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Heroes

Mar 29
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Vietnam Veterans Day

By General Posts

March 29th is a day for Americans to remember and commemorate the service and sacrifices made by nearly three million service members who served in Vietnam.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the disestablishment of the United States Military Assistance Command in Vietnam, and the day the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam.

Our troops, many of them our fathers and grandfathers, came home from Vietnam but didn’t get the proper welcome they deserved. Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve had the opportunity to honor over 671 Vietnam Veterans through commemorative pinning ceremonies. While this welcome home is decades overdue, it’s never too late to say thank you to our veterans.

During the war era, nine million active duty served. At one point, over three million were in Vietnam at the same time, which was more than any time during World War II.

Today, there are still six million Vietnam veterans in America, and millions of families of those who served during the war. Our veterans and military families have made tremendous sacrifices to protect our freedoms.

There are over 54,000 veterans in the State of South Dakota, and although I didn’t serve in the Armed Forces, I work to represent them every day in Congress. Meeting with veterans, hearing their stories, taking their concerns, and understanding their needs has given me a deeper understanding of the tremendous sacrifice that our servicemembers and their families, both past and present, have made to protect our freedoms.

I’ll be hosting our first Vietnam veterans pinning ceremony of 2023 in April. If you served in the Vietnam War or have a family member who served, please fill out the form here so they can be recognized and properly honored.

Sep 12
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Over 8500 Motorcycles Ride in Support of Marine Cpl Humberto “Bert” Sanchez

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by Rogue and John Lee

What an honor it was to be part of the procession for Marine Cpl Humberto “Bert” Sanchez. Over. 8500 bikes came in from multiple other states to show their support. That alone was something amazing to see. There were so many bikes that there was no good way to even get a photo to show the amount of bikes that were there.

The Marine Riders were towards the front of the procession and when we pulled out to follow the behind Cpl Sanchez there were people lining the streets. From the gates of Grissom Airforce base all the way to Logansport. A good 20 miles of people on the side of the road.

Everyone had American Flags waving. Lots of Marine Corps flags too. Multiple ladder trucks with flags draped over the road. Old men in their uniforms from when they served saluting the entire procession. Children holding their parents hands. Family pets. People crying and holding their hands over their hearts. People playing Patriotic music.

And that’s before we even got to Logansport.

Cpl Sanchez received an aerial escort from 4 A10 Warthogs as we neared. They flew over us multiple times before circling the front end of the procession. They would come buzzing in a couple hundred feet off the ground.

Then as we come into Logansport it’s just a sea of people lining the street. Tens of Thousands of people lined the city streets for Cpl Sanchez’s final few miles. I would guess anywhere from 10,000-20,000 people were lined up along the roads from Peru to Logansport.

Absolutely amazing. Well done Indiana! That’s was an amazing homecoming for a hero.

I am honored to have been a part of this and happy I got to ride next to my Marine Rider Brothers. Please keep the Sanchez family in your thoughts and prayers as they prepare to bury their hero in a couple of days.

Sep 11
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Thanks to All Service Personnel: 9/11

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Thanks to All Service Personnel

I would like to take a moment and thank all service guys and girls including Fire Fighters, Police, medical folks and our military crew. They do a magnificent job every day under extreme circumstances especially now and on the days surrounding 9/11.

They live to a higher code, so brothers and sisters all over the country can ride free and safe. If you see a cop, a nurse, a fire fighter or a bro or broette in uniform today, say Thanks.

Ride Free Forever,

–Bandit

Bikernet.com and 5-Ball Racing: https://www.bikernet.com/

May 26
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Hogs for Heroes gifts motorcycle to Wisconsin Dells veteran

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by Erica Dynes from https://www.wiscnews.com

A Wisconsin Dells man became the 18th veteran to receive a motorcycle from a Wisconsin organization that gifts motorcycles to veterans to help them cope with mental and physical wounds from their time in active duty.

Marine Sgt. Rick Erickson was gifted a Harley-Davidson motorcycle from Hogs for Heroes at The Keg and Patio in Wisconsin Dells May 23. The presentation included a color guard ceremony by Wisconsin Dells American Legion Post 187. Eleven of the veterans who had receive motorcycles from the non-profit organization were there to hand keys to Erickson to start his new motorcycle.

Erickson hand-picked his motorcycle after going to three different dealerships with the co-founders of Hogs for Heroes before finding his perfect one at an Oconomowoc dealership.

To Erickson, the presentation was much more than receiving a motorcycle. It was sharing the emotional moment with the family he had become a part of, forming bonds with others who understand the pain and struggle of coming home from war. He struggled to fight back tears as he told the crowd what it meant to him.

“As awesome as the bike is, it’s about getting back in touch with people who understand you, living life again, people who know me and who have shared experiences that I had and welcoming me into the family,” Erickson said.

Erickson planned to follow in the footsteps of his father, who served in Vietnam as a Marine. He decided to enlist in the Marines after high school but was diagnosed with cancer, according to his biography on the Hogs for Heroes website. After being cancer free for five years, he enlisted in the Marines in 2003.

One year later he did a six-month tour of Iraq and served as an artillery scout and gunfire controller. Erickson was also in the center of Operation Phantom Fury, the highest point of conflict during the Iraq War against the Iraqi insurgents as the Marines invaded Fallujah. He was awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Valor and a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Valor. He served in the Marines until 2007.

Upon returning home, Erickson fought a different battle as he struggled to cope with the transition to civilian life and post-traumatic stress disorder. He underwent surgery to treat several injuries from his time in the Marines and also struggled in his personal life. He later sought help for his PTSD and obtained two associate degrees. He currently works what he calls his “dream job” as assistant county veterans service officer for Sauk County. According to his biography on Sauk County’s website, he’s held the position since 2018.

Erickson tried to cope with his struggles riding his motorcycle, which he purchased when he returned from service 14 years ago. However, he sold it two years ago to save money for a necessary remodel to his house.

During Sunday’s ceremony, Kevin Thompson, one of the co-founders of Hogs for Heroes, told Erickson not to hold back his feelings. Thompson said he deserves to have some time to release energy as “wind therapy,” along with the support of the Hogs for Heroes family. Thompson also hopes the moment changes Erickson and makes him realize he isn’t struggling alone.

“My hope (is) to take Rick’s words; he said his experience in the military and Iraq changed him,” Thompson said. “My goal is Rick looks back at today as the moment this experience changed him.”

Hogs for Heroes started in 2015 by Kevin and Audra Thompson and Craig and Michelle Thompson. Audra Thompson said the non-profit will give away six bikes by the end of this year, a record for the organization that started with a goal of giving away one bike annually to an injured veteran. All proceeds raised goes directly to fund a motorcycle for veterans who apply to receive a motorcycle. For more information on Hogs for Heroes, go to hogsforheroeswi.org.

Apr 11
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Florida motorcycle club holds 15th annual memorial ride honoring fallen heroes

By General Posts

by Andrea Guerrero and Drew Hill from https://www.winknews.com

Charlotte County came together to honor fallen officers on Saturday with the 15th annual Fallen Heroes Fundraiser. This year it began with a memorial motorcycle ride in honor of the first female corrections officer killed in the line of duty.

More than two dozen officers in Southwest Florida have been killed in the line of duty in recent years. Darla Latham is one of the officers.

Every year the Florida Defenders Motorcycle Club makes sure to honor her. Vinny Gorgogolione is the President of the Charlotte County chapter of the Defenders.

“Today’s our 15th annual fundraiser in the name of the Darla Latham who was killed in the line of duty during a prison break in 2003,” said Gorgogolione.

Hundreds of bikers from different chapters all around the country gathered for Latham and other fallen officers.

“I think it’s important to focus our efforts on officer safety and those that do get injured or killed on the line of duty that there’s somebody there to try to help them and their families out,” Gorgogolione said.

Toney Mineo recently retired as officers and they rode from the east coast to who their support for this forever brotherhood.

“It’s heart-wrenching for first of all that we know what they go through,” Mineo said. “Our job as a former law-enforcement is to make sure they’re OK and if they need anything to step up to the plate.”

The money raised is to support our local men and women in blue. Chief Pam Davis with Punta Gorda police knows this can make the difference.

“Know that they gave their lives for something and very important and society and that we as a police family we’re here for you too,” said Davis.

Both the Punta Gorda Department and Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office were given $2,000 to go towards officer safety equipment.

Saturday’s event raised money for families of fallen heroes and will also go to help local law enforcement departments.

Dec 17
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Healthcare Worker Darwin Longfellow Wins Dunlop’s Humble Heroes 2020 Harley-Davidson XL1200 Sportster Roadster

By General Posts

from https://motorcycles.einnews.com

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA, USA, December 17, 2020 /EINPresswire.com/ — To thank healthcare workers and first responders for their heroic actions during the pandemic, Dunlop asked people to nominate their own Humble Hero for the chance to win a 2020 XL1200 Sportster Roadster. The uplifting stories reminded us of the power of the human spirit, of what selfless dedication and compassion really look like.

Choosing a winner among all the submissions was not easy, but the story of new Physician Assistant Darwin Longfellow stood out. She was nominated by several different people. She even worked with the city of Taos, New Mexico to make a cool video staring her and her horse encouraging folks in her community to mask-up when asked. She spends what little time off she has riding motorcycles.

“We started this campaign to honor all essential workers across America, including our many workers in Buffalo, NY who masked- up and came in to keep bikes rolling,” said Mike Buckley, Senior VP, Sales and Marketing, Dunlop Motorcycle Tires. “We quickly realized the impact the pandemic had on first responders, so we focused on giving something back to them to honor their efforts. We chose Darwin, but we wish we could choose all of them because they are all heroes. Her story just hit all of us the hardest.”

Here’s what a few of Longfellow’s admirers had to say about her.

“I couldn’t think of a better person to nominate for this than the one and only Darwin Longfellow,” said colleague Brooke Samples. “She is incredible for so many reasons but especially when she was truly put to the test of being a new graduate as a Physician Assistant in the time of Covid. She was the only clinician at her location working full time through the entire pandemic and continues to do so.

“When her colleagues were afraid of becoming sick and insisting on only doing phone visits, Darwin was standing in a hot blacktop parking lot in the middle of the summer, overheating in mask, gown, faceshield and gloves explaining CDC guidelines to her community members in easy to understand terms. She also did Covid testing clinics during summer monsoons and insane wind bursts in Taos.” —Brooke Samples

“When I first met Darwin Longfellow, it was all about motorcycles. We shared a love of the open road, and the wonders of the desert on two wheels. I learned that Darwin had recently graduated from a Physicians Assistant program and was working in a health clinic in rural Northern New Mexico. I was immediately impressed by her passionate dedication to her work, and we became fast friends.

“In addition to daily COVID-19 test screenings, Darwin provides safety net care for patients with needs regarding pregnancy, Diabetes, Hepatitis C, and drug addiction. The clinic operates in one of the most impoverished areas of the United States, and provides care regardless of ability of a patient to pay, which protects the uninsured, underinsured, and undocumented.

“Darwin loves the open road, and once told me that, “Being motorcycle people, we love to move on.” When the work is done and Darwin can resume her pre-pandemic routine, I can’t think of a better way for her to “move on” than to hit the roads of Northern New Mexico on a new Harley-Davidson.” — Scott Toepfer

“As a fellow healthcare provider, I have been humbled by Darwin’s selfless service to her patients. She has met her community where they are, and cared for them with limited resources and support, working diligently to practice preventive medicine and protect her community both within and outside of the clinic. In a group that prides itself on service to others, she, without a doubt, stands among the highest tier.” — Kelley Rutter

“During the start of Covid, she was the first-person doing testing in our community open to any and all who wanted to be tested. She put herself in danger to help people. Darwin has put her life aside in order to assure others are being taken care of during these hard times. I wish I could just insert her in this essay so y’all could meet her in person. Knowing her is loving her. She is such a bas ass young woman with so much to give in this world.”—Ashley Rolshoven

About Dunlop Motorcycle Tires
Dunlop is the largest supplier of original equipment and replacement motorcycle tires in the U.S.A. For more information, visit: www.DunlopMotorcycleTires.com

Sep 05
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Dunlop Giving Away Harley-Davidson Through Humble Heroes Project

By General Posts

from https://www.sfgate.com

The winning nominee will receive a free 2020 Harley-Davidson XL1200 Sportster Roadster provided by Dunlop Motorcycle Tires.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. (PRWEB) September 04, 2020

There are humble heroes all around us—the ones you don’t hear about, who forego sleep and work impossible hours in constant danger, the ones who battle on the front lines of the pandemic and put themselves last to take care of us first.

There are many words to describe them—professional, compassionate, selfless, dedicated, brave, tireless—but we simply call them Heroes.

At Dunlop Motorcycle Tires, we want to honor these Humble Heroes by giving you the opportunity to nominate a healthcare worker or first responder who went above and beyond during the pandemic, and we’ll reward one individual with a new 2020 Harley-Davidson® XL1200 Sportster Roadster™.

Dunlop has a special appreciation for those who stepped up during the pandemic. Our factory in Buffalo, NY was designated essential early in the crisis, and our associates showed up, masked up and continued to do what they do best every day—build premium tires for the American motorcyclist.

Harley-Davidson’s Sportster Roadster was a natural for this project. Dunlop has been a trusted original-equipment tire supplier to Harley-Davidson for more than 35 years—over ten million Dunlop tires have rolled off the motor company assembly line—and the iconic Sportster is popular among new riders and offers many customizing variations.

To emphasize this, Dunlop Motorcycle Tires is collaborating with long-time partner Roland Sands Design (RSD) to create custom variations of the Sportster over the coming months featuring different Dunlop tires. The winner of this contest will receive a new 2020 Harley-Davidson XL1200 Sportster Roadster in stock condition. RSD’s builds will showcase what a great platform the stock Sportster is for customizing, and you will be able to follow along through Dunlop and RSD social networks: #humbleheroes, #wearedunlop, #ridedunlop, @rolandsandsdesigns, @ridedunlop.

“Nobody has seen a crisis with the global effects of Covid-19 before, and hopefully nobody ever will again,” said Mike Buckley, Senior VP, Sales and Marketing, Dunlop Motorcycle Tires. “Hard to imagine how much worse this could have been without the health care heroes and first responders on the front lines every day and night. The Humble Heroes Project is our way of giving a little back and saying thanks for all you have done.”