The Happy Trails Products Company has announced a special project for 2011 to say "Thank You" to U.S. military men and women for service to the country. An active member of the U.S. armed forces or an honorably discharged veteran will be selected from a pool of applicants to receive a free, highly modified, near zero mileage, 2009 Kawasaki KLR650 equipped to tour North America and beyond.
The modified Kawasaki KLR650 will include over $1,500 in upgrades from Happy Trails including: Aluminum Panniers, PD Nerf Protection System, Fork Brace and other popular accessories made for the KLR650.
Applications will be available online at www.happy-trail.com beginning June 1, 2011, and must be submitted by September 30, 2011. An advisory panel will select the lucky recipient and the bike will be presented to the new owner on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2011, at the Happy Trails Products headquarters in Boise, Idaho.
“Sherry and I grew up in the mining town of Weed Heights close to Yerington, Nev.," said Tim Bernard, co-owner (with wife, Sherry) of Happy Trails Products. "I served in the Army National Guard. It was the time of the Vietnam War. We were surrounded by friends and relatives who went off to war young and full of life, but came back changed. Some were changed for the better, some not for the better and some came back aimless with no clear goals."
Bernard said that as he has grown older and gained experience in life, he understands it in a different way. Through his own and others’ experiences, Bernard wanted to make this a real and symbolic gift to the military veterans who have served.
