Tour of Honor stops in Warren to salute local space legends
The Tour of Honor (TOH) returns for its 15th season in 2025, offering a unique, self-guided motorcycle tour that pays tribute to America’s military veterans and first responders. From April 1 through October 31, riders will explore memorials across all 50 states—including a notable stop in Warren, Ohio, at the “First Flight” Lunar Module site that honors local and national space pioneers.
Founded in 2010 by brothers Steve and Dave Brooks of Boise, Idaho, Tour of Honor invites riders to visit 4 to 7 memorials in each state. Proceeds benefit the Fisher House Foundation, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, and Gold Star Family Memorial Foundation.
“The mission is to honor American heroes — mostly military Veterans but also First Responders — by visiting sites paying tribute to them,” said Steve Brooks, co-founder of Tour of Honor. “It’s a unique way to combine a love of riding with a love of country.”
One of the sites on Ohio’s 2025 route is the “First Flight Lunar Module location in Warren, a tribute to astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon. The Armstrong family lived in Champion Township when Neil Armstrong made his first airplane flight at Warren Airways Airport, located on the very site of this memorial. Moved by Armstrong’s achievements, local citizens created a dedicated lunar module replica to honor his impact on the world and his local connection to the Trumbull County community.
The site also recognizes another local space trailblazer, Dr. Ronald Parise, an often-unsung hero of the U.S. space program. Parise, a Warren native and 1969 graduate of Western Reserve High School—the same year Armstrong took his legendary moonwalk—was deeply inspired by Armstrong’s achievement. He turned his childhood dream into reality, flying aboard NASA space shuttles Columbia (1990) and Endeavour (1995). A true innovator, Parise contributed significantly to spaceflight communications. One of his experiments—focused on Internet communications equipment—was aboard the Columbia when it was tragically lost during re-entry in 2003.
“We’re proud to welcome Tour of Honor riders to Trumbull County,” said Beth Kotwis Carmichael, Executive Director of Trumbull County Tourism. “The First Flight Lunar Module site is more than just a tribute to Neil Armstrong — it’s a celebration of the local spirit that helped launch dreams into space. Honoring both Armstrong and Dr. Ronald Parise at this site connects the heart of our community to the legacy of American innovation and service.”
The 2025 TOH also includes six other sites in Ohio, including Cincinnati, Cleveland, Harrison, Rockford, South Lebanon, and Westerville.
With more than 1,000 riders participating annually, the TOH encourages exploration of small-town America while honoring its greatest heroes. Riders submit photos at each location to earn certificates and prizes. Last year alone, over 39,000 photo submissions came from across the country. Additional themed rides include visits to 9/11 memorials, Doughboy statues, War Dog tributes, and more.
Registration is open at www.TourofHonor.com. For $125, riders receive a laminated flag, patches, stickers, and access to the season-long scoring system. $25 from each registration is donated to the rider’s selected charity among the event’s three beneficiaries.
The American Motorcyclist Association recently named Tour of Honor the Tour Organizer of the Year. Riders continue to call it “the best excuse to ride” and a powerful way to discover stories and roads that might otherwise be missed.