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Negaunee native’s fundraising effort for vets commendable

This past Fourth of July weekend, we lauded U.S. Army Sgt. Tyler Pynnonen on his wonderful effort to raise funds for combat-wounded veterans.

Negaunee native Pynnonen — a snowmobile athlete with Nitro Circus — is riding his Honda CT70 motorcycle 1,776 miles across the country, an effort he has named Operation: 1776.

Pynnonen left Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota and on June 29 stopped in his hometown on the way to his final destination of Annapolis, Maryland. The goal of the operation is to raise funds for the non-profit organization called Warfighter Made.

According to Facebook updates from Pynnonen, he headed through the Upper Peninsula, crossed the Mackinac Bridge and then went southeast through Ohio, Pennsylvania and to his destination in Annapolis, Maryland, where he was to celebrate Independence Day.

As of Wednesday, Pynnonen had raised $12,352 for the non-profit.

During his stop in Negaunee, Pynnonen told Mining Journal Staff Writer Katie Segula: “Help me get injured veterans back behind the throttle and gain back their independence.”

To donate to Operation 1776, go online to https://www.gofundme.com/f/Operation1776?qid=f263ab40551c3cb7498b047829b34a8f.

We thank Sgt. Pynnonen for his great idea to raise funds for a worthy cause and we hope our readers reach out to support one of our own in this effort.

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