Veteran Harley Returns Home After a Century Abroad
Vintage Harley-Davidson embarks on 5,000 mile trek in honor of WWI veterans and America’s bond with France.
In a time when we are seeing some Harleys leaving the United States headed for Europe, it is a nice change of pace to see one very special Harley-Davidson returning home to the U.S. after a century as an expat and former soldier.
According to Fox News, Christophe de Goulaine and Pierre Lauvergeat are two Harley-loving Frenchmen on a long distance quest to bring a piece of American Harley history home. The motorcycle in question is a restored Harley-Davidson 1000 18-J. The WWI veteran motorcycle spent the last 100 years in France, one of 20,000 Harleys used during the final two years of “The War to End All Wars.” The Model J (with its sidecar) landed back in the states this week. And what better way to welcome the bike back than by driving it across the country?
Sponsored by the U.S. WWI Centennial Commission, the Harley and its French riders will go on a tour of the U.S., dubbed Operation Twin Links. The cross-country ride begins in Mobile, Alabama, a notable stop as this is where the 1000 18-J left the U.S. back in 1918. Next they cross through to Jacksonville, Florida (the sister city of Nantes, France), where they will head north, landing in Harley’s home of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Finally, they set their sights on California to wrap up the three-month French-American friendship tour.
The two men, whose families have ties to the United States military, spent a year lovingly restoring the 1000 18-J. “It was a non-runner,” de Goulaine said “It was in terrible condition. Now the bike is on the road, and we’ll have a little road test for about 5,000 miles.”
Commission public affairs director Chris Iselib says the commission sponsors lots of events commemorating America’s involvement in the Great War, but nothing like the duo’s project. “When was the last time a historic event mattered so much to somebody that they wanted to come over and personally thank the people who were involved and the descendants of the people who were involved?” Isleib said. “It’s a beautiful thing.”
Iselib says the social media buzz surrounding Operation Twin Links is proof this project resonates with many. Says Iselib, “[It’s] projects like this [that] really help us to remember who the people were who served and why they served.”
As for the fellas guiding the trail on the Harley, they ride with this mission guiding the way. “We love America,” says de Goulaine. “I think this is a way to say ‘we love you’ very simply.”
Photos: Fox News
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