Terry Longpre

Military & Motorcycles – August 17, 2012

Another Warrior Lost On August 2, Sarah Sitton’s life changed forever. Her 26-year old husband SSgt. Matthew Sitton stepped on an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) while deployed in Afghanistan on his 3rd tour. Matt had been was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. Matt’s wife Sarah, along with their 9-month son Brodey and family members were present at MacDill Air Force Base when the ‘Angel Flight’ landed which was transporting Matt’s casket. Prior to Friday, Sarah made a statement wherein she asked anyone interested was welcome to…
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Military & Motorcycles August 10, 2012

911 Motorcycle Rides  On a clear blue Tuesday morning at approximately 8:46 a.m. on September 11th, 2001 terror struck our shores. Some three thousand people perished between the hours 8:46 and 10:03 a.m. that fateful day at the hands of what we now term as ‘terrorists.' That is not exactly what I call them but this is however a family newspaper and I’m sure my pastor would not want to hear how I sometimes refer to those who were involved. Since 9-11, 2001 numerous others have died to complications from cancer and other related problems from the dust, debris, etc.…
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Military & Motorcycles August 3, 2012

2nd Amendment I have watched with great interest as to who says what regarding 2nd Amendment Rights which some want to take away since the shooting in Aurora, Colorado.   To preface this column I just want to say, 'For one, I do believe in the 2nd Amendment, and I’ll try to explain why in the space available.'   My weapon-carrying career started when I was in the military where I carried numerous types of weapons, which were utilized to protect this country while I was overseas and here at home while augmented to Security Police Squadrons to protect several…
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Military & Motorcycles July 21, 2012

John Who? Tucked away in the southeast corner of West Virginia a quiet little unincorporated area known as Talcott. Looking from the outside there appears to be nothing special about this wide spot on WV Route 3/12.   There is a Post Office, several stores and a few houses along the roadway as well as a railroad line which runs through the mountain. They also have a couple of churches and a cemetery called Pie Hollow (remember this name).   As a matter of fact there were two railroad tunnels which run through the mountain, the Great Bend and the…
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Military & Motorcycles July 14, 2012

Happy Birthday America Palmetto Style After the threat from what appeared to be a strong storm approaching the Cities of Palmetto and Bradenton on the 4th of July the Concert in Sutton Park and the fireworks display we were spared. All I can say is, ‘People--prayers do work!’ After receiving a substantial amount of rain at the house earlier in the afternoon my wife decided she wasn’t going to participate in the celebration in Palmetto. Maybe the real reason was because I was going to ride my motorcycle downtown and not take the truck. Once I was at Sutton Park…
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Military & Motorcycles July 6, 2012

David and Goliath For the last year and a half, Congress had prodded, asked for and threatened DOJ Attorney General Holder for certain paperwork regarding the ‘Fast and Furious’ gun program. In the process there has been delay upon delay, along with the typical stall tactics utilized by lawyers. Simple things like, ‘Oh thought you meant this or that.’ The problem with this face to face engagement between the House Oversight Committee and the respondent (Holder) is the fact that there is no one higher up the chain to complain too. The next logical step would have been the Whitehouse…
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Military & Motorcyles June 29, 2012

Food for Thought  Last Saturday three of us were sitting and talking about world affairs and the situation we currently find ourselves in militarily around the world. And before I actually thought about it I blurted “I for one am sorry the country did away with the draft!” After I said it I waited for what I thought would be condemnation from my colleagues, which never came. As it were the other two were in agreement with my statement. Those present represented two Vietnam Veterans and the wife of a career Army Colonel. What actually brought my statement out into…
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Military & Motorcycles June 22, 2012

MIAP Is an acronym for ‘Missing In America Project’ (www.miap.us). What this project does is locate military personnel who have passed away and their cremains are sitting on a shelf in a back room somewhere awaiting the burial with the respect and honor they deserve. I received a call from a friend of mine by the name of Jim Scollen who is the Florida State Coordinator for MIAP and he related a story to me regarding a gentleman by the name of Lemon Troy Hopkins whose cremains were discovered sitting in a back shed in Wewahitchka, Florida which is in…
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Terry Longpre – Military & Motorcycles June 15, 2012

Common Sense and Logic Last Wednesday I sent out an email regarding the fact I would no longer be a ‘passer’ of emails, letters, rumors or anything else to do with the upcoming Presidential Election in November. No I’m not giving in or giving up, I’m just going to utilize my time more wisely in educating myself as to who Barrack Obama and Mitt Romney really are. I am personally tired of the constant news 24/7 with smiling faces saying I’m the one who did this or that. I am tired of the constant barrage of ‘It wasn’t me, it…
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TERRY LONGPRE – VETERAN AFFAIRS JUNE 8, 2012

Sometimes it’s Personal One afternoon back in February of 2009 the drone of rumbling motorcycles could be heard in the distance, growing ever louder riding into a quiet east county neighborhood. Who were these invading people, a large motorcycle gang? No, they were Patriot Guard, CMA (Christian Motorcyclists Association) and other motorcyclists escorting a man by the name of Aaron Cornelius to his home from a long stay in Walter Reed Army Medical Center and a VA Rehabilitation Center in West Palm Beach. As the procession entered the quiet neighborhood people came outside or looked out windows to see what…
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Memorial Day

Memorial Day Sunday I attended the Memorial Day Ceremony at Sarasota National Cemetery along with hundreds of others. As I stood taking photos at the front of the tent I was able to watch crying family members of those who have been killed in action and are interred in the hallowed grounds of the cemetery. As I listened to the speeches given by Governor Rick Scott (four years – US Navy) and Congressman Vern Buchanan (six years -Michigan Air National Guard) and others I begin to think of all those who are buried in National Cemeteries throughout the United States…
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MEANING OF MEMORIAL DAY

Meaning of Memorial Day I have approached this subject several times over the years, Memorial Day is not the official start of summer, nor should it be the reason for a three day long weekend of parties, barbecues or car sales. Memorial Day has had several names over the 150 years of its existence however the reason for Memorial Day stays the same. The day is for honoring and showing respect for those who have been killed while serving in the military, beginning with the Civil War through current military engagements. Over the years Memorial Day has diminished as a…
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GOLD STAR MOTHER’S DAY

A Gold Star Weekend    Last Saturday Patriot Guard Ride Captain ‘Vinnie” Dryer, his  trusty companion and co-pilot Kristin Greenlund and I rode up to a very pretty and well maintained bed and breakfast in Ruskin called ‘Southern Comfort’. We didn’t go for a meal or to stay the afternoon, no we went to meet with six Gold Star Mothers and their husbands who were on a retreat. For those of you who may not know who the Gold Star Mothers are I’ll try to explain in my simple way. The group is made up of mothers who have lost…
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