Leaving from the Marseilles National Guard training site Tuesday morning, about 30 bicyclists are starting the 500-mile Gold Star Mission ride.

They’re riding to several cities across the northern part of the state during the next five days in honor of military members killed in action. They're also raising money for scholarships through participation fees and donations.

Michael Graves of Decatur is honoring Sgt. Ivory Phipps of Chicago, killed in Iraq in 2004. He knew Phipps.

Graves rode the first Gold Star 500 and this is his third.

Supporting the bicyclists are people like Nita Cross of Galesburg, providing water and places to rest along the way.

Cross is a Gold Star mom. Her son Kyle Wehrly died in Iraq in 2005.