"It's just a wonderful thing," said Donald Lawrence about the fifth annual Veterans Motorcycle Rally in Sault Ste. Marie, which drew more than 1,000 participants Thursday, July 17, through Saturday, July 19.

Mr. Lawrence had reason to be excited. He won a Harley Davidson Sportster Custom, the grand prize in a raffle that raised funds for Michigan veterans in need of assistance with expenses ranging from medical bills to home heating.

"I didn't believe it at first," said Mr. Lawrence, who recently moved from St. Ignace to Sault Ste. Marie. He thought the telephone call announcing the win was a prank.

The rally, sponsored by American Legion Post 3, included a "Run for the Border" motorcycle ride, a parade through Sault Ste. Marie, and entertainment by EXPN X Games competitor Scott Murray at Brady Park. Mr. Murray drew large crowds to watch daring motorcycle jumps at two afternoon sessions, said Dan Inglis, Post 3 commander.

Attendance at the rally this year, he told The St. Ignace News, was up about 10%.

Mr. Inglis, formerly a Michigan State Police trooper stationed at St. Ignace, retired from the state police post in Sault Ste. Marie as a sergeant.

The rally hosted the Veterans Moving Wall, a monument symbolizing the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. It lists the names and ranks of all known U.S. and Canadian soldiers who lost their lives in the war.

The Legion is still counting funds raised, which will benefit a variety of causes. Money will be directed to Hometown Heroes, a statewide Legion project, and support the Eastern Upper Peninsula American Legion Post 3 baseball team and other projects.

Organizers were satisfied with the rally.

"It was good, and it all goes to a good cause," Mr. Inglis said.

Included in the parade Saturday was the motorcycle of Army Sergeant First Class Matthew D. Blaskowski of Levering, who died in Afghanistan September 23, 2007. The motorcycle was being built for him while he served overseas, and Mr. Baskowski's family allowed it to be included in the parade, Mr. Inglis said.