Veteran Affairs

Military & Motorcycles August 1, 2012

Personal Observation On a recent motorcycle trip I went to several Civil War Battlefields which included Antietam, MD, Gettysburg, PA, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, VA. I rode from West Virginia through three states and returned to my starting point. My travels took me 800 miles before I completed my ‘bucket list’ ride. When at Antietam I was impressed with I saw and learned not from a history book, but actually standing on the hallowed ground where the battles and skirmishes occurred and in my mind’s eye I tried to imagine what it must have been like. My second stop was Gettysburg…
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Putting up the Flag

  click on the link below... Puttin' Up The Flag    
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Project Walk Poker Run for PFC Nick Battles

''Project Walk'' Poker Run will be Sun. Sept. 9 for PFC Nick Battles. Registration 10 AM - Noon, $10.00 per hand @ Tilly's Tap 3149 Duncan Rd./Hwy 17 Punta Gorda 941-505-0798. Two bands, food, vendors, bike wash. Run starts and ends at Tilly's Tap. Stops are Shorty's Place 306 W. Marion Ave Punta Gorda, Shenanigan's Fraternal Order of Orioles Post 325 3103 Broadpoint Dr. P.Gorda, The Open Road 4313 NW Hwy 70 Arcadia 863-494-0140, Arcadia Amvets Post 60 2846 SW Hwy 17 863-494-6996.
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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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8th Annual Jason Burnett Memorial USO Benefit Ride Supporting Our Troops

    Dear Fellow American:   September 8, 2012, will mark the 8th year that the Central Florida Motorcycle community will show its support of the men, women and families of our Armed Forces when they take part in Central Florida’s largest fundraiser for the Greater Jacksonville Area USO (United Services Organization).   The Greater Jacksonville Area USO supports thousands of our active duty military personnel, National Guardsmen and Reservists and families throughout Florida and Southeast Georgia. Just a small snapshot of the many services provided, include:   Distribute nearly 15,000 USO Care Packages to deploying and front line combat…
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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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Semper Fi

  Every now and then, in the middle of the constant barrage of crap that’s just pissing us all off these days, we come across a story, a feat, an event that just makes us stop in our tracks. This was one for me. Cody Green was a 12-year-old kid in Indiana who was diagnosed with leukemia at 22-months-old. He loved the Marines, and his parents said he drew strength and courage from the Marine Corps as he bravely fought the battle into remission three times. Although he was cancer-free at the time, the chemotherapy had lowered his immune system…
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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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BOB FLETCHER’S CELEBRATION OF LIFE – SATURDAY, JUNE 16

  Dear Friends of Fletcher's Harley-Davidson, We are saddened to report that Bob Fletcher passed away Saturday, June 9 at 10:40 p.m. He passed in his sleep with the family by his side. The family is planning a celebration of life service to be held on Saturday, June 16, in Largo, FL. There will be a motorcycle procession from the Fletcher's south property, located at 16485 U.S. hwy 19N in Clearwater, FL to the Anona Methodist church in Largo. The procession participants should start gathering at 11:30 a.m. and will leave the south property at noon. We will ride rain…
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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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REFLECTIONS OF VIETNAM

Vietnam Participants to Share Memories Fantasy of Flight proudly presents "Reflections of Vietnam" on June 8-9, 2012. The Vietnam War was America's longest conflict and the first military failure on foreign soil. Even today, the Vietnam War era is a difficult and complicated subject, both emotionally and historically. Vietnam participants will share their memories and personal experiences during this critical time in American history. Adult program rates (based on 15 or more): $20.95 per person, plus 7% tax Program includes: Admission to Fantasy of Flight Admission to Legends & Legacies Symposium Meet/Greet Opportunity Complimentary Parking   Don't miss this rare…
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AMA SALUTES AMERICANS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN OUR NATION’S SERVICE

American Motorcyclist Association Recognizes Memorial Day, Salutes Americans who Gave Their Lives in Our Nation's Service PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association expresses its deepest gratitude to the families and friends of loved ones who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to the United States of America, and honors their memories on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28. "Motorcyclists everywhere salute the sacrifices of America's armed forces and her citizens who have perished in service to our country," said Rob Dingman, president and CEO of the largest member-based motorcycling organization in the country. "We know that the very freedoms…
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