Classic cars abound as Cruise Indy event supports scholarships for families of fallen & disabled military personnel & first responders

Attorney General Todd Rokita keynotes event in Carmel

Submitted by Office of the Attorney General

Their shared passion was vintage vehicles.

Their common cause was raising money for scholarships for family members of fallen and disabled military service members and first responders.

The occasion was an event last Saturday called “Cruise Indy” in which participants drove their beloved cars and trucks to three Carmel locations where music blared, food trucks fed the hungry, and other festivities entertained the masses.

“It’s great to be here with a bunch of patriots and a bunch of gearheads,” proclaimed Attorney General Todd Rokita. “It’s so great when we can use our hobbies to support bigger causes that we all believe in!”

Rokita, the event’s keynote speaker, drove his own 1993 Corvette to the Indiana Spine Group in the 13000 block of North Meridian Street – one of the three stops along the cruise. The other stops were at the Meridian Mark office complex and the American Legion.

The aim of the Cruise Indy event was to raise $25,000 for Folds of Honor, a charity that provides educational scholarships to spouses and children of individuals who have died or become disabled while serving in the U.S. military. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has provided more than 52,000 scholarships totaling over $240 million in all 50 states.

And now Folds of Honor is expanding its mission to include the family members of first responders – police, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics.

“We need more unity in this country, right?” Rokita said. “Well, we can unite around these heroes! They make us proud!  And we’re all patriots who love America, right? And that’s something else we can unite around.”

In addition to his Corvette, Rokita also owns a 1974 Volkswagen Thing.

“And there are a few other old cars in various stages of, shall we say, ‘disrepair,’ Rokita said. “Well, that’s what my wife calls it. I prefer to call it various stages of ‘progress.’”

Rokita added that he agrees with Cruise Indy’s philosophy, which he described as the idea that “classic vehicles are intended to be used and driven and seen and heard.”

But like others at the event, Rokita kept returning to the larger theme of supporting American heroes.

“We celebrate men and women who have paid a great price,” Rokita said, “to protect all the rest of us and defend our liberties and help keep us free and safe.”

To learn more about Fields of Honor, go to foldsofhonor.org. To learn more about Cruise Indy, go to cruiseindy.com.