A ride to remember

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A ride to remember

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Harley Davidson >> This 'n' That >> Support for The Troops and their Families >> A ride to remember

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A ride to remember - 3/11/2008 6:25:00 PM

Maj Franklin

Posts: 21
Joined: 2/10/2008
Status: offline

I've been in the Army for over 18 years, and have always known that the deployment thing was part of the package. I've been riding since i was a kid, but had about an eight year stint when I didn't own a bike. In '97,I bought my brother-in-law (and one of my best friends) 1990 1200 sportster when he took the plunge and bought an old tour-glide. Since then, we have been to several great rallies together. We met in Chicago in 99 (I was in Indiana at the time, he in Michigan) and made the 1000+ mile ride to Sturgis. In 2002, while I was stationed in Fort Jackson, SC, we linked up and braved 30 mph winds and a driving rain to ride to Daytona. In the summer of 2004, during my third deployment, i was crushed to miss the opportunity to make it to DC with him. That spring, he had the old '83 shovel head apart, and had been storing my bike for me while I was deployed. After a particularly rough week in Baghdad, i got an email. Attached was a picture of him, sitting on my bike in front of the capital building. On the fairing, he had made a sign that had my name and said "in honor of my brother in law and best friend proudly serving in Iraq; God bless him, our Soldiers, and the USA......best ride I never made.

Remember our troops and their sacrifice, and never forget the power of a handwritten note. It's the little things that make a difference, and means a lot to the guys on the ground.

Post #: 1

RE: A ride to remember - 3/12/2008 8:42:36 AM

hk_shooter

Posts: 3229
Joined: 7/25/2007
From: By "the betty water & the wire"
Status: offline

You are certainly correct, Sir.
And a big Thank You, from my family and I, for your many years of service.

_____________________________

sig by grubby

Patriot Guard Rider
Ride Straight, Shoot Safe(or is it the other way around)?
HK''''s, H-D''''s and T&A

(in reply to Maj Franklin)

Post #: 2

RE: A ride to remember - 3/14/2008 9:10:24 PM

Maj Franklin

Posts: 21
Joined: 2/10/2008
Status: offline

Thanks, Shooter.....

Noticed from your profile you'r3 from Michigan also, so you can imagine my suprise when it said "Waterford", as that is the town I grew up in, and my parents still live there! I went to Kettering and my folks still live north of the Pontiac Airport (near where the old Waterford drive in used to be on Williams lake Rd. is, if you've been there long enough to remember that!).

Anyway, appreciate the kind words, and good to here from a fellow "Michiganer"!

(in reply to hk_shooter)

Post #: 3

RE: A ride to remember - 3/15/2008 1:46:14 PM

hk_shooter

Posts: 3229
Joined: 7/25/2007
From: By "the betty water & the wire"
Status: offline

Hey the drive-in, oh yes. I can remember some really good times there.

There was this one Friday night....

_____________________________

sig by grubby

Patriot Guard Rider
Ride Straight, Shoot Safe(or is it the other way around)?
HK''''s, H-D''''s and T&A

(in reply to Maj Franklin)

Post #: 4

RE: A ride to remember - 3/16/2008 4:31:18 AM

binkman78

Posts: 225
Joined: 12/9/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Maj Franklin

I've been in the Army for over 18 years, and have always known that the deployment thing was part of the package. I've been riding since i was a kid, but had about an eight year stint when I didn't own a bike. In '97,I bought my brother-in-law (and one of my best friends) 1990 1200 sportster when he took the plunge and bought an old tour-glide. Since then, we have been to several great rallies together. We met in Chicago in 99 (I was in Indiana at the time, he in Michigan) and made the 1000+ mile ride to Sturgis. In 2002, while I was stationed in Fort Jackson, SC, we linked up and braved 30 mph winds and a driving rain to ride to Daytona. In the summer of 2004, during my third deployment, i was crushed to miss the opportunity to make it to DC with him. That spring, he had the old '83 shovel head apart, and had been storing my bike for me while I was deployed. After a particularly rough week in Baghdad, i got an email. Attached was a picture of him, sitting on my bike in front of the capital building. On the fairing, he had made a sign that had my name and said "in honor of my brother in law and best friend proudly serving in Iraq; God bless him, our Soldiers, and the USA......best ride I never made.

Remember our troops and their sacrifice, and never forget the power of a handwritten note. It's the little things that make a difference, and means a lot to the guys on the ground.