Veterans "48 Hours" for Homeless Veterans

Veterans Hold 48-Hour Fundraiser For Veterans

News Channel 5

Brandon Marshall

November 24, 2017

LEBANON, Tenn. - Members of the U.S. Military Motorcycle Club in Lebanon and Murfreesboro have been holding a 48-hour-long fundraiser to raise awareness about homeless veterans.

The group has been collecting non-perishable food items, clothes, and monetary donations to help local veterans and people in need this holiday.

The annual fundraiser called "Black Friday Deployment" started four years ago in Murfreesboro to shed light on the challenges that may arise when a military member returns home.

"Veterans still need help, in and out of the service," chapter Vice President Richard Griffin said.

The groups started collecting items at noon on Thanksgiving and will end at noon on Saturday in the two cities. They have slept in tents at night.

Griffin who separated from the military in 1999 after serving five years said no donation is too small.

In Lebanon, money will go towards Fallen Soldiers March which collects funds to provide service dogs for veterans with PTSD. Clothes collected in Murfreesboro go towards Operation Stand Down.
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Central Florida Leathernecks Poker Run for ADL Service Dogs

Saturday I was out at Seminole Harley Davidson for a poker fun sponsored by Central Florida Leathernecks for ADL Service Dogs. Donna Neff is paring a PTSD veteran with his own service dog to help him heal. As you know, service dogs are absolutely wonderful!

Donna Neff of ADL Service Dogs

Loved the ladies room!

Two of my buddy babies...since I'm old enough to be their Mom...and act like it too!

Canada Motorcycle Rat Rally Honors Those Who Serve

Rat Rally motorcyclists take part in annual memorial ride

Chronicle Herald News Canada
Tina Comeau
September 3, 2017

One speaker was Bob Grundy, the founder of Rally Point Retreat in Sable River, Shelburne County. The retreat offers veterans and first responders suffering through the collateral damage of traumatic events a quiet, safe and relaxing environment. PTSD, Grundy said, should never be fought alone.

For another year, motorcyclists taking in the Wharf Rat Rally in Digby made the trek to Hebron, Yarmouth County, in a memorial ride that included a ceremony at the Afghanistan monument at Maple Grove Education Centre

As the hymn Amazing Grace was played on the bagpipes, a motorcycle engine rumbled to life.

Both were a soothing sound.

For another year, motorcyclists taking in the Wharf Rat Rally in Digby made the trek to Hebron, Yarmouth County, in a memorial ride that included a ceremony at the Afghanistan monument at Maple Grove Education Centre.

Flags flapped in the wind as members of the Maple Grove and Yarmouth High Memorial Club formed an honour guard along the sides of the school driveway.

Then — and you could hear them before you saw them — a steady stream of motorcycles arrived.

“Sweet in pride, bitter in the knowledge that sometimes it means they’re not going to come back the same, whether they’re soldiers, sailor, aircrew, police, firefighter or EMS. People who put on a uniform to serve others put themselves in harm’s way and often carry a weight that stays with them forever.” Bob Grundy
read more here

Veterans Charity Ride Welcomed at Sturgis Indian Motorcycle Dealership

Veterans Charity Ride lets vets decompress from post-war life

KEVN Black Hills FOX

by Katrina Lim

August 5, 2017

Bikers from the Veterans Charity Ride reached their final destination in Sturgis on Saturday.

Black Hills FOX Reporter Katrina Lim takes us to the welcome party at the local Indian Motorcycle dealership.

The 3rd annual Veterans Charity Ride, or VCR, provided veterans a chance to use motorcycle therapy as a way to relax from the challenges of post-war life.

VCR riders started in Los Angeles and stopped at eight additional cities on their journey.

Army Veteran Joshua Stein lost both his legs in 2006 while serving in Iraq.

And he says riding a motorcycle as an able-bodied person is not much different than riding as an amputee.

Joshua Stein says, "It's really all in the mind. Yeah physically, there are different things you have to change up here and there, but I mean riding's riding. Once you're on the back of the bike and you're going, you forget about the no legs, you forget about your injuries, you forget about your stress and problems. It's you and the motorcycle and the world, the country."
read more here

Bigass Crawfish Bash Catches 92K For Veterans Fighting PTSD at Camp Hope

Local charity donates $92K towards treatment for veterans suffering from PTSD

By Click2Houston.com
Staff Posted: 7:50 PM, July 29, 2017

HOUSTON - At Stubbs Harley Davidson, on Telephone Road, a motorcycle ride for charity roared to life.

The local charity, called the Bigass Crawfish Bash Foundation wanted to boost their donation to a camp that serves veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. The charity was headed to Camp Hope in Northwest Houston with a donation of nearly $100,000.

For a camp that runs on donations, these kinds of checks are a special delivery.

“It basically allows us to not charge anybody a dime for our services,” said David Maulsby, the executive director of Camp Hope. Camp Hope allows veterans who suffer from PTSD to come with their families for six months and get treatment at no cost to the veterans. 

“There are a few places we wind up, in jail, in a coffin or in the streets,” said Zack Alexander, a veteran who came back from Iraq with PTSD and substance-abuse problems. “They helped me to get sober. They helped to deal with the issues I had, that I didn't know I had. If it wasn't for Camp Hope, I wouldn't be here today.” read more here

Hundreds of Motorcycles Showed Up For Dying Vietnam Veteran's Ride

Update

Vietnam veteran dies days after bikers honor him with 'last ride' motorcycle event

read story here

Wish comes true for dying Vietnam Veteran
WZZM
Phil Dawson
July 28, 2017

MUSKEGON, MICH. - Before he dies, Muskegon Vietnam veteran and hospice patient Wayne Whisler wanted to ride a motorcycle one last time.

And Friday afternoon his wish came true.

“It was great,” he says.

The last ride was arranged after Whisler told a care Hillcrest Nursing and Rehab Center care giver Theresa Flynn how much he liked her Harley, and how much he would like to hang out with some bikers and go for a ride.

She sent a message to Muskegon Motorcycle Club member Vic Martin.

“Spend a little time with him, let him look at the motorcycles and enjoy himself for a few hours,” says Martin.

“And we needed to get as many bikes out here as we could,” adds motorcycle rider David Edwards.

Friday afternoon, a convoy of several hundred motorcycles streamed into the Hillcrest parking lot. Whisler was loaded onto a sidecar and taken for a road trip.
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Dwight “Maddog” Maness Veteran Assistance Motorcycle Ride

Residents prepare for Dwight 'Maddog' Maness Veteran Assistance Motorcycle Ride 
Northwest Herald 
Jordyn Reiland 
July 29, 2017

Before his nearly eight-year stint with the sheriff’s office, Dwight Maness spent 20 years with the U.S. Army and saw combat in Iraq from 1990 to 1991. He retired with the rank of sergeant first class.

WONDER LAKE – McHenry County motorcyclists are ready to put up their kickstands and ride in honor of McHenry County Sheriff’s Deputy Dwight Maness at a charity event this weekend. 

The second Dwight “Maddog” Maness Veteran Assistance Motorcycle Ride will kick off at 11 a.m. Sunday at Horizontals Saloon, 7620 Hancock Drive, Wonder Lake, with registration beginning at 9 a.m. Once riders leave the saloon, they will head to The Bunker in Waterford, Wisconsin, for drinks. 

Participants then will ride back to Horizontals between 2 and 2:30 p.m. for food, live music and the chance to win several raffle prizes. read more here

Vietnam Veteran Gets Final Wish, Motorcycle Escort While Still Alive to Enjoy It

Final wish: Vietnam vet granted motorcycle escort 
WLOX News 
By Michelle Masson 
June 26, 2017

HARRISON COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -

A terminally ill Vietnam veteran received his final request Monday, as dozens of bikers from all over the Southeast escorted him to the Biloxi VA hospital from Gulfport Memorial.

Hancock County resident Teresa Ladner said she and her family have taken in Army veteran Martin deBie as their own for the past several years.

"He's just so happy that everybody came out for him and showed him he's not alone. I just need to let him know he's not forgotten. None of the veterans are. His family gave up on him, but we didn't," said Ladner.
Ladner said deBie went to the hospital for a broken hip a month ago, only to be diagnosed with cancer that had spread throughout his body.

He was being treated at Memorial Hospital Gulfport, but needed to be transferred to the Biloxi VA Hospital.

When deBie knew he'd be moving locations, he requested an escort from biker groups, like the Patriot Guard Riders, Bikers for Trump, and the Christian Motorcycle Association. Ladner helped make it happen.

"There's no words to describe it, but it's a wonderful experience," said deBie.
read more here

Hundreds Ride to Escort Vietnam Memorial Wall in Michigan

Motorcyclists escort Vietnam Memorial Wall replica to honor veterans
Up North Live
by NEWSROOM
June 19th 2017

"We have a lot of things to overcome, but to me, this is one sign of brotherhood camaraderie coming together to support."
Richard Quinlan

MANISTEE COUNTY, Mich. (WPBN/WGTU)-- Hundreds of motorcyclists rode in honor of our Vietnam veterans on Friday. It was the eighth annual Vietnam War Memorial Escort.

Richard Quinlan is a Vietnam war veteran. He says when he served, he was just doing what needed to be done. "Somebody has to stand up for what America believes in, and at that time, we were the ones that had to stand up," said Quinlan. 

Fred Nelson, also a Vietnam war veteran, now works with the group Rolling Thunder, an organization dedicated to helping veterans with events such as the wall escort.
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American Legion Riders and Community Join Forces to Help Vietnam Veteran

Community comes together to help family of Vietnam War veteran
KESQ CBS 2 News
Alexandra Pierce
Posted: Jun 18, 2017

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. - It's been nearly a month since a Palm Springs man lost his home and his family's belongings in a fire. Days later, Mike Salazar, the owner of the home, lost his battle to cancer.

Salazar was a Vietnam War veteran and a local motorcyclist. Saturday, the Palm Springs American Legion and Legion Riders hosted a fundraiser to help Salazar's family get back on their feet.
read more here

1,000 Motorcycles Escorted Wall into Wickham Park and Officer Hurt by Hit and Run Driver!

Cocoa Police officer injured in hit-and-run speaks out
Traffic homicide officer said he thought he was going to die
Click Orlando
By Nadeen Yanes - Reporter
May 03, 2017

COCOA, Fla. - A Cocoa police officer injured in a hit-and-run crash this week told News 6 he saw the Jeep coming and had three options: he could go left into oncoming traffic, go right into the procession, but he went straight and sacrificed himself.

"I had about, I would say, about three seconds to respond," Cocoa police Officer Rickford Leitch said.
read more here
UPDATE
Arrest made in hit-and-run that injured Cocoa Officer

Cocoa officer injured in hit-and-run during Traveling Wall procession
FLORIDA TODAY
J.D. Gallop
April 30, 2017

A Cocoa police traffic officer is recovering Sunday afternoon after authorities said he collided with another vehicle during the annual procession escorting the Traveling Vietnam Wall to Melbourne.

A countywide alert was also issued for the driver of a blue Jeep Cherokee who was not a part of the escort but fled the scene moments after the collision left the officer briefly unconscious, officials reported.

The officer is currently in the hospital being evaluated after sustaining several injuries, according to Yvonne Martinez, spokeswoman for the Cocoa Police Department.

Police said Cocoa Police Officer Rickford Lietch was assisting with the escort along with several other police agencies when the incident happened. The procession of over 1,000 motorcycles and other vehicles had just cleared State Road 520 when Lietch headed toward the next intersection at Rosa Jones Boulevard.

The officer was traveling at 50 mph hour when a blue Jeep suddenly pulled in front of him. “He hit the driver’s side of the Jeep and flipped several times before landing on the pavement. He was briefly knocked out,” Martinez said.
read more here

Please keep Officer Lietch in your prayers as he recovers. Just stunning a thing like this would happen with a 1,000 motorcycles escorting The Wall!

This turtle showed up crossing the road just before the bikes pulled in.

Murray was trying to figure out what it was.

Stickers from inside a golf cart we borrowed from a friend and yes, Murray got a ride on it.

The video will be up by tomorrow, so check back. Until then, go to the above link at Florida Today for the video they did.

UPDATE...Video finally done!