|
Harrisburg, PA - The Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education (ABATE) held its 31st Annual Motorcyclist Rights Rally on Monday, May 19, at 1:00 pm, at the state capitol in Harrisburg. The event kicked off the 2008 riding season with a proclamation by the governor, designating May as Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month.
Downtown Harrisburg filled with several hundred motorcycles prior to the rally at the state capitol. Motorcycles lined both sides of Third Street as motorcyclists of all ages filled the rotunda.
Addressing the hundreds of motorcyclists from across the state was Kevin Snyder, State Coordinator of A.B.A.T.E. of PA. Mr. Snyder is a long-time advocate for motorcyclists’ rights and safety. Snyder states, “Here in the Capitol is where the rubber meets the road for the rights of the motorcycling community in Pennsylvania. From the four corners of this state and all points in between, you are the riders who take time out of you busy lives to ride with us today.”
This year, ABATE of PA was joined by three state representatives that rode with the group from the starting point in Shellsville to the Capitol. Thanks to Representatives Sonney, Moul and Seip. Representative Mark Keller joined us at the capitol. Other speakers at the rally included the Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll and Senator John Wozniak.
Following the introduction of speakers was the presentation of ABATE of PA’s prestigious Clarence D. Bell Scholarship awards to Eli Sentman, Jr. and Edward Jacob Schultz. The two recipients of the awards were selected based on essays and good standing in ABATE of PA. ABATE congratulates these young members, and wishes them the best. Each year, the scholarships are given in the late Senator’s honor to keep his memory alive and to encourage our younger members to further their education.
ABATE of PA Lobbyist Charles Umbenhauer gave an update on the Readshaw’s Raiders project, and thanked ABATE for its continued support of the Ride to Gettysburg. To date, ABATE has donated $65,000 to the Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Committee through its work with Representative Harry Readshaw and the annual Ride to Gettysburg.
ABATE of PA thanks everyone who helped make the entire three-day weekend another great success.
For information on ABATE of PA or the Rights Rally, visit www.abatepa.org, or call 717-731-8955.
-END-
|