Under the leather and behind the shades stands a biker. We ride for the sense of freedom it gives us. The encouragement to take the road less traveled in the chance that we may encounter something new. We ride for the friendships we make along the way, as well as, the solitude of the open road. We don't really care what you ride, just that you do.
Under the leather and behind the shades is a beating heart. A heart filled with compassion that on any given day will be riding for those in need. Ask one of us for help, but don't be surprised when all of us show up.
Under the leather and behind the shades stands a proud American. We are as diverse a group of people that you could possibly assemble. We are men, women, tradesmen, doctors, lawyers, retirees, military, civilian and on and on and on. We stand silently with reverence and one voice that, in the silence, can be overwhelming.
Under the leather and behind the shades stands an invited guest to the funeral of a soldier that we most likely have never met. We hold the flag of our nation as a tribute to the greatest sacrifice anyone can make. Out of respect for the fallen, we travel to stand firm for a family, a community and a nation to lean on.
Under the leather and behind the shades stands a biker with sons, daughters, brothers and sisters of our own. Beneath the rough exterior we tremble and weep at your loss. You may not see that, for we are there to support you. That’s why we stand so silently under the leather and behind the shades.
by David Meyers II, Hog JR
Source: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=103098527 (dead link)
Monday, January 12, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
Fonda - Old News Still Rankles
January 5, 2009
Fort Collins, CO
Following at the end of this post is one of many variations of e-mails that circulate about Jane Fonda in reference to her nefarious activities during the Vietnam War. I received this one before the holidays and it was suggested I debunk it or at least confirm its authenticity. Actually, I didn't have to look far to find that some of the claims made in this email are false while others are all too true. I have included links to these sources.
In 1999, Jane Fonda was indeed profiled on ABC in A Celebration: 100 Years of Great Women hosted, I believe by Barbara Walters. The same program profiled Elizabeth Taylor, Gloria Steinem and Oprah Winfrey. (FYI: none of these women, including Walters would make my top 100 list). The fact that ten years later, the idea of Jane Fonda honored in such a manner still rankles speaks volumes.
In July 1972, Fonda visited Hanoi. She engaged in spreading anti-war propaganda, belittled the United States government, our president and blatantly accused our soldiers of being war mongers, killers and worse - liars. In North Vietnam, Fonda was photographed seated on an anti-aircraft battery. She also participated in several radio broadcasts on behalf of the Communist regime, asking US aircrews to consider the consequences of their actions. During this visit she also visited American prisoners of war (POWs). When cases of torture began to emerge among POWs returning to the United States, Fonda called the returning POWs "hypocrites and liars." She added, "These were not men who had been tortured. These were not men who had been starved. These were not men who had been brainwashed." On the subject of torture in general, Fonda told The New York Times in 1973, "I'm quite sure that there were incidents of torture... but the pilots who were saying it was the policy of the Vietnamese and that it was systematic, I believe that's a lie."
Is FREE Speech in regard to Fonda's misadventures during the Vietnam War in play here? Most certainly, it is. That argument has been made time and again. I might add, not very convincingly. What some fail to realize, apparently Fonda among them, is that when exercising that LIBERTY for which so many have fought and died -- one must also be prepared to LIVE with the repercussions of our words as well as our actions.
It should go without saying, sorry doesn't mean much to those who were betrayed. Just to be clear on what some say qualifies as an apology -- Fonda did not really apologize -- and says she will not ever apologize. What she was sorry about was the fact that she posed for photos which depict her as being undeniably the traitor she is. A picture is worth a thousand words... or a thousand apologies... I guess... or so say they say...
From a 1989 interview: “I did not, have not, and will not say that going to North Vietnam was a mistake…I have apologized only for some of the things that I did there, but I am proud that I went.”
No matter how long she lives or how much she accomplishes in her lifetime, she will always be Hanoi Jane to most, and thus, lower than pond scum to most. By most, I mean, those intelligent, articulate, informed individuals who can read between the lines and hear the insincerity in Fonda's claims of miscreant youth and maligned idealism. By most, I mean those of us who sat on the edge of the sofa during the Vietnam War hoping the little bomb and battle icons on the nightly news maps were far from where we believed our loved ones were stationed. Since communication was far from being the instant gratification it is these days, if those bomb icons were too close for comfort, we would worry for days and sometimes weeks before we learned that loved one was safe. In July of 1972, I was 16 years old, with the responsibility of my own family, including a husband in the USAF. Needless to say, I have a bit of trouble with Fonda's claims of irresponsible youth at age 34.
No matter how close Fonda was to the action, her status as Fortunate Daughter did not place her in harm's way -- nor did she have to worry for her loved ones during that time. Does that rankle? You bet it does.
Sadly, Fonda and those of her ilk still out there making noise that no one is really listening to can only survive on what she was -- once-upon-a-mostly-forgettable-time. Fonda's claim to fame doesn't amount to more than a flea stuck on Barbarella's butt. Why give her more credence than her due?
To the best of my knowledge, at least part of the e-mail I received can be attributed to the following letter:
Shame on Jane
By Michael Benge
To whom it may concern:
I was a civilian economic development advisor in Viet Nam, and was captured by the North Vietnamese communists in South Viet Nam in 1968, and held for over 5 years. I spent 27 months in solitary confinement, one year in a cage in Cambodia, and one year in a "black box" in Hanoi.
My North Vietnamese captors deliberately poisoned and murdered a female missionary, a nurse in a leprosarium in Ban me Thuot, South Vietnam, whom I buried in the jungle near the Cambodian border.
At one time, I was weighing approximately 90 lbs. (My normal weight is 170 lbs.). We were Jane Fonda’s "war criminals." When Jane Fonda was in Hanoi, I was asked by the camp communist political officer if I would be willing to meet with Jane Fonda. I said yes, for I would like to tell her about the real treatment we POWs were receiving, which was far different from the treatment purported by the North Vietnamese, and parroted by Jane Fonda, as "humane and lenient."
Because of this, I spent three days on a rocky floor on my knees with outstretched arms with a piece of steel rebar placed on my hands, and beaten with a bamboo cane every time my arms dipped. Jane Fonda had the audacity to say that the POWs were lying about our torture and treatment.
Now ABC is allowing Barbara Walters to honor Jane Fonda in her Feature "100 Years of Great Women." Shame, shame on Jane Fonda! Shame, shame on Barbara Walters! Shame, shame on 20-20. Shame, shame on ABC. And, shame, shame on the Disney Company.
I had the opportunity to meet with Jane Fonda for a couple of hours after I was released [in 1973]. I asked her if she would be willing to debate me on TV. She did not answer me, her husband, Tom Hayden, answered for her. She was mind controlled by her husband.
This does not exemplify someone who should be honored as "100 Years of Great Women." After I was released, I was asked what I thought of Jane Fonda and the antiwar movement. I said that I held Joan Baez’s husband in very high regard, for he thought the war was wrong, burned his draft card and went to prison in protest.
If the other antiwar protesters took this same route, it would have brought our judicial system to a halt and ended the war much earlier, and there wouldn’t be as many on that somber black granite wall called the Vietnam Memorial. This is democracy. This is the American way.
Jane Fonda, on the other hand, chose to be a traitor, and went to Hanoi, wore their uniform, propagandized for the communists, and urged American soldiers to desert. As we were being tortured, and some of the POWs murdered, she called us liars.
After her heroes—the North Vietnamese communists—took over South Vietnam, they systematically murdered 80,000 South Vietnamese political prisoners. May their souls rest on her head forever. Shame! Shame!
Respectfully,
Michael D. Benge
cc: Mr. Eisner, Walt Disney Co.
Mike Benge was a civilian POW from 28 Jan 68 - 5 Mar 73
http://www.1stcavmedic.com/shame_on_jane.htm
Snopes.com has a rather lengthy article which pretty much covers the claims made below and is worth the read. http://www.snopes.com/military/fonda.asp
She's Still Hanoi Jane by By Robert J. Caldwell, April 10, 2005 is another good article: http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050410/news_mz1e10caldwl.html (dead link)
Jane Fonda's "Apology": New Whine in Old Bottles by Henry Mark Holzer, FrontPageMagazine.com, Thursday, April 07, 2005 lists, among other things Fonda's activities in VietNam. http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=F509F51F-D635-4987-B3ED-2FBA348AF97B (dead link)
This is the email I received:
Just a reminder of who she really is!!!!!
SHE REALLY WAS A TRAITOR!!
In Memory of my brother -in- law
LT. C.Thomsen Wieland
who spent 100 days at the Hanoi Hilton
IF YOU NEVER FORWARDED ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE
FORWARD THIS SO THAT EVERYONE WILL KNOW!!!!!!
She really is a traitor…
A TRAITOR IS ABOUT TO BE HONORED
KEEP THIS MOVING ACROSS AMERICA
This is for all the kids born in the 70's who do not remember, and didn't have to bear the burden that our fathers, mothers and older brothers and sisters had to bear.
Jane Fonda is being honored as one of the '100 Women of the Century.' BY BARBRA WALTERS.
Unfortunately, many have forgotten and still countless others have never known how Ms. Fonda betrayed not only the idea of our country, but specific men who served and sacrificed during Vietnam.
The first part of this is from an F-4E pilot.
The pilot's name is Jerry Driscoll, a River Rat. In 1968, the former Commandant of the USAF Survival School was a POW in Ho Lo Prison the 'Hanoi Hilton.' Dragged from a stinking cesspit of a cell, cleaned, fed, and dressed in clean PJ's, he was ordered to describe for a visiting American 'Peace Activist' the 'lenient and humane treatment' he'd received.
He spat at Ms. Fonda, was clubbed, and was dragged away. During the subsequent beating, he fell forward on to the camp Commandant's feet, which sent that officer berserk. In 1978, the Air Force Colonel still suffered from double vision (which permanently ended his flying career) from the Commandant's frenzied application of a wooden baton.
From 1963-65, Col. Larry Carrigan was in the 47FW/DO (F-4E's). He spent 6 years in the 'Hanoi Hilton', the first three of which his family only knew he was 'missing in action'. His wife lived on faith that he was still alive. His group, too, got the cleaned-up, fed and clothed routine in preparation for a peace delegation visit. They, however, had time and devised a plan to get word to the world that they were alive and still survived. Each man secreted a tiny piece of paper, with his Social Security Number on it, in the palm of his hand. When paraded before Ms. Fonda and a cameraman, she walked the line, shaking each man's hand and asking little encouraging snippets like: 'Aren't you sorry you bombed babies?' and 'Are you grateful for the humane treatment from your benevolent captors?' Believing this HAD to be an act, they each palmed her their sliver of paper. She took them all without missing a beat. At the end of the line and once the camera stopped rolling, to the shocked disbelief of the POWs, she turned to the officer in charge and handed him all the little pieces of paper. Three men died from the subsequent beatings. Colonel Carrigan was almost number four but he survived, which is the only reason we know of her actions that day. I was a civilian economic development advisor in Vietnam , and was captured by the North Vietnamese communists in South Vietnam in 1968, and held prisoner for over 5 years...
I spent 27 months in solitary confinement; one year in a cage in Cambodia; and one year in a 'black box' in Hanoi. My North Vietnamese captors deliberately poisoned and murdered a female missionary, a nurse in a leprosarium in Ban me Thuot, South Vietnam, whom I buried in the jungle near the Cambodian border. At one time, I weighed only about 90 lbs. (My normal weight is 170 lbs...).
We were Jane Fonda's 'war criminals.'
When Jane Fonda was in Hanoi , I was asked by the camp communist political officer if I would
be willing to meet with her. I said yes, for I wanted to tell her about the real treatment we POWs received... and how different it was from the treatment purported by the North Vietnamese, and parroted by her as 'humane and lenient.' Because of this, I spent three days on a rocky floor on my knees, with my arms outstretched with a large steel weights placed on my hands, and beaten with a bamboo cane. I had the opportunity to meet with Jane Fonda soon after I was released. I asked her if she would be willing to debate me on TV. She never did answer me.
These first-hand experiences do not exemplify someone who should be honored as part of '100 Years of Great Women.' Lest we forget...' 100 Years of Great Women' should never include a traitor whose hands are covered with the blood of so many patriots.
There are few things I have strong visceral reactions to, but Hanoi Jane's participation in
blatant treason, is one of them. Please take the time to forward to as many people as you possibly can. It will eventually end up on her computer and she needs to know that we will never forget.
RONALD D. SAMPSON, CMSgt, USAF
PLEASE HELP BY SENDING THIS TO EVERYONE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK. IF ENOUGH PEOPLE SEE THIS MAYBE HER STATUS WILL CHANGE
Fort Collins, CO
Following at the end of this post is one of many variations of e-mails that circulate about Jane Fonda in reference to her nefarious activities during the Vietnam War. I received this one before the holidays and it was suggested I debunk it or at least confirm its authenticity. Actually, I didn't have to look far to find that some of the claims made in this email are false while others are all too true. I have included links to these sources.In 1999, Jane Fonda was indeed profiled on ABC in A Celebration: 100 Years of Great Women hosted, I believe by Barbara Walters. The same program profiled Elizabeth Taylor, Gloria Steinem and Oprah Winfrey. (FYI: none of these women, including Walters would make my top 100 list). The fact that ten years later, the idea of Jane Fonda honored in such a manner still rankles speaks volumes.
In July 1972, Fonda visited Hanoi. She engaged in spreading anti-war propaganda, belittled the United States government, our president and blatantly accused our soldiers of being war mongers, killers and worse - liars. In North Vietnam, Fonda was photographed seated on an anti-aircraft battery. She also participated in several radio broadcasts on behalf of the Communist regime, asking US aircrews to consider the consequences of their actions. During this visit she also visited American prisoners of war (POWs). When cases of torture began to emerge among POWs returning to the United States, Fonda called the returning POWs "hypocrites and liars." She added, "These were not men who had been tortured. These were not men who had been starved. These were not men who had been brainwashed." On the subject of torture in general, Fonda told The New York Times in 1973, "I'm quite sure that there were incidents of torture... but the pilots who were saying it was the policy of the Vietnamese and that it was systematic, I believe that's a lie."
Is FREE Speech in regard to Fonda's misadventures during the Vietnam War in play here? Most certainly, it is. That argument has been made time and again. I might add, not very convincingly. What some fail to realize, apparently Fonda among them, is that when exercising that LIBERTY for which so many have fought and died -- one must also be prepared to LIVE with the repercussions of our words as well as our actions.
It should go without saying, sorry doesn't mean much to those who were betrayed. Just to be clear on what some say qualifies as an apology -- Fonda did not really apologize -- and says she will not ever apologize. What she was sorry about was the fact that she posed for photos which depict her as being undeniably the traitor she is. A picture is worth a thousand words... or a thousand apologies... I guess... or so say they say...
From a 1989 interview: “I did not, have not, and will not say that going to North Vietnam was a mistake…I have apologized only for some of the things that I did there, but I am proud that I went.”
No matter how long she lives or how much she accomplishes in her lifetime, she will always be Hanoi Jane to most, and thus, lower than pond scum to most. By most, I mean, those intelligent, articulate, informed individuals who can read between the lines and hear the insincerity in Fonda's claims of miscreant youth and maligned idealism. By most, I mean those of us who sat on the edge of the sofa during the Vietnam War hoping the little bomb and battle icons on the nightly news maps were far from where we believed our loved ones were stationed. Since communication was far from being the instant gratification it is these days, if those bomb icons were too close for comfort, we would worry for days and sometimes weeks before we learned that loved one was safe. In July of 1972, I was 16 years old, with the responsibility of my own family, including a husband in the USAF. Needless to say, I have a bit of trouble with Fonda's claims of irresponsible youth at age 34.
No matter how close Fonda was to the action, her status as Fortunate Daughter did not place her in harm's way -- nor did she have to worry for her loved ones during that time. Does that rankle? You bet it does.
Sadly, Fonda and those of her ilk still out there making noise that no one is really listening to can only survive on what she was -- once-upon-a-mostly-forgettable-time. Fonda's claim to fame doesn't amount to more than a flea stuck on Barbarella's butt. Why give her more credence than her due?
To the best of my knowledge, at least part of the e-mail I received can be attributed to the following letter:
Shame on Jane
By Michael Benge
To whom it may concern:
I was a civilian economic development advisor in Viet Nam, and was captured by the North Vietnamese communists in South Viet Nam in 1968, and held for over 5 years. I spent 27 months in solitary confinement, one year in a cage in Cambodia, and one year in a "black box" in Hanoi.
My North Vietnamese captors deliberately poisoned and murdered a female missionary, a nurse in a leprosarium in Ban me Thuot, South Vietnam, whom I buried in the jungle near the Cambodian border.
At one time, I was weighing approximately 90 lbs. (My normal weight is 170 lbs.). We were Jane Fonda’s "war criminals." When Jane Fonda was in Hanoi, I was asked by the camp communist political officer if I would be willing to meet with Jane Fonda. I said yes, for I would like to tell her about the real treatment we POWs were receiving, which was far different from the treatment purported by the North Vietnamese, and parroted by Jane Fonda, as "humane and lenient."
Because of this, I spent three days on a rocky floor on my knees with outstretched arms with a piece of steel rebar placed on my hands, and beaten with a bamboo cane every time my arms dipped. Jane Fonda had the audacity to say that the POWs were lying about our torture and treatment.
Now ABC is allowing Barbara Walters to honor Jane Fonda in her Feature "100 Years of Great Women." Shame, shame on Jane Fonda! Shame, shame on Barbara Walters! Shame, shame on 20-20. Shame, shame on ABC. And, shame, shame on the Disney Company.
I had the opportunity to meet with Jane Fonda for a couple of hours after I was released [in 1973]. I asked her if she would be willing to debate me on TV. She did not answer me, her husband, Tom Hayden, answered for her. She was mind controlled by her husband.
This does not exemplify someone who should be honored as "100 Years of Great Women." After I was released, I was asked what I thought of Jane Fonda and the antiwar movement. I said that I held Joan Baez’s husband in very high regard, for he thought the war was wrong, burned his draft card and went to prison in protest.
If the other antiwar protesters took this same route, it would have brought our judicial system to a halt and ended the war much earlier, and there wouldn’t be as many on that somber black granite wall called the Vietnam Memorial. This is democracy. This is the American way.
Jane Fonda, on the other hand, chose to be a traitor, and went to Hanoi, wore their uniform, propagandized for the communists, and urged American soldiers to desert. As we were being tortured, and some of the POWs murdered, she called us liars.
After her heroes—the North Vietnamese communists—took over South Vietnam, they systematically murdered 80,000 South Vietnamese political prisoners. May their souls rest on her head forever. Shame! Shame!
Respectfully,
Michael D. Benge
cc: Mr. Eisner, Walt Disney Co.
Mike Benge was a civilian POW from 28 Jan 68 - 5 Mar 73
http://www.1stcavmedic.com/shame_on_jane.htm
Snopes.com has a rather lengthy article which pretty much covers the claims made below and is worth the read. http://www.snopes.com/military/fonda.asp
She's Still Hanoi Jane by By Robert J. Caldwell, April 10, 2005 is another good article: http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050410/news_mz1e10caldwl.html (dead link)
Jane Fonda's "Apology": New Whine in Old Bottles by Henry Mark Holzer, FrontPageMagazine.com, Thursday, April 07, 2005 lists, among other things Fonda's activities in VietNam. http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=F509F51F-D635-4987-B3ED-2FBA348AF97B (dead link)
This is the email I received:
Just a reminder of who she really is!!!!!
SHE REALLY WAS A TRAITOR!!
In Memory of my brother -in- law
LT. C.Thomsen Wieland
who spent 100 days at the Hanoi Hilton
IF YOU NEVER FORWARDED ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE
FORWARD THIS SO THAT EVERYONE WILL KNOW!!!!!!
She really is a traitor…
A TRAITOR IS ABOUT TO BE HONORED
KEEP THIS MOVING ACROSS AMERICA
This is for all the kids born in the 70's who do not remember, and didn't have to bear the burden that our fathers, mothers and older brothers and sisters had to bear.
Jane Fonda is being honored as one of the '100 Women of the Century.' BY BARBRA WALTERS.
Unfortunately, many have forgotten and still countless others have never known how Ms. Fonda betrayed not only the idea of our country, but specific men who served and sacrificed during Vietnam.
The first part of this is from an F-4E pilot.
The pilot's name is Jerry Driscoll, a River Rat. In 1968, the former Commandant of the USAF Survival School was a POW in Ho Lo Prison the 'Hanoi Hilton.' Dragged from a stinking cesspit of a cell, cleaned, fed, and dressed in clean PJ's, he was ordered to describe for a visiting American 'Peace Activist' the 'lenient and humane treatment' he'd received.
He spat at Ms. Fonda, was clubbed, and was dragged away. During the subsequent beating, he fell forward on to the camp Commandant's feet, which sent that officer berserk. In 1978, the Air Force Colonel still suffered from double vision (which permanently ended his flying career) from the Commandant's frenzied application of a wooden baton.
From 1963-65, Col. Larry Carrigan was in the 47FW/DO (F-4E's). He spent 6 years in the 'Hanoi Hilton', the first three of which his family only knew he was 'missing in action'. His wife lived on faith that he was still alive. His group, too, got the cleaned-up, fed and clothed routine in preparation for a peace delegation visit. They, however, had time and devised a plan to get word to the world that they were alive and still survived. Each man secreted a tiny piece of paper, with his Social Security Number on it, in the palm of his hand. When paraded before Ms. Fonda and a cameraman, she walked the line, shaking each man's hand and asking little encouraging snippets like: 'Aren't you sorry you bombed babies?' and 'Are you grateful for the humane treatment from your benevolent captors?' Believing this HAD to be an act, they each palmed her their sliver of paper. She took them all without missing a beat. At the end of the line and once the camera stopped rolling, to the shocked disbelief of the POWs, she turned to the officer in charge and handed him all the little pieces of paper. Three men died from the subsequent beatings. Colonel Carrigan was almost number four but he survived, which is the only reason we know of her actions that day. I was a civilian economic development advisor in Vietnam , and was captured by the North Vietnamese communists in South Vietnam in 1968, and held prisoner for over 5 years...
I spent 27 months in solitary confinement; one year in a cage in Cambodia; and one year in a 'black box' in Hanoi. My North Vietnamese captors deliberately poisoned and murdered a female missionary, a nurse in a leprosarium in Ban me Thuot, South Vietnam, whom I buried in the jungle near the Cambodian border. At one time, I weighed only about 90 lbs. (My normal weight is 170 lbs...).
We were Jane Fonda's 'war criminals.'
When Jane Fonda was in Hanoi , I was asked by the camp communist political officer if I would
be willing to meet with her. I said yes, for I wanted to tell her about the real treatment we POWs received... and how different it was from the treatment purported by the North Vietnamese, and parroted by her as 'humane and lenient.' Because of this, I spent three days on a rocky floor on my knees, with my arms outstretched with a large steel weights placed on my hands, and beaten with a bamboo cane. I had the opportunity to meet with Jane Fonda soon after I was released. I asked her if she would be willing to debate me on TV. She never did answer me.
These first-hand experiences do not exemplify someone who should be honored as part of '100 Years of Great Women.' Lest we forget...' 100 Years of Great Women' should never include a traitor whose hands are covered with the blood of so many patriots.
There are few things I have strong visceral reactions to, but Hanoi Jane's participation in
blatant treason, is one of them. Please take the time to forward to as many people as you possibly can. It will eventually end up on her computer and she needs to know that we will never forget.
RONALD D. SAMPSON, CMSgt, USAF
PLEASE HELP BY SENDING THIS TO EVERYONE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK. IF ENOUGH PEOPLE SEE THIS MAYBE HER STATUS WILL CHANGE
Saturday, January 3, 2009
First Ride for Dad 2009
January 3, 2009
Fort Collins, CO
b.jpg)
From: Wichita Falls, TX
(Photo courtesy of John Bailey)
Dad rode over 300 miles with friends from Wichita Falls to Stephenville where they met up with an estimated 100 to 150 or so other bikers out enjoying a fine New Year ride in warm. sunny Texas. Their destination was Hard Eight BBQ. Yum!
Fort Collins, CO
b.jpg)
From: Wichita Falls, TX(Photo courtesy of John Bailey)
Dad rode over 300 miles with friends from Wichita Falls to Stephenville where they met up with an estimated 100 to 150 or so other bikers out enjoying a fine New Year ride in warm. sunny Texas. Their destination was Hard Eight BBQ. Yum!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Tim Gets New Year Ride 2009
January 1, 2009
Fort Collins, CO
Tim heads out on a chilly New Year ride. It is still too icy from the last snow to do more than cruise around town but he managed to log a few miles before he got a little too frosty.
We rode to Loveland, visited an antique shop and rode back on December 29th while we had sun and the temps were in the low fifties. The sun was warm on our faces as we rode south the 10 or so miles to Loveland. The return trip was a might chilly heading into the wind coming out of the north.
We'll take our rides as Ol' Man Winter allows for now... and count ourselves lucky.
This is Tim negotiating a slick spot in the neighborhood December 28, 2008.
Fort Collins, CO
Tim heads out on a chilly New Year ride. It is still too icy from the last snow to do more than cruise around town but he managed to log a few miles before he got a little too frosty.We rode to Loveland, visited an antique shop and rode back on December 29th while we had sun and the temps were in the low fifties. The sun was warm on our faces as we rode south the 10 or so miles to Loveland. The return trip was a might chilly heading into the wind coming out of the north.
We'll take our rides as Ol' Man Winter allows for now... and count ourselves lucky.
This is Tim negotiating a slick spot in the neighborhood December 28, 2008.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Motorcycle Rides 2008
Motorcycle Rides 2008
12-31-2008 Total Mileage 4643
12-29-2008 Junk-tiquing in Loveland
12-28-2009 Around town
12-02-2008 Total Mileage = 4576
11-30-2008 Thanksgiving rides in Texas = 553 miles
11-27-2008 Tim & Ted Turkey Day ride Wichita Falls to Holliday, TX
11-26-2008 Total Mileage = 4444 miles Wichita Falls, TX
11-25-2008 Tim rides with Ted in North Texas
11-24-2008 Tim rides with Ted in TX and OK
11-23-2008 Saint Jo Ride with Dad = 193 miles
11-22-2008 Wichita Falls Toy Run
11-17-2008 Total Mileage = 4004 miles
11-02-2008 All Souls Day of the Dead Ride = 132 miles
11-01-2008 All Saint's Day Ride = 96 miles
10-31-2008 Hallowe'en Ride = 26 miles
10-25-2008 Saturday Flat-Land Ride = 121 miles
10-18-2008 Saturday Ride - Estes Park = 132 miles
10-04-2008 Saturday Ride - Poudre Canyon = 67 miles
09-30-2008 Total Mileage = 3292
09-27-2008 Laramie - Cheyenne WY = 196 miles
09-26-2008 TGIF Ride - Horsetooth Dam = 22 miles
09-25-2008 Short Solo Ride - Horsetooth Dam = 22 miles
09-23-2008 Total Mileage = 3032
09-18-2008-09-21-2008 Weekend in and around Colorado Springs = 616 miles
09-13-2008 Peak-to-Peak Highway = 145 miles
09-11-2008 Short Solo Ride - Rist Canyon = 53 miles
09-09-2008 Total Mileage 2139
09-07-2008 Short Sunday Ride
09-06-2008 Total Mileage = 2086
09-06-2008 Fort Collins - Sterling - 246 miles
09-01-2008 Fort Collins - Estes Park - 78 miles
08-31-2008 TWO-UP! Fort Collins - Cheyenne WY - Laramie WY 195 miles
08-26-2008 Poudre Canyon - Rist Canyon 57 miles
08-24-2008 Fort Collins - Estes Park - Lyons 95 miles
08-17-2008 Sunday Ride - First Two Up 27 miles
08-09-2008 Total Mileage = 1053
08-09-2008 Fort Collins - Cheyenne WY - Laramie WY 205 miles
07-01-2008 Total Bike Mileage = 65
06-25-2008 Purchased 2008 Harley-Davidson Softtail Heritage
12-31-2008 Total Mileage 4643
12-29-2008 Junk-tiquing in Loveland
12-28-2009 Around town
12-02-2008 Total Mileage = 4576
11-30-2008 Thanksgiving rides in Texas = 553 miles
11-27-2008 Tim & Ted Turkey Day ride Wichita Falls to Holliday, TX
11-26-2008 Total Mileage = 4444 miles Wichita Falls, TX
11-25-2008 Tim rides with Ted in North Texas
11-24-2008 Tim rides with Ted in TX and OK
11-23-2008 Saint Jo Ride with Dad = 193 miles
11-22-2008 Wichita Falls Toy Run
11-17-2008 Total Mileage = 4004 miles
11-02-2008 All Souls Day of the Dead Ride = 132 miles
11-01-2008 All Saint's Day Ride = 96 miles
10-31-2008 Hallowe'en Ride = 26 miles
10-25-2008 Saturday Flat-Land Ride = 121 miles
10-18-2008 Saturday Ride - Estes Park = 132 miles
10-04-2008 Saturday Ride - Poudre Canyon = 67 miles
09-30-2008 Total Mileage = 3292
09-27-2008 Laramie - Cheyenne WY = 196 miles
09-26-2008 TGIF Ride - Horsetooth Dam = 22 miles
09-25-2008 Short Solo Ride - Horsetooth Dam = 22 miles
09-23-2008 Total Mileage = 3032
09-18-2008-09-21-2008 Weekend in and around Colorado Springs = 616 miles
09-13-2008 Peak-to-Peak Highway = 145 miles
09-11-2008 Short Solo Ride - Rist Canyon = 53 miles
09-09-2008 Total Mileage 2139
09-07-2008 Short Sunday Ride
09-06-2008 Total Mileage = 2086
09-06-2008 Fort Collins - Sterling - 246 miles
09-01-2008 Fort Collins - Estes Park - 78 miles
08-31-2008 TWO-UP! Fort Collins - Cheyenne WY - Laramie WY 195 miles
08-26-2008 Poudre Canyon - Rist Canyon 57 miles
08-24-2008 Fort Collins - Estes Park - Lyons 95 miles
08-17-2008 Sunday Ride - First Two Up 27 miles
08-09-2008 Total Mileage = 1053
08-09-2008 Fort Collins - Cheyenne WY - Laramie WY 205 miles
07-01-2008 Total Bike Mileage = 65
06-25-2008 Purchased 2008 Harley-Davidson Softtail Heritage
Monday, December 22, 2008
A Soldier's Christmas
Merry Christmas, My Friend...
Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
In a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone.
I had come down the chimney, with presents to give
and to see just who in this home did live
As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.
With medals and badges, awards of all kind,
a sobering thought soon came to my mind.
For this house was different, unlike any I'd seen.
This was the home of a U.S. Marine.
I'd heard stories about them, I had to see more,
so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.
And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.
He seemed so gentle, his face so serene,
Not how I pictured a U.S. Marine.
Was this the hero, of whom I'd just read?
Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?
His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan.
I soon understood, this was more than a man.
For I realized the families that I saw that night,
owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.
Soon around the Nation, the children would play,
And grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,
because of Marines like this one lying here.
I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home.
Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.
He must have awoken, for I heard a rough voice,
"Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice
I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more.
My life is my God, my country, my Corps."
With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.
I watched him for hours, so silent and still.
I noticed he shivered from the cold night's chill.
So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
and covered this Marine from his toes to his head.
Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold,
with an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold.
And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,
and for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside.
I didn't want to leave him so quiet in the night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure,
said "Carry on, Santa, it's Christmas Day, all secure."
One look at my watch and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi and goodnight.
Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
In a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone.
I had come down the chimney, with presents to give
and to see just who in this home did live
As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.
With medals and badges, awards of all kind,
a sobering thought soon came to my mind.
For this house was different, unlike any I'd seen.
This was the home of a U.S. Marine.
I'd heard stories about them, I had to see more,
so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.
And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.
He seemed so gentle, his face so serene,
Not how I pictured a U.S. Marine.
Was this the hero, of whom I'd just read?
Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?
His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan.
I soon understood, this was more than a man.
For I realized the families that I saw that night,
owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.
Soon around the Nation, the children would play,
And grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,
because of Marines like this one lying here.
I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home.
Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.
He must have awoken, for I heard a rough voice,
"Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice
I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more.
My life is my God, my country, my Corps."
With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.
I watched him for hours, so silent and still.
I noticed he shivered from the cold night's chill.
So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
and covered this Marine from his toes to his head.
Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold,
with an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold.
And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,
and for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside.
I didn't want to leave him so quiet in the night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure,
said "Carry on, Santa, it's Christmas Day, all secure."
One look at my watch and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi and goodnight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This piece in many versions sees wide circulation every Christmastime. It can be attributed to: James M. Schmidt, who was a Lance Corporal stationed in Washington, D.C., when he wrote the poem back in 1986. The story is that while a Lance Corporal serving as Battalion Counter Sniper at the Marine Barracks 8th & I, Washington, DC, under Commandant P.X. Kelly and Battalion Commander D.J. Myers [in 1986], wrote this poem to hang on the door of the Gym in the BEQ. When Colonel Myers came upon it, he read it and immediately had copies sent to each department at the Barracks and promptly dismissed the entire Battalion early for Christmas leave. The poem was placed that day in the Marine Corps Gazette, distributed worldwide and later submitted to Leatherneck Magazine. Schmidt's original version, entitled "Merry Christmas, My Friend," was published in Leatherneck (Magazine of the Marines) in December 1991.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Look what just rolled in under our Christmas tree
December 17, 2008
Fort Collins, CO
Biker Santa is guaranteed to chase the Grinch out of any Biker who is out of sorts because it's just too durn cold to ride... just ask Tim. Ha! He rides to the classic rock tune Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf of course. It is cold here... we might get up to the freezing mark by Friday - they hope. Otherwise, we're mostly in the single digits which is a bit frosty for even a seasoned biker I'm thinking. HO! HO! HO!
Fort Collins, CO
Look what rolled in under our Christmas Tree...
Monday, December 15, 2008
Riding with the Patriot Guard... thats my Dad.
December 15, 2008
Fort Collins, CO
WAY TO GO, DAD!
Operation Angel 21 honors 'littlest heroes'
Cindy Kahler Thomas, For the Times Record News
Monday, December 15, 2008
Children of deployed military parents celebrated Christmas early with Operation Angel 21 Day at MD Hangar Sunday.
Operation Angel 21 was the brainchild of Judy Nielsen, owner and operator of Make Believe, a business that provides children with costumes, tiaras and almost anything they need to become princesses, knights and rock stars.
Girls were princesses for the day right down to the fairy dust in their hair. Boys weren’t left out either. Jacob Locke, 10, was a knight for the day. His father is in Korea this Christmas season.
“It is just an idea I have had for two years since my son was in Iraq,” Nielsen said, “The last three Christmases he has not been at home. Thankfully, this year he is at home. I started making phone calls to Project Jody, the Patriot Guard Riders and the VFW, and things took off.”
The name Operation Angel 21 refers to the children as angels, and the number 21 was her youngest son’s favorite number. He was killed in a farming accident.
The children played games, rode in the Shrine Maskat train and welcomed Santa with fanfare as he rode up with 31 Patriot Guard Riders leading the way on their motorcycles.
And jolly Old Saint Nick brought presents for the children.
The Love Pledge Group, Love Me Duex, a branch of the Faith Masonic Lodge’s Rainbow Girls helped with games and dress up.
Jody Pacheco, creator of the Project Jody veterans support effort, called the children of the deployed the “littlest heroes,” and Patriot Guard Rider Barbra Johnson agreed.
“They all serve together,” she said, “When one goes off to war, it is as if they all go to war. They (the deployed parents) are taking their time to protect us, and it is the least we can do to help them take care of their family at home.”
Patriot Guard Rider Ted Foster added, “I am retired military, and I just wish someone would have done this for my kids when I was gone. This is what it is all about — taking care of the kids.”
And even the music was about military children. The CD that was played was called “A Lil’ Heroes Christmas,” and was sung by children who all lost their fathers in Iraq. Proceeds from the sales go back to the children in birthday wishes and other things they need.
Source: http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2008/dec/15/operation-angel-21-honors-littlest-heroes (dead link)
Video on Texoma's Home Page: http://texomashomepage.com/content/fulltext/?cid=27011">http://texomashomepage.com/content/fulltext/?cid=27011 (dead link)
Fort Collins, CO
WAY TO GO, DAD!
Operation Angel 21 honors 'littlest heroes'
Cindy Kahler Thomas, For the Times Record News
Monday, December 15, 2008
Children of deployed military parents celebrated Christmas early with Operation Angel 21 Day at MD Hangar Sunday.
Operation Angel 21 was the brainchild of Judy Nielsen, owner and operator of Make Believe, a business that provides children with costumes, tiaras and almost anything they need to become princesses, knights and rock stars.
Girls were princesses for the day right down to the fairy dust in their hair. Boys weren’t left out either. Jacob Locke, 10, was a knight for the day. His father is in Korea this Christmas season.
“It is just an idea I have had for two years since my son was in Iraq,” Nielsen said, “The last three Christmases he has not been at home. Thankfully, this year he is at home. I started making phone calls to Project Jody, the Patriot Guard Riders and the VFW, and things took off.”
The name Operation Angel 21 refers to the children as angels, and the number 21 was her youngest son’s favorite number. He was killed in a farming accident.
The children played games, rode in the Shrine Maskat train and welcomed Santa with fanfare as he rode up with 31 Patriot Guard Riders leading the way on their motorcycles.
And jolly Old Saint Nick brought presents for the children.
The Love Pledge Group, Love Me Duex, a branch of the Faith Masonic Lodge’s Rainbow Girls helped with games and dress up.
Jody Pacheco, creator of the Project Jody veterans support effort, called the children of the deployed the “littlest heroes,” and Patriot Guard Rider Barbra Johnson agreed.
“They all serve together,” she said, “When one goes off to war, it is as if they all go to war. They (the deployed parents) are taking their time to protect us, and it is the least we can do to help them take care of their family at home.”
Patriot Guard Rider Ted Foster added, “I am retired military, and I just wish someone would have done this for my kids when I was gone. This is what it is all about — taking care of the kids.”
And even the music was about military children. The CD that was played was called “A Lil’ Heroes Christmas,” and was sung by children who all lost their fathers in Iraq. Proceeds from the sales go back to the children in birthday wishes and other things they need.
Source: http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2008/dec/15/operation-angel-21-honors-littlest-heroes (dead link)
Video on Texoma's Home Page: http://texomashomepage.com/content/fulltext/?cid=27011">http://texomashomepage.com/content/fulltext/?cid=27011 (dead link)
Saturday, December 13, 2008
December 13, 2008: Wreaths Across America Day
December 13, 2008
Fort Collins, CO
Wreaths Across America Day
http://www.wreaths-across-america.org/
United States Senate Resolution
SRES 717 IS
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 717
Designating December 13, 2008, as `Wreaths Across America Day'.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 20, 2008
Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Ms. SNOWE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
RESOLUTION
Designating December 13, 2008, as `Wreaths Across America Day'.
Whereas, more than 15 years ago, the Worcester Wreath Company, a for-profit business in Harrington, Maine, began a tradition of donating, transporting, and overseeing the placement of Maine balsam fir holiday wreaths on the graves of the fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery each December;
Whereas, since the Worcester Wreath Company began that tradition, through the hard work and generosity of the people involved in the Wreaths Across America project, hundreds of thousands of wreaths have been sent to more than 200 national cemeteries and veterans' memorials in all 50 states;
********
Whereas, in December 2008, the Patriot Guard Riders, a motorcycle and motor vehicle group dedicated to patriotic events, with more than 65,000 members nationally, will continue their tradition of escorting a tractor-trailer full of donated wreaths from Harrington, Maine to Arlington National Cemetery; *******
Whereas hundreds of volunteers participate in the escort each December;
Whereas Morrill Worcester, President of Worcester Wreath Company, has been nominated for, and received, several awards for his humble service and exemplary patriotism to our Nation through this project; and
Whereas Wreaths Across America will continue this proud legacy on December 13, 2008: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates December 13, 2008, as `Wreaths Across America Day';
(2) honors Wreaths Across America, the Worcester Wreath Company, Morrill Worcester, the Patriot Guard Riders, and all other companies and individuals involved in this worthy legacy; and
(3) recognizes the sacrifices our veterans and service members and their families have made, and continue to make, for our great Nation.
Fort Collins, CO
Wreaths Across America Day
http://www.wreaths-across-america.org/
United States Senate Resolution
SRES 717 IS
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 717
Designating December 13, 2008, as `Wreaths Across America Day'.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 20, 2008
Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Ms. SNOWE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
RESOLUTION
Designating December 13, 2008, as `Wreaths Across America Day'.
Whereas, more than 15 years ago, the Worcester Wreath Company, a for-profit business in Harrington, Maine, began a tradition of donating, transporting, and overseeing the placement of Maine balsam fir holiday wreaths on the graves of the fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery each December;
Whereas, since the Worcester Wreath Company began that tradition, through the hard work and generosity of the people involved in the Wreaths Across America project, hundreds of thousands of wreaths have been sent to more than 200 national cemeteries and veterans' memorials in all 50 states;
********
Whereas, in December 2008, the Patriot Guard Riders, a motorcycle and motor vehicle group dedicated to patriotic events, with more than 65,000 members nationally, will continue their tradition of escorting a tractor-trailer full of donated wreaths from Harrington, Maine to Arlington National Cemetery; *******
Whereas hundreds of volunteers participate in the escort each December;
Whereas Morrill Worcester, President of Worcester Wreath Company, has been nominated for, and received, several awards for his humble service and exemplary patriotism to our Nation through this project; and
Whereas Wreaths Across America will continue this proud legacy on December 13, 2008: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates December 13, 2008, as `Wreaths Across America Day';
(2) honors Wreaths Across America, the Worcester Wreath Company, Morrill Worcester, the Patriot Guard Riders, and all other companies and individuals involved in this worthy legacy; and
(3) recognizes the sacrifices our veterans and service members and their families have made, and continue to make, for our great Nation.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Decatur Texas - Not Wanted - Vietnam Vets on Motorcycles
December 8, 2008
Fort Collins, CO
My response to an article written about the banning of a motorcycle escort for The Wall That Heals in Decatur, Texas.
The decision not to allow veterans on motorcycles (many of them Vietnam Vets themselves) escort The Wall That Heals (not the Moving Wall as stated in the article) into town is a shame the city of Decatur and residents of Wise County will not soon live down. These veterans on two wheels who are nameless in the article written by Mandy Bourgeois are called the Patriot Guard Riders. They are ALL Patriots on a scale the likes of Bobby Harris and Jim Donovan could not begin to measure. [RE: Bobby (Harris) and I feel that it's solemn and hallowed ground, and it's a memorial to our brothers who died so I don't want bikes making noise," Donovan said.] Did you serve in the armed forces Mr. Harris? Can you really call the names on the wall your brothers? For shame! You have no excuse, Mr. Donovan. If you are indeed a Vietnam veteran, the good deeds of The Patriot Guard Riders cannot have escaped your attention. My Dad is standing tall with the Patriot Guard this very day in Wichita Falls, Texas at a young serviceman’s funeral. Yesterday, he rode to Dallas to escort that young man’s hearse to Wichita Falls. Where were you? Perhaps you are ignorant of the fact that one of the sponsors of The Wall That Heals is Harley-Davidson Motorcycles?
Members of the Patriot Guard perform a service no one else is willing to do. They put themselves between the bereaved and those who would dishonor our veterans. They stand with flag in hand at funerals and memorial services. They ride countless miles in the cold and rain and wind and heat to escort a bus of soldiers deploying for Iraq and other places in the world. They ride, flags waving behind them to greet the soldiers who return. They provide escort for hearses of fallen soldiers returning to their homes all across the United States. They sponsor and contribute to toy drives and food drives and benefits for the families of veterans and abused children. They do all these things without asking for your tax dollars or recognition. They do it because they are true Patriots.
The Patriot Guard motto is: Riding with Respect - Standing for Those Who Stood for Us
Once again, the Vietnam Vet is silenced in a rather insidious manner by the very people who profess to honor them. When my Dad – a twenty year USAF veteran - deployed for Vietnam there was no one to see him off but his family. When he arrived home from Vietnam there was no one to welcome him home but his family. My husband served during the Vietnam era, too. In my recollection of that time, there are no high school bands (talk about noisy), no flag wavers, no color guards, no honor guards and thankfully, no hometown idiot mouthing about noisy motorcycles when he apparently has no clue what he’s talking about. No, we have pinhead organizers in Decatur saying the Wall dedicated to soldiers who served and lost their lives should silently slide in and out of town without a proud and respectful escort of the ones who actually served beside those brave souls. I have never witnessed a Patriot Guard escort that was disrespectful by way of excessive noise. It is my opinion The Wall should roar into town. The Vietnam Vets (those memorialized on the wall and those still living) deserve all the noise and fanfare and respect we can give them.
If the City of Decatur wants silence, I’m thinking they will get it. Count my husband and I, my parents (Patriot Guard members all) and a good many others I know willing to by-pass in the future the restaurants, antique stores, gas stations and so forth in Decatur, Texas we have formerly patronized. Never again will we darken your prejudiced doors with our presence.
Correction: Dad did indeed ride to Decatur to join fellow Patriot Guard members escort the hearse into Wichita Falls, but he did not attend the funeral as Mom was not well.
Also, to be fair here - the organizers of this event protest loudly (especially Mr Donovan) that they did not say bikers were not welcome but that is the quote and the paper has not printed a retraction or correction. Me thinks they do protest too much -- no matter, loose words are hard to take back no matter how much you wish you had not said them.
One more thought: While organizers may say they don't want bikers at an event - they really have no right or protection under the law to forbid law-abiding citizens from attending any public event. Nor do they have a say in what sort of horse one rides in on... They cannot dictate effectively who uses the highways in and out of their town. Even the drivers of memorials like The Healing Wall cannot dictate who rides with them (although they say they claim they can choose NOT to have an escort.) In reality, they don't have a choice -- the roads are free people -- that's why we ride.
Read the Patriot Guard Mission Statement at:
http://www.patriotguard.org/AboutUs/OurMission/tabid/60/Default.aspx
Read about The Wall that Heals at:
http://www.vvmf.org/index.cfm?SectionID=3
Source of my irritation:
Moving Wall opens Thursday
Some upset motorcycle escort won’t be allowed
By Mandy Bourgeois| Published Sunday, December 7, 2007, Wise County Messenger
http://www.wcmessenger.com/news/content/EkklVAuEVuxhtezKNa.php">http://www.wcmessenger.com/news/content/EkklVAuEVuxhtezKNa.php (dead link)
Harley-Davidson
3700 W. Juneau Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53208
(414) 343-4056.
City Officials in Decatur. They are next on my list... http://www.decaturtx.org/contact.html">http://www.decaturtx.org/contact.html (dead link)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Article:
Moving Wall opens Thursday
Some upset motorcycle escort won’t be allowed
By Mandy Bourgeois| Published Sunday, December 7, 2007, Wise County Messenger
A replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial will be on display in Decatur Dec. 11-14, and organizers are expecting large crowds while "The Moving Wall" is on here.
"We may have more, but 10,000 visitors is a good estimate," said Jim Donovan, a Vietnam veteran and a member of the veterans group bringing the wall to Decatur. "We've been getting a lot of calls. We get at least five a day at my house from Fort Worth or Dallas because word has gotten out at the VA Clinics. I consider it probably the biggest thing ever to hit Wise County."
The 250-foot replica memorial will be located at the Decatur Middle School campus between the tennis courts and the school. The wall will arrive Wednesday morning, and Donovan invites volunteers to help put the wall together.
"The more the merrier. We could use anybody," he said. "They can also volunteer to work during the week."
The group will begin working at 9 a.m.
With the wall comes a traveling museum and information center, as well as a computer database that allows people to quickly find the location of a name on the wall.
The wall will open to the public for viewing Thursday morning and a ceremony honoring Vietnam veterans will be held at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at the middle school's multi-purpose building.
Donovan has spent the last few weeks talking to students in Wise County schools and said that several schools have arranged for students to view the wall.
"We've talked to just about everybody in the county. Chico has promised to bring nine buses on Friday loaded with students. Bridgeport is going to be shuttling students back and forth," he said. "It's really taking off. I'm really happy."
As the day the wall is scheduled to arrive gets closer, Donovan has been overwhelmed by the support and interest of the county and surrounding areas.
"I really envisioned a local interest. I didn't really realize that just because we'd put up a sign at the VA clinics and hospitals that it would get so much attention," Donovan said. "The school kids have been very receptive. I can't get over how well-behaved and receptive they were to something like this."
Donovan praised the Decatur school district for their support of the program.
"Dr. Gary Gindt has just been wonderful in getting help from the maintenance men, the custodial staff and the principals - they have worked hard," Donovan said. "Everybody has been very, very nice."
The organizers have worked for months to raise money to fund the event, and Donovan said they are still raising money. However, he said that any money raised before the wall opens stays in Wise County, with extra funds going to needy veterans and scholarships for veterans' children. Any money raised Thursday and after will be given to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.
While much of the response to the event has been positive, the decision to not allow an escort into town has ruffled a few feathers. Veteran motorcyclists groups expecting to provide an escort were saddened when organizers opted not to have an escort.
"Bobby (Harris) and I feel that it's solemn and hallowed ground, and it's a memorial to our brothers who died so I don't want bikes making noise," Donovan said.
Kathleen Renfro of Newark said that the move "is like a slap in the face."
"This is a hot topic for me. What would it hurt to let the other vets ride in with the wall?" she asked.
Renfro is a good friend of Dorothy "Mamma" Schafernocker of Newark, a mother of a Vietnam soldier killed in action. Schafernocker holds picnics twice annually at her land near Eagle Mountain Lake for veterans, which attracts many motorcyclist groups.
"I have met them and I have talked to them. It just seems cruel," Renfro said. "Mom puts great care into these picnics. I've met them over the last eight years. Our Mamma Schafernocker, she is a very sweet person. She lost her son in that war. For them not to let the bikers come - I don't get it."
Renfro feels that allowing the veterans to provide an escort would be another therapeutic outlet.
"They would get comfort from being able to escort it into town. These men and women have feelings, you know? In a perfect world, they would all just get along and be able to ride in with it," she said.
Renfro said that Schafernocker was in Rogers at another wall ceremony this week but said she will be home in time to attend the Decatur event.
"Just in case somebody shows up that might need her, she'll be there," Renfro said.
Copyright 2008 Wise County Messenger
PO Box 149, 115 South Trinity, Decatur, Texas 76234 | 940-627-5987 | FAX 940-627-1004| www.wcmessenger.com | webmaster@wcmessenger.com
Fort Collins, CO
My response to an article written about the banning of a motorcycle escort for The Wall That Heals in Decatur, Texas.The decision not to allow veterans on motorcycles (many of them Vietnam Vets themselves) escort The Wall That Heals (not the Moving Wall as stated in the article) into town is a shame the city of Decatur and residents of Wise County will not soon live down. These veterans on two wheels who are nameless in the article written by Mandy Bourgeois are called the Patriot Guard Riders. They are ALL Patriots on a scale the likes of Bobby Harris and Jim Donovan could not begin to measure. [RE: Bobby (Harris) and I feel that it's solemn and hallowed ground, and it's a memorial to our brothers who died so I don't want bikes making noise," Donovan said.] Did you serve in the armed forces Mr. Harris? Can you really call the names on the wall your brothers? For shame! You have no excuse, Mr. Donovan. If you are indeed a Vietnam veteran, the good deeds of The Patriot Guard Riders cannot have escaped your attention. My Dad is standing tall with the Patriot Guard this very day in Wichita Falls, Texas at a young serviceman’s funeral. Yesterday, he rode to Dallas to escort that young man’s hearse to Wichita Falls. Where were you? Perhaps you are ignorant of the fact that one of the sponsors of The Wall That Heals is Harley-Davidson Motorcycles?
Members of the Patriot Guard perform a service no one else is willing to do. They put themselves between the bereaved and those who would dishonor our veterans. They stand with flag in hand at funerals and memorial services. They ride countless miles in the cold and rain and wind and heat to escort a bus of soldiers deploying for Iraq and other places in the world. They ride, flags waving behind them to greet the soldiers who return. They provide escort for hearses of fallen soldiers returning to their homes all across the United States. They sponsor and contribute to toy drives and food drives and benefits for the families of veterans and abused children. They do all these things without asking for your tax dollars or recognition. They do it because they are true Patriots.
The Patriot Guard motto is: Riding with Respect - Standing for Those Who Stood for Us
Once again, the Vietnam Vet is silenced in a rather insidious manner by the very people who profess to honor them. When my Dad – a twenty year USAF veteran - deployed for Vietnam there was no one to see him off but his family. When he arrived home from Vietnam there was no one to welcome him home but his family. My husband served during the Vietnam era, too. In my recollection of that time, there are no high school bands (talk about noisy), no flag wavers, no color guards, no honor guards and thankfully, no hometown idiot mouthing about noisy motorcycles when he apparently has no clue what he’s talking about. No, we have pinhead organizers in Decatur saying the Wall dedicated to soldiers who served and lost their lives should silently slide in and out of town without a proud and respectful escort of the ones who actually served beside those brave souls. I have never witnessed a Patriot Guard escort that was disrespectful by way of excessive noise. It is my opinion The Wall should roar into town. The Vietnam Vets (those memorialized on the wall and those still living) deserve all the noise and fanfare and respect we can give them.
If the City of Decatur wants silence, I’m thinking they will get it. Count my husband and I, my parents (Patriot Guard members all) and a good many others I know willing to by-pass in the future the restaurants, antique stores, gas stations and so forth in Decatur, Texas we have formerly patronized. Never again will we darken your prejudiced doors with our presence.
Correction: Dad did indeed ride to Decatur to join fellow Patriot Guard members escort the hearse into Wichita Falls, but he did not attend the funeral as Mom was not well.
Also, to be fair here - the organizers of this event protest loudly (especially Mr Donovan) that they did not say bikers were not welcome but that is the quote and the paper has not printed a retraction or correction. Me thinks they do protest too much -- no matter, loose words are hard to take back no matter how much you wish you had not said them.
One more thought: While organizers may say they don't want bikers at an event - they really have no right or protection under the law to forbid law-abiding citizens from attending any public event. Nor do they have a say in what sort of horse one rides in on... They cannot dictate effectively who uses the highways in and out of their town. Even the drivers of memorials like The Healing Wall cannot dictate who rides with them (although they say they claim they can choose NOT to have an escort.) In reality, they don't have a choice -- the roads are free people -- that's why we ride.
Read the Patriot Guard Mission Statement at:
http://www.patriotguard.org/AboutUs/OurMission/tabid/60/Default.aspx
Read about The Wall that Heals at:
http://www.vvmf.org/index.cfm?SectionID=3
Source of my irritation:
Moving Wall opens Thursday
Some upset motorcycle escort won’t be allowed
By Mandy Bourgeois| Published Sunday, December 7, 2007, Wise County Messenger
http://www.wcmessenger.com/news/content/EkklVAuEVuxhtezKNa.php">http://www.wcmessenger.com/news/content/EkklVAuEVuxhtezKNa.php (dead link)
Harley-Davidson
3700 W. Juneau Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53208
(414) 343-4056.
City Officials in Decatur. They are next on my list... http://www.decaturtx.org/contact.html">http://www.decaturtx.org/contact.html (dead link)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Article:
Moving Wall opens Thursday
Some upset motorcycle escort won’t be allowed
By Mandy Bourgeois| Published Sunday, December 7, 2007, Wise County Messenger
A replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial will be on display in Decatur Dec. 11-14, and organizers are expecting large crowds while "The Moving Wall" is on here.
"We may have more, but 10,000 visitors is a good estimate," said Jim Donovan, a Vietnam veteran and a member of the veterans group bringing the wall to Decatur. "We've been getting a lot of calls. We get at least five a day at my house from Fort Worth or Dallas because word has gotten out at the VA Clinics. I consider it probably the biggest thing ever to hit Wise County."
The 250-foot replica memorial will be located at the Decatur Middle School campus between the tennis courts and the school. The wall will arrive Wednesday morning, and Donovan invites volunteers to help put the wall together.
"The more the merrier. We could use anybody," he said. "They can also volunteer to work during the week."
The group will begin working at 9 a.m.
With the wall comes a traveling museum and information center, as well as a computer database that allows people to quickly find the location of a name on the wall.
The wall will open to the public for viewing Thursday morning and a ceremony honoring Vietnam veterans will be held at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at the middle school's multi-purpose building.
Donovan has spent the last few weeks talking to students in Wise County schools and said that several schools have arranged for students to view the wall.
"We've talked to just about everybody in the county. Chico has promised to bring nine buses on Friday loaded with students. Bridgeport is going to be shuttling students back and forth," he said. "It's really taking off. I'm really happy."
As the day the wall is scheduled to arrive gets closer, Donovan has been overwhelmed by the support and interest of the county and surrounding areas.
"I really envisioned a local interest. I didn't really realize that just because we'd put up a sign at the VA clinics and hospitals that it would get so much attention," Donovan said. "The school kids have been very receptive. I can't get over how well-behaved and receptive they were to something like this."
Donovan praised the Decatur school district for their support of the program.
"Dr. Gary Gindt has just been wonderful in getting help from the maintenance men, the custodial staff and the principals - they have worked hard," Donovan said. "Everybody has been very, very nice."
The organizers have worked for months to raise money to fund the event, and Donovan said they are still raising money. However, he said that any money raised before the wall opens stays in Wise County, with extra funds going to needy veterans and scholarships for veterans' children. Any money raised Thursday and after will be given to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.
While much of the response to the event has been positive, the decision to not allow an escort into town has ruffled a few feathers. Veteran motorcyclists groups expecting to provide an escort were saddened when organizers opted not to have an escort.
"Bobby (Harris) and I feel that it's solemn and hallowed ground, and it's a memorial to our brothers who died so I don't want bikes making noise," Donovan said.
Kathleen Renfro of Newark said that the move "is like a slap in the face."
"This is a hot topic for me. What would it hurt to let the other vets ride in with the wall?" she asked.
Renfro is a good friend of Dorothy "Mamma" Schafernocker of Newark, a mother of a Vietnam soldier killed in action. Schafernocker holds picnics twice annually at her land near Eagle Mountain Lake for veterans, which attracts many motorcyclist groups.
"I have met them and I have talked to them. It just seems cruel," Renfro said. "Mom puts great care into these picnics. I've met them over the last eight years. Our Mamma Schafernocker, she is a very sweet person. She lost her son in that war. For them not to let the bikers come - I don't get it."
Renfro feels that allowing the veterans to provide an escort would be another therapeutic outlet.
"They would get comfort from being able to escort it into town. These men and women have feelings, you know? In a perfect world, they would all just get along and be able to ride in with it," she said.
Renfro said that Schafernocker was in Rogers at another wall ceremony this week but said she will be home in time to attend the Decatur event.
"Just in case somebody shows up that might need her, she'll be there," Renfro said.
Copyright 2008 Wise County Messenger
PO Box 149, 115 South Trinity, Decatur, Texas 76234 | 940-627-5987 | FAX 940-627-1004| www.wcmessenger.com | webmaster@wcmessenger.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)