VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS

                    Motorcycle Group of Texas

Address: 4208 Irvin Dr.  City: Midland   State: Texas   Zip: 79705

          Telephone: 432-683-3997        Cell: 432-978-1482

                                 E-Mail: justdal911@aol.com

UNIT 4 - MIDLANDTEXAS POST 4149 ~ Activity Report

The first application for membership was submitted on approximately 01-15-06.  The group applied for it’s charter on or about 01-25-06.  As of today the group now has forty-five (45) active and excited members.  As a result of the group being formed an additional eight (8) members to the post, fourteen (14) new auxiliary members, and four (4) support group members for a total of twenty-six (26) new members have been added to the our VFW post. 

We have been conducting the appropriate monthly meetings and have enjoyed good turn-out and participation.  Our members have many good ideas for the good of our post and there are endeavors underway currently to accomplish same.

On April 29, 2006 the VFWMG co-sponsored a cook-off to benefit the Run for the Wall motorcyclist.   We had a great turn-out and as a result donated a total of $500.00 to the ride.  We made good use of the opportunity and recruited members to both the VFW, the auxiliary and motorcycle group.

We as a group took safety precaution to prepare our members for the Ride to the Wall and had practice group runs on a regular basis to instill the necessity of unison riding with safety.

After the loss of one of our comrades the VFWMG Unit 4 was honored, at the request of the members of his family, to escort our fallen brother on his last ride to his interment in San Angelo, Texas, on May 7, 2006.   We made every effort to have a supportive turn out for both the funeral and the trip to San Angelo.   Our efforts were indeed rewarded by approximately sixty (60) motorcycle riders attending the funeral and approximately ½ of that number was our post’s presentation.  We were blessed to have been a part of the honor and have received much recognition in our community which has sparked tremendous interest in our group. 

On May 20, 2006 the Ride for the Wall made a stop on their day four (4) in Midland.   Our group met the riders and furnished water and co-sponsored their evening meal, as well as breakfast the next morning, when 20 of VFWMG Unit 4 members joined in on the mission.  Three (3) of our group members rode all the way to Alabama, before returning to Midland to participate in the Memorial Day ride, locally.

On May 29, 2006, Memorial Day, our group participated in the Ride to Remember as a part of the Viet Nam Memorial.  After the ceremonies in Midland we joined the ride with approximately 640 other rides to the Viet Nam Memorial in Big Spring, Texas.   After the completion of the ride our group hosted a meal for all riders, friends and family, as well as the community, at Post 4149.   Once again, we were very pleased with the success of our efforts, as the turn out was one of the most attending that our Post has hosted.   There were more members recruited to the Post, the Men and Ladies Auxiliaries and the motorcycle group.    We are growing strong!!

As mentioned, there are future plans to further our growth and positive exposure to our community.   On July 25, 2006 we plan a memorial service for our fallen brother, Gary Gill, with the ceremonial planting of a tree in his memory on the post property.  Our members will participate in both the preparation of the grounds, building of a brick surround with adequate watering system and the planting of a Bradford Pear tree.  One of our members has donated a bronze plaque to be displayed.

Additionally, on September 2, 2006 we will be sponsoring a Chili cook-off in coordination with Desert Storm/Desert Shield Association to develop a foundation for an annual bicycle/motorcycle safety course available to all adults and children that choose to participate. 

The formation of our VFWMG has been a very positive move for both our local post, as well as our community.   There is great enthusiasm within our post over our growth and contributions. We look forward to many more successful ventures.   

~ ACTIVITY REPORT ~

July – September 2006

(( Please See Photo Gallery For Photos ))

VFWMG Unit 4-4149 is alive and well in Midland, Texas. We continue to make a positive impact on both our Post and our community. We have conducted weekly meetings, with good attendance and participation in preparation of upcoming events. Our membership is now at 64 members and still growing. We ride together often and attract positive attention with our American Flags and vests.

Omitted from our last report On June 24, 2006 the VFWMG Unit 4-4149 participated in a Fund Raiser for the daughter of a Vietnam veteran, Heather Reed, to provide funds for medical expenses. Leave it to our group to do “whatever it takes”, even if it means singing kareoke to meet a need.

The Ladies Auxiliary of our Post has adopted Trinity Haven, a local nursing home, with thirty veterans as residents. They visit the home often and furnish food and necessary items for all the residents. On July 8, 2006 our Group was invited to join the Auxiliary on a scheduled visit. When the staff of the home was informed that motorcycle riders would be attending they were very excited and ask that the riders come on their cycles. We were pleased and honored to do so. Not only did we ride “to” the facility, the double doors were opened and we rode “through” the facility and into the courtyard. Good thing we had our cameras . . . people would never believe it!

One might think that such a sight would be shocking to the elderly, but to the contrary, they were all smiles and excited to see us. Some, that were able, even came out and took a closer look at the bikes. One older gentleman made reference to his memory of days gone by when he rode a cycle to deliver mail to a rural route.

We joined in with our ladies and sang songs like, “Daisy, Daisy” and humorously injected the revised words, “on a motorcycle, built for two”. It got a good laugh from the old folks. Darrell (Kojak) Thornton sang the National Anthem with the Ladies Auxiliary & VFWMG Support Group

It's amazing how little you have to do for the elderly. Just sitting and talking to them and realizing that they are still amazing individuals with much to offer goes a long way toward making life better. Each of us were very moved by the reception we received and were invited to come again, which we plan to do.

On August 4, 2006 members of the group attended a memorial dedication for a Army Ranger, Damian Garza, killed in action in Operation Enduring Freedom. On August 20, 2006 our group joined efforts with the American Legion riders to attend a fund raiser for a active duty marine, Rodney Lane. He was coming home on leave, had reached Midland Air Terminal and waited on his wife and children to arrive. He had a long wait. On their way to pick up their daddy and husband, his family was hit by an eighteen wheeler. The accident was a fatal one for two of the Ranger's children. A baby less than one year and his six year old daughter died in the crash.

As we mentioned in our last Activity Report we successfully sponsored our 1st annual chili cook-off fund raiser for our Post and The Gary Gill Foundation for Two-Wheel Cycle Safety on September 1-3, 2006. We hosted 22 cooks that provided an array of dishes to be judged. We recruited our local fire-fighters, Sheriff Department and radio personalities to serve as judges. With mass media promotion, radio, television and program flyers, of the event we presented our Post in a very positive view to our Community.

A local radio talk show allowed our spokesman ample time on the air to put away the stigma of the VFW being a place where old men sit and tell war stories. West Texas was told over the airways that VFW Post 4149 is alive with patriotism and commitment to serve all of our veterans and their families. The publicity produced an outstanding turn out to the event. Our Post was “spit-shined” to receive hundreds of visitors. We set up recruiting booths for the Post, the Ladies Auxiliary, the Men’s Auxiliary and the VFWMG Unit 4-4149 for successfully recruiting members. Posters outlining the numerous programs of the VFW were displayed throughout our hall and Post members were stationed strategically to answer questions and provide information.

Since the tragic loss of one of our group members in a motorcycle/vehicle accident, our Group has been impassioned about two-wheel safety. This event was the perfect opportunity to start educating the public and especially our children about safety and awareness. Our hard work toward this endeavor paid off as we watched the Midland Police Department’s Bicycle Team instruct a sizeable group of children in bicycle safety training with their “Bicycle Rodeo”. A local bicycle retailer, Peyton’s Bikes, provided safety gear for all the children. It was quite a sight watching the children ride through the obstacle course, using proper hand signals and safety procedures. Admittedly, there were a few tears as one little girl in the crowd rode her pink bicycle pass a line of parked motorcycles, stopped, and safely backed up into a parking space beside the motorcycles. With her one simple action she demonstrated what all of us set out to accomplish.

During our event we received a phone call from a local motorcycle dealer asking for volunteers to come immediately to a nursing home to escort a 97 year old lady to her family reunion. No problem-o!! We had plenty of volunteers. Quickly several of our Group members were mounted up and on their way. “Mimi” was a sporty granny as she put on a purple do-rag, a leather jacket and straddled a brand new Harley for her ride to the reunion. Her family and friends could hardly believe their eyes as she arrived followed by a dozen or more motorcycles delivering her in style to the grand affair. It was a ride neither “Mimi” nor our riders will soon forget.

Weeks of gathering raffle and auction items proved beneficial to the fund raiser. It wasn’t a typical “rally” atmosphere, but rather a very patriotic and well-organized event. We could not have been so successful without the dedicated efforts of our Post, the Ladies Auxiliary and the Men’s Auxiliary. We are very appreciative of this joint effort to bring about positive awareness of our Post and it’s activity. The Ladies raised over $1,000 to go toward their programs by serving food and selling items they had made. Even the VFWMG Unit 4 got into the action by making keychains with the ladies. It was a fun afternoon stringing beads, let me tell ya!!

The family of Gary Gill attended the event. His sons were presented with memorial T-Shirts in recognition of their dad. It's not the way he died, but the way he lived that inspires us. As for the outcome of the 1st Annual Thunder for a Brother event . . . well, anytime you can honor the memory of a fallen veteran, love his family, feed the masses, keep them cool and entertained, promote safety, recruit members, take an old lady on a joy ride, hug a bunch of strangers and raise some money for a good cause… you’ve had a good day. VFWMG Unit 4-4149 has had many good days and look forward to many more!! On Sunday, September 3, 2006 the VFWMG Unit 4-4149 met at the Post for an early morning memorial church service. Following the service we traveled to Gardendale and placed an iron cross in memory of our fallen brother.

On Saturday, September 8, 2006 the VFWMG Unit 4-4149 met at the Post and traveled as a group to Serenity Gardens Cemetery for the dedication of their Veterans Memorial in observance of Patriot's Day. We were honored to be invited to participate. One of our support group members conducted a presentation of the POW/MIA table and the new KIA flag. Our group was well represented and continues to reflect positive exposure to the community.

On Friday, September 15, 2006, the group will be participating in a Candlelight Service at the Permian Basin Vietnam Memorial in observance of National POW/MIA Day.