian, daughter of Staff Sergeant David D. Julian who was born on June 15th, 1976 and passed away on March 10, 2008.

Originally from Evanston, Wyoming SSGT Julian joined the United States Army in May of 1998.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Steward, Georgia.  He married Erin McDaniel of Ludowici, Georgia and they had a daughter in December of 2007 (Elizabeth Julian).

Staff Sergeant Julian along with four other soldiers died in Baghdad from wounds sustained when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device.

Julian was awarded a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Services Medal, an Iraq Campaign Medal and a posthumous Bronze Star and Purple Heart.  He was buried in Evanston Cemetery, Evanston, Wyoming.