A ride honoring one soldier designed to help honor hundreds more who went before.

It is a Patriot Guard ride in the name of Schuyler Patch who was killed in Afghanistan in March. All donations go to the Honor Flight.

It started this morning in Oneida and went through Cambridge to Kewanee where riders stopped at Patch's grave. From there, the route went to the veterans memorial in Galva and ended in Bishop Hill.

The Patriot Guard organizing this as the latest in a series of rides paying tribute to local fallen heroes.

Many who gathered are veterans themselves, and have known someone who never returned from the battlefield.

"It's really hard to explain what it means to us," says Gary Schrock with the Patriot Guard "We helped escort him home from the time he got back into Illinois and pretty much was there for the service and everything. It's just an honor to be able to support the family like this."

Those riders are not the only ones feeling honored today.

Time hasn't yet healed the Patch family's wounds. Family members saying getting through each day without their hero is a struggle.

But when the Patriot Guard approached them about doing a ride in Schuyler's honor, they couldn't say yes fast enough. They say while their soldier may be gone, he'll never be forgotten.

"This was his second tour and...nothing could prepare you for that," says his father John.

John and his daughter Amber say the past four months of their life seem like a bad dream.

"Everything's so surreal. It just...it doesn't seem real yet," Amber Patch-Troxell says.  "I think the reality will be when the guys come home in august and september and he doesn't get off the bus. That will be my reality."

But in the months following Sgt. Patch's death, they've received an outpouring of support from the community. Motorcyclists putting his face on the front of their bikes, exchanging hugs and condolences.

Dozens gathering at his gravesite in Kewanee, shedding tears and paying tribute to a man they say squeezed every last drop out of life.

"He was fun, loved to have a good time, loved to smile, live life to the fullest," Amber says.  "He always tried to make me do everything like let's go to the zoo, a live for the moment kind of guy."

A guy never far from his family's thoughts.  His father keeping a reminder of his son near his ankle. His sister doing everything she can to make sure her brother is not forgotten.

"It's very important that he's not forgotten because he gave his life for everybody to be here today," Amber says.

"He'd be proud of it," John says. "He died for his country, so he'd be all for it."

Schuyler Patch was 25 years old. He had graduated from Annawan-Wethersfield High School in 2002.

The Patriot Guard says they're going to try and hold a similar ride in his honor every year.

Money collected during today's ride will be donated in Sgt. Patch's name to the Honor Flight benefit in Bishop Hill.