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The memorial honoring war hero Hilliard Wilbanks will be a landmark for veterans rides in the Tour of Honor all summer long. SUBMITTED
The 13th year of the “Tour of Honor” began this week, and it will bring many visitors to Habersham County over the next six months.
The Tour is a self-directed motorcycle ride that honors American heroes such as military veterans, first responders and American workers, and takes place from Spring until Fall.
For 2023, Cornelia’s Hilliard Wilbanks, MOH Memorial located on the grounds of the Community House on Wyly Street is included as one of Georgia’s seven Tour memorials. The Wilbanks memorial honors Air Force Captain Hillyard Wilbanks for his actions in breaking up an ambush in Vietnam in 1967 for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
The Tour designates seven veteran and/or first responder memorial sites in each state to include in the annual Tour. The memorial sites change each year so the Tour always stays fresh.
During the Tour of Honor riders take photos of the memorials, along with their motorcycle and a uniquely numbered flag. They then submit the photos to scorers who verify and document the visits. In 2022, there were over 35,000 submissions.
Sites are released every April 1 at midnight with many riders waiting anxiously at their computers, especially those that want one of the 135 trophies up for grabs. The first three riders that visit all seven sites in a state receive a trophy. Riders visiting a minimum of seven sites throughout the year earn a Finishers certificate and pin.
There are also auxiliary rides associated with the Tour such as visits to: 9/11 memorials; American Doughboy statues; War Dog and K9 monuments; Statue of Liberties; Veterans Cemeteries and Huey helicopters. These change over the years and it’s exciting to see which new ones will be featured.
In 2023, Vietnam War Memorials are featured as the Tour honors those veterans from the Vietnam era. The Tour of Honor is a proud “Commemorative Partner” with the Department of Defense during the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam conflict. Four of Georgia’s seven 2023 Tour of Honor memorials are Vietnam memorials.
The Tour of Honor was recently awarded the American Motorcyclist Association’s “Tour Organizer of the Year.”
Proceeds from entry fees go, in part, to a riders’ choice of veteran and first responder charities that include Fisher House Foundation; Gold Star Family Memorial Foundation, and Gary Sinise Foundation for First Responders. Some riders will undertake additional individual charitable fundraising efforts for the named charities.
The Tour of Honor runs from April 1st through Sept. 30. More details are available at https://tourofhonor.com.