Memorial ride honors Hunter Frank, raises funds for veterans

It would’ve taken more than a light rain to dampen spirits at the Hunter Alexander Frank (HAF) Memorial Ride.

“It’s a great feeling, seeing so many people come to support this,” said Brandon Flores, who started the annual tradition in his brother’s memory.

Hunter Frank, son of Annette Duncan and Chad Frank, died in 2020 while deployed with the U.S. Navy in El Salvador. He was 20 years old. Hunter spent his formative years in Steele and Waseca County, and enlisted in the Navy after graduating from Owatonna High School in 2018. Starting with a small memorial ride in 2021, Flores has worked tirelessly to ensure Hunter’s memory endures, even creating a foundation in his name to support other veterans.

Flores said the weather dissuaded some riders from joining this year, but they still had around 40 lined up. Riders took off Saturday from the Steele County Fairgrounds, proceeding to several important locations from Hunter’s life including his grandparents’ farm, the church where he was confirmed and his childhood home in Meriden.

Hunter’s younger sister Indya Frank, who joined the ride for the first time this year, said the visit to the cemetery where he’s buried is the most meaningful stop on the route to her. At 17, having gotten her license earlier this year, the young motorcycle enthusiast was feeling confident ahead of her first big ride.

Now in its fourth year, the event has been a way for her family to gather together and find comfort in the community’s support.

“It’s meant a lot to know how many people show up. It means a lot to me and my family,” she said.

In the past, Flores has led the ride. He stepped in as a road guard this year, filling in when the previous guards had to back out. In his stead, his father Chad Frank took the lead.

“I’ll do anything for the kids,” he smiled.

As Chad led the ride, Indya was close behind.

Following the ride, the event included a silent auction, car and bike show and cornhole tournament. The memorial has taken a number of forms over the years, including a benefit dinner and an auction, but organizers were pleased with last year’s all-day event and largely kept to the same format.

The HAF Memorial Foundation will donate 80% of the proceeds to Wounded Warriors Family Support (WWFS). Run by combat veterans, the organization supports veterans and their loved ones with scholarships, vehicle grants and a host of other projects. The remainder of the funds will be put toward next year’s event.

Once the receipts are totaled up, Flores has another ride to look forward to. Every year, he makes a pilgrimage to the WWFS headquarters in Omaha to hand deliver a check to the organization’s president. One way, the route is over 300 miles long. Flores has built a close relationship with the nonprofit, and said he’ll never miss his appointment with them.

Though some vendors backed out and other commitments fell through, the event proved that the HAF Foundation’s support network remains strong. Maggi Flores, Brandon’s wife, credited locally owned businesses with making the event a success, highlighting the support of Mineral Springs Brewery, vendors Uncle D’s Kitchen and Lucia’s Cocina and local band The Shifties.

“I am finding out more and more that those are the guys you can really rely on,” she said.

While other family members took care of specific aspects of the event, she spent Saturday coordinating the operation as a whole. Though she and Brandon are the public faces of the foundation to many, she stressed that the entire board deserves recognition for all the work it does behind the scenes. They’ll begin prepping next year’s event in December.