Long form content in a short form world is a novelty these days and I plan to keep this post brief.
I’m thinking about all the Veterans (and their families) today who have sacrificed so much for so many.
I’m eternally thankful.
#VeteransDay
Posted in Events, Veterans, tagged #VeteransDay, Afghanistan, Disabled American Veterans, gratitude, H-D, Harley-Davidson, HD, Iraq, Kandahar, Korean War, Military, National Veterans Wheelchair Games, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Remember, Rolling Thunder motorcycle rally, Salute, Served, Service Members, Traveling Vietnam Wall, U.S. Army, U.S. forces, Veterans, Vets, Vietnam, Vietnam War Memorial, Welcome Home on November 11, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Long form content in a short form world is a novelty these days and I plan to keep this post brief.
I’m thinking about all the Veterans (and their families) today who have sacrificed so much for so many.
I’m eternally thankful.
#VeteransDay
Posted in Dealer News, Events, Harley, Harley-Davidson, Latest News, Life Lessons, Motorcycle, Veterans, tagged Afghanistan, Christopher Walters, Dennis Packee, Giving Back, H-D, Harley, Harley-Davidson, HD, IL, Jaime Walters, Kewanee, Kindness, Military, Policy, Reiman's Harley-Davidson, Service to our County, Vets on June 13, 2014| 1 Comment »
I’m talking about a photo that’s being shared on Facebook, of a letter.
A simple, short letter, from Reiman’s Harley-Davidson, in Kewanee, IL. That reads:
Dear Christopher and Jamie,
Enclosed you will find the check you mailed to us regarding the account of Christopher. It is the policy of Reiman’s Harley-Davidson to waive storage fees for our active-duty service members who are deployed. It is our honor to keep your bike safe and secure while you provide us with our freedoms. We hope you return to us safe and sound. Until that time, we will store your bike at no charge to you. This is our way of saying “Thank you” for your service to our country.
Sincerely,
C. Dennis Packee
Dealer Principal
The backstory is Christopher Walters is currently deployed to Afghanistan. His wife, Jaime, had sent in a check and an apology for being late on a payment to her husband’s account. He had been renting storage space at Reiman’s for his motorcycle while he was deployed. When the dealership owner Dennis Packee saw the letter, he would have none of that and sent the money back to her.
Mr. Packee didn’t think much about the gesture and went back to work. It’s Reiman’s H-D policy and seemed like common sense to him. The letter got posted on Facebook and then the phone began to ring… from people all across the U.S. who expressed their appreciation of the gesture.
Thank you Mr. Packee for the gesture and giving back to those that have given much!
Photo courtesy of Reiman’s H-D.
All Rights Reserved © Northwest Harley Blog
Posted in Celebration, Events, Harley-Davidson, Living Life, Motorcycle, Oregon, Organizations, tagged 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.PAO, Afghanistan, CNN/ORC International poll, Disabled American Veterans, gratitude, H-D, Harley-Davidson, HD, Iraq, Kandahar, Michael R. Holzwort, National Veterans Wheelchair Games, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Oregon Ducks uniform, Rolling Thunder motorcycle rally, Service Members, Sgt. Ruth Pagan, Tech. Sgt. Michael R. Holzwort, Traveling Vietnam Wall, U.S. Army, U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Korey Mead, U.S. forces, Veterans, Vets, Welcome Home on January 5, 2012| 1 Comment »
Few of us can relate and what we don’t realize is that they are right here among us!
I’m talking about families who carry a burden deep inside of lost loved ones and service members who have made a lot of sacrifices while a public is at peace. Like many of you, I’ve been distracted by the sputtering economy and living life or by the talking heads incessantly doling out two-bit analysis of the political environment.
Is it enough to just say thank you and welcome home to the vets?
You may not know, but Harley-Davidson has been on the front line – right next to the troops – from the factory workers in Milwaukee, who made specialized military bikes, to the soldiers who used them beginning in 1916 throughout WWII. From 2007-2009 H-D donated more than $1M to the Disabled American Veterans and Mobile Service Office program. Over the years, H-D has supported the Traveling Vietnam Wall, Rolling Thunder motorcycle rally, National Veterans Wheelchair Games and more.
Clearly H-D isn’t the only company supporting troops, and they all deserve a shout-out, but it’s disappointing to see a lack luster appreciation for veteran’s returning home at a national level. Oh sure, there are local gatherings and the occasional public display of gratitude. And the media will do the occasional story about the lines of people greeting the troops in some cities which is encouraging.
But, “Portlandia” is luke warm. It seems we’re too busy writing articles and creating media buzz about the new Oregon Ducks uniform or commenting about the Newberg company, Hydro Graphics, that painted the helmets for the Rose Bowl. Even as a football fan, there is some absurdity in all these Nike funded uniforms…
Is it me or does anyone else see a disconnect for veterans receiving a national welcome home fitting for the sacrifices they made for this country?
According to a CNN/ORC International poll released late last year, most Americans agreed with the decision to end the war in Iraq. Almost eight in ten said they support removal of combat troops from that country. However, half the nation believes the Iraq war had a negative effect on life here in the U.S. and seven out of 10 say the money spent on the war is one reason for the economic problems facing the country today. And although 96% are proud of U.S. troops who served in Iraq, just one in three consider the war a victory and more than half call it a stalemate
The fact is there are an estimated 2.6 million living veterans from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and 23 million total veterans dating back to World War II, according to the GAO. And the number of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan coming home who may need additional support grows daily. While we all can express our admiration for veterans, most of us do not fully understand the problems faced by service members or their families when they return.
As a start I propose the creation of a “Welcome Home Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Day.” A national day of recognition that the people of the U.S. could pay the respect due them. Until that day comes, I suggest taking time out from our busy lives to give thanks for the sacrifices of those service members who we don’t know. A small display of kindness and admiration can mean so much to those who expect so little.
I haven’t met my expectations lately in recognizing the sacrifices and wanted to change that today by simply saying… you are appreciated and WELCOME HOME!
Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael R. Holzwort. The photo is of Jesse Mead, son of U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Korey Mead during the 25th Infantry Division HQ redeployment ceremony at Wheeler Army Airfield in Wahiawa, HI on December 18, 2011. The 25th ID HQ was the last division HQ under U.S. forces to leave Iraq. Sunset photo courtesy (U.S. Army, Sgt. Ruth Pagan, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., PAO)
Posted in Age, Boomers, Celebration, Fatalities, Life Lessons, Living Life, Organizations, Politics, tagged Afghanistan, Beaches of Europe, combat soldier, Emon Beach, Iraq, Korea, Kwaj, Kwaj Kids, Kwajalein Marshall Islands, Mountains of Afghanistan, Nam, Thank You Vets, Veterans Day, Vietnam, war worth fighting on November 11, 2011| 4 Comments »
Today is Veterans Day and it will come and go, like the winds of yesterday.
Many won’t even give it a second thought which is most unfortunate as I think Veterans day should be each and every day. Without the men and women who have fought for this country, we would not have the freedoms that we all enjoy.
I come from a military family, have friends in the service and have lost relatives (more info HERE) so, I can speak with some credibility as to the hardships that veterans and their families endure. It’s not easy and many could use our help, both financially and mental support.
But, when it comes to Iraq/Afghanistan – all in all, considering the costs to the U.S. versus the benefits I have to be intellectually honest in that I’m re-thinking my position and whether the war was worth fighting, or not. I was for it before I was against it and decided last year it’s time for an immediate withdrawal. The sectarian violence continues, our presence seems to fuel ever increasing religious extremism and clearly we can no longer afford to fight the fight given the state of the U.S. economy and budget deficit. But I’ve digressed.
The cool air of November is about the memories for some, or nightmares, for others and the combat soldier who has another day of remembering the greatness of their comrade’s as they fought beside each other. Be it in the jungles of Nam or the sands of Iraq or the Mountains of Afghanistan or even the icy terrain of Korea or the beaches of Europe. They all share a memory of where they fought with their comrades.
Veterans Day to me is a day for everyone to appreciate what our military has done for us. And how they put their lives at risk. It is a day to just honor what the military men and women have done. It’s also is a chance to remind myself, and others around me, of all the wonderful things that we as Americans have and can do, that we would not have if Veterans had not fought for it.
Thank you all!
Photo taken at Emon Beach – Kwajalein Marshall Islands (Based there circa; 1972)
Posted in Celebration, Events, Motorcycle, Organizations, Veterans, tagged Afghanistan, America, country, Fort Hood, HI, Honolulu, Honor, Iraq, Military, Pearl Harbor, Remember, U.S. Military, Veterans, Veterans Day, Vets on November 11, 2009| 1 Comment »
On this Veterans Day we still feel the shock of the 13 who were killed and the 43 injured on the base of Fort Hood just 6 days ago.
I have not been injured or nearly killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq. Nor do I personally understand the trials and long road to recovery that the injuries of war demand. In war, these events are called battles. In our own country, by the hand of an American soldier, these events are called a massacre. The victims were hit not by an exploding IED, responsible for close to 85 percent of the injuries and deaths in Afghanistan, they were hit by bullets, dozens of shots fired from a pistol by a psychologically disturbed individual. The victims of this tragedy are not only those who were physically harmed, but also their families, loved ones and comrades. They will need our support, on Veterans Day, and beyond.
Today I say thank you as we commemorate, remember, and honor those who have put themselves in harm’s way for their country.
Photo take in Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, HI.
Posted in Fatalities, Harley, Harley-Davidson, Life Lessons, Living Life, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Sales, Safety, Safety-Conscious, Transportation, Travel, tagged Accidents, Afghanistan, Armed Forces, Buell, Dealer Network, Ducati, Harley, Harley-Davidson, Hayne Palmour IV, Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Honda, Marine Corp, Military Personnel, motorcycles, MSF, News Observer, NHTSA, North County Times, Oregon Veterans Motorcycle Association, OVMA, Sport Bikes, Team Oregon, Vets, Yamaha on October 8, 2008| 6 Comments »
Military life is a lot about adrenaline (shooting weapons, parachuting out of planes, repelling from Blackhawks, etc.), not to mention the amount of testosterone filled “hoorah” recruits go through during basic that gives many the feeling of invincibility.
However, military personnel and motorcycles are a lethal combination as the News Observer reports that since 9/11, more American troops have died in off-duty motorcycle accidents than fighting in Afghanistan.
I’m not going to debate if the military personnel buy high-powered motorcycles and hit the streets to burn off adrenaline, testosterone or boredom. Or if it’s due to a lack of maturity, a lack of training or inexperience riding powerful sport bikes. Or if it’s due to psychological stress that lingers returning home from combat. I’m interested, but will leave that to the experts to determine.
I want to talk about motorcycle accidents and Dealer responsibility. But, first a couple of background facts:
- All military branches of the armed forces have seen significant increases in motorcycle fatalities.
- As of October 1st, 24 deaths have occurred in the Marine Corp which breaks the previous record of 19 fatalities set the year before. Nine of the 24 were from Camp Pendleton. In 2000, when the Marine Corps started keeping track of motorcycle fatalities, seven riders died.
- The Marines have had a higher fatality rate than the civilian population, according to Peter Hill, head of engineering with the safety division at Marine Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C.
- A survey of motorcycle use in the Marines, has so far counted 17,348 riders nationwide, 56 percent of them on fast sport bikes, and the count is projected to reach about 25,000.
- Military personnel are required to take a three-day basic rider course or a one-day experienced rider course before they are allowed to ride on/off base. However, most know how to get around the requirement by storing motorcycles off-base either at dealers or friends home.
- According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there are about 7.5 fatalities per 10,000 civilian riders. In the Marine Corps, the rate was about 9.5 per 10,000 riders this year, according to Marine Corps statistics.
- For every mile traveled, motorcyclists are about 32 times as likely to be killed as someone in a car, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, sport motorcycles generally weigh half as much as a cruiser-style motorcycle and have about twice the horsepower.
- In the civilian population, the fatality rate is four times higher on a sport bikes than on a cruiser.
I’ve written previously on motorcycle safety HERE, HERE and on alcohol related accidents HERE. I’m sadden by the above statistics and especially dislike reading about our young veterans getting injured or killed on motorcycles. Many AFTER they’ve returned from the Gulf. My efforts here are to bring visibility of a growing problem and maybe in some small way help reduce motorcycle fatalities.
But, let’s return to the role of the motorcycle dealer and their prevention responsibility, if any. First, I fully believe they have a lot of responsibility as the first line of “defense” so-to-speak and doing a good job of “fitting” motorcycle to customer, but unfortunately know they are also simply a corporation that makes money selling motorcycles and motorcycle accessories. The owners of these dealers and the manufactures they represent want you to believe they are biker’s best friend, but at the end of the day it’s all about business and what will bring them the most sales volume and the best return on their investment. I’m not arbitrarily discounting their genuine desire to avoid or prevent motorcycle accidents, but most all dealer’s have many more requirements to rent/ride a motorcycle from their business than they do to purchase one! Some dealers pass out vouchers for customers to attend local safety classes, but do you think a sales person would ever say… “You are just not ready for that 175mph super bike, let’s put you in a big scooter” or “Sorry, but that chrome laden Ultra Glide is just too heavy a motorcycle for you and might I suggest that you step into a Sporty”. Yeah right like that would ever happen!
Yet another example of the great lengths that dealers/manufactures will go to catch the military personnel attention is the rising popularity of motorcycle sales at overseas military exchanges, which offer two American makes, Harley-Davidson and Buell, at bargain prices. After the Afghanistan war started, sales jumped nearly 50 percent, to more than 4,000 a year thru this channel, and have held steady, according to figures provided by the different services’ exchanges. At exchanges in the two combat zones alone, troops bought more than 1,500 motorcycles in 2005 (last year of stats) and took delivery of them on their return to the U.S.
I know it’s crucial to draw a line between courage and recklessness. Knowing your limits, respecting others on the road, proper training, and being completely aware of what’s going on around you are all factors in why people stay alive on a motorcycle. Now if we could recalibrate the mentality of the dealer network from the operator assumes all responsibility mind-set to more along the lines of it being critical to reducing fatalities and maintain your customer base. If you’re in the “channel” I welcome your comments or ideas…
Want more training info? Look at a MSF course which is an intensive two or three day classroom and riding course supervised by expert riders. Or if you’re a veteran be a life-long learner and take a refresher course. Team Oregon has consistently been rated very high in motorcycle training too.
Marine photo courtsey of North County Times and Hayne Palmour IV – Staff Photographer