Comment

Comment by Don Bright Jr. on December 19, 2010 at 10:49am

Merry Christmas to everyone. This has been a good year of growing our Chapter.Next year is dedicated to getting on the road and getting it done. I want to personally thank all those that have helped us on our way and all those whom we serve. God Bless and Thanks-Don

Comment by Don Bright Jr. on December 11, 2010 at 4:59pm

Day of Rememberance -for all who have stood up and defended me and my way of life,Thank You

Comment by Don Bright Jr. on December 11, 2010 at 4:57pm

Comment by Don Bright Jr. on November 25, 2010 at 9:28am

Happy Thanksgiving to all

Comment by Don Bright Jr. on November 11, 2010 at 9:35pm

From the Gazeebo...

Teaching Veterans Day...

As I begin to write this, Veterans Day 2010 is two days off. Each year
the Warriors' Watch Riders various chapters across the country have to
choose from among many invitations to this ceremony or that parade or
whatever. This year, in SouthEast Pennsylvania, we have another
opportunity to teach.

"Teaching" is one of the goals of the Warriors' Watch Riders
philosophy, articulated in that philosophy and in the Mission
Statement. Years ago I instituted what I call "Teach the Children
Rides," and I love those rides. Of all the good work that the WWR
does, these teaching rides are my favorite.

When you consider it, it's a natural. We ride into an elementary
school yard with 30 or 40 motorcycles and our vests and immediately
grab the attention and imaginations of our young charges. Then, having
their undivided attention, we teach.

Without teaching, history is doomed to repeat itself. No one wants,
for example, to repeat the shameful period of the 60s and 70s when
troops and veterans were not only NOT honored, they were in many cases
actually vilified - by the citizens they were sworn to defend, by the
media, and even by their friends and family. We remain hopeful that
teaching children the sacrifice and honor that our veterans exemplify
will help them to understand why they are important and worthy of
respect.

Why are they important? What is the value of a veteran? To answer that
question for yourself, just walk into any veterans cemetery and gaze
across the hundreds, thousands, hundreds of thousands of white granite
stones, lined up in arrow-straight ranks, on grounds meticulously and
even lovingly maintained. Ask yourself who these people were - what
they did - what they gave - what they missed of life for our sakes.

Philadelphia National Veterans Cemetery, photo by AWWC

Director Kat Fialkowski. Click here to see all of the photos taken on
Sunday, November 7, 2010.


The answer is starkly clear. Every person in American history who wore
a uniform in the nation's defense risked losing his or her life in
defense of our way of life, and knew it. Many of our veterans, men and
women who

Go to the VA website to see the gallery of posters in honor of
Veteran's Day. This year's poster has a list of major battles fought
by our veterans of the past and current day Soldiers, Sailors,
Marines, Airmen and Coast Guard.



US Veterans Association 2010 Veterans Day poster. Click here to see
the entire gallery.

Each of those battles was fought by men and women who had made a
promise to their nation and fellow citizens. They raised the right
hand and promised to defend us, and our way of life. If any of you
still write checks to pay your bills, think for a moment about what
you are doing when you write out a check. A check is nothing more than
a piece of paper - not made of gold or silver or even nickel or
copper. Just paper.

The value of that check is not what it's made of, but what is written
on it. The words on the check are a promise. You promise, say, your
electric company that there will be an amount of money transferred
from your account to theirs. It's a pledge of honor.

What the enlistment papers that our veterans signed are made of -
paper - has no value. The value is what is written on those papers - a
promise that the veteran makes to his nation, to the people, to his
own sacred honor. The veteran promises to protect and defend the
Constitution of the United States of America. The promise is one of
honor and duty.

You could just as easily make out a check, but instead of a dollar
amount, he/she would write in the true value of the promise being
made. Thus the quote that has become popular to describe veterans,
though the author remains unknown: "A Veteran is someone who, at one
point in his or her life, made out a check, payable to the People of
the United States of America, for an amount of "Up to and including my
life." "

This is why we honor our veterans. This is why it is so important that
we teach each new generation of that value - the value of a check made
out in that amount, the "ultimate price." Most veterans will never see
combat, although millions have. 3 million American Soldiers served in
Vietnam. 500,000 of those actually saw combat. But ALL of them made
out the same check, all of them made the same promise, and all of them
did so with the same knowledge - that the check might be cashed at any
time.

A final word about Veterans Day: For something truly inspirational,
please go to this link on YouTube and enjoy the song "A Pittance of
Time" from blind singer Terry Kelly, of Canada.

The story of this wonderful song is as follows:

"On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a drug store in Dartmouth,
Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the stores PA
asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to
give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have
sacrificed so much for us.

Terry was impressed with the stores leadership role in adopting the
Legions two minutes of silence initiative. He felt that the stores
contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering
was commendable.

When eleven o'clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again
made asking for the two minutes of silence to commence. All customers,
with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child,
showed their respect.

Terry's anger towards the father for trying to engage the stores clerk
in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was
channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, A Pittance of Time.
Terry later recorded A Pittance of Time and included it on his
full-length music CD, The Power of the Dream.

Thank You to the Royal Canadian Legion Todmorden Branch #10 and
Woodbine Height Branch #2 for their participation in the Video. "

Please visit www.terry-kelly.com

Missions go On!

Take a look ever day at the Confirmed Missions threads in each of the
four national WWR Regions:

Region 1 (Atlantic States)


Region 2 (Central States)


Region 3 (Mountain States)


Region 4 (Pacific States)


Also, read the stories through the after action reports

and photos on the main website, which is continually updated.
Remember, this is all about honoring our troops, one at a time or one
unit at a time. Without that purpose, all the rest is just noise.

*This newsletter is named "The Weekly Ride" or "The Ride", for short,
in memory of and to honor Sgt. Jennifer Hartman, U.S. Army. Sgt.
Hartman was killed in Iraq by America's enemies. She died in defense
of our freedom at the age of 20. This quote from Jennifer was read at
her graveside:

"It's not about what happened in the past. It's not about what might
happen in the future. It's about the ride, for Christ's sake."

Click here for a Tribute to Sgt. Jennifer Hartman: "The Ride"

Comment by Don Bright Jr. on November 3, 2010 at 11:08am

Dec. 11th A day of Rememberence, WWR National is trying to get every State Chapter involved in their own state to do some kind of honor mission. I'm looking for any kind of suggestions-Thanks

Comment by Don Bright Jr. on October 27, 2010 at 12:49am

Let's all get out and support Skip and Freedom Ride 2011

Comment by LeatherneckRider on September 19, 2010 at 8:13pm

2nd National Arm Forces FreedomRide2011
May 21, 2011 all day – Portland to Augusta

Comment by LeatherneckRider on September 18, 2010 at 2:54pm

On May 21, 2011 Maine will have it first 2nd National Arms Froces FreedomRide to honor and support the men and women of the Arm Forces past and present, veterans of war, POW/MIA and those who served defending our freedom. See event on my page. (2nd National Arm Forces FreedomRide2011) I am the new state coordinator for this event.

Comment by Don Bright Jr. on September 10, 2010 at 10:15am

Just recieved this info from PGR, if anyones interested I thought I'd pass it on to our group.Where? L-A Harley Davidson, Lewiston, Maine
When? Saturday, 11 September 2010
The day's events begin at 8:30am

What? 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony
American Legion Riders Breakfast
Poker Run for Homeless Veterans
VFW Lobster & Steak Feed !

Our day begins with a moving memorial to remember that infamous date in our Nation's history, September 11, 2001. We will pause to remember and to honor those who are no longer with us and the sacrifices they made. Today we will honor all first responders. Firefighters, Law Enforcement Officials and Veterans from all branches. Each group will be well represented at the event.

After the brief ceremony, a hot and delicious breakfast will be offered by The American Legion Riders. The perfect time to gather with your friends and fuel up in preparations for the rest of the day's activities. All proceeds for the day will be donated to a local homeless shelter.



After breakfast, we hope that you will join us in a very special ride we have for you. You may ride as a group or on your own. Either way, the ride will take you through some beautiful countryside with stops at locations that fit the day's theme. Purchase a commemorative t-shirt, and the ride is free! Maps & easy-to-follow directions will be provided.



The ride ends at the local VFW in Auburn where there will be a feast of lobster and all the fixings waiting for you! Generous prizes will be awarded there. The price is certainly right! $20.00 per person for two lobsters, or surf and turf!

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