MICHIGAN CITY — While most of us are thinking about gas prices, hundreds of local veterans are worrying about veterans and troops overseas being forgotten.

One hundred veterans from Michigan City are taking part in an annual 10-day National Veterans Awareness Ride from Sacramento to Washington D.C. They stopped in Michigan City to remember local soldiers killed overseas.

Some veterans say keeping soldiers front and center in people's minds is an uphill battle because the war in Iraq has made serving overseas a political issue. They say it's simply a job that often goes unnoticed. But they say that could change if presidential candidates talked less about gas prices.

The riders went to a memorial service to honor Marine Danny Bruce who was killed on March 1, 1969.

"Danny Bruce saw an explosive device coming toward him. He caught it against himself and ran away from his fellow Marines, sacrificing himself," said Michigan City Mayor Chuck Oberlie during the memorial service.

"He's always been my hero. All service men are heroes to me," said Karen Bruce Gallaher, Bruce's sister.

Those service men include 100 veteran riders who hope to raise awareness about the sacrifice Bruce and others have made.

"You can ask someone in Michigan City where the Danny Bruce Memorial is, and they wouldn't know," said Stephen "Head dog" Moore, coordinator for the fourth annual National Veterans Awareness Ride.

But many people would know the price of gas, which seems to be what everyone, including presidential candidates, is talking about.

Filling up the veteran riders' motorcycles costs anywhere from $1,800 to $2,400 a day. They say it's a small price to pay.

"Freedom. There is a cost to it," said Tom Bruce, Bruce's cousin and a rider.

"Gas prices. So what? There are more important things going on," said Gallaher.

The riders say the presidential candidates need to change their focus.

"The candidates should be talking about veterans. It wasn't politicians that made this country free. It's the veterans," said Moore.

"Thank God they aren't blowing up our homes and our children are running in the street. We don't have that here. Thank God," said Gallaher.

Gallaher and the riders are taking it upon themselves to make sure no one is forgotten.

"I thank God for them all the time," she said.

The presidential candidates say they do have plans for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq.

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are calling for immediate troop withdrawal if they're elected.

Clinton would start bringing troops home within two months. Obama would have them all home in less than a year and a half.

John McCain's plan is different. He says he wouldn't bring any troops home until Iraqis can safely govern themselves.