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• Viet Nam Legacy Ride 2011

Date: Saturday, August 6, 2011

Time: Staging starts at 9:30 and wheels roll at 11:00 AM

Staging Area: Michigan Viet Nam Memorial in Lansing, Mi.

LZ: To Be Announced Shortly-Please Stay Tuned!

THIS YEARS EVENT HAS COME AND GONE.  HARD TO BELIEVE! AND NEXT YEARS IS ALREADY IN THE PLANNING STAGES.

NUMBERS FOR THIS YEARS EVENT WERE AROUND 300 BIKES AND 600 SOULS GIVE OR TAKE A FEW.

THERE WERE SO MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT TOOK TIME TO MAKE THIS YEARS EVENT A SUCCESS AND MANY I WILL NEVER MEET OR KNOW THEIR NAMES.

A FEW WILL BE LISTED IN THE FOLLOWING REVIEW OF THIS YEARS EVENT TO PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THE BELOW AND THANK YOU .

THIS YEARS EVENT TOOK PLACE IN BEAUTIFUL WEATHER AND AS THE TIME DREW NEAR TO DEPART BIKES CAME ROLLING IN NONSTOP.  LANSING POLICE AND EATION COUNTY SHOWED UP AS IF ON CUE AND GOT US ROLLING RIGHT ON TIME.

THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE ESCORT THIS YEAR WERE LANSING PD, EATON COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPT., MICHIGAN STATE POLICE, BARRY COUNTY AND DEFINATELY NOT LEAST-HASTING CITY POLICE.  CHIEF SARVER OF THE HASTINGS POLICE DID A SPECTACULAR JOB OF TAKING CARE OF SOME INTERESTING LOGISTICS AND DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS AS WE ARRIVED IN MASS.  A HUGE AND HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO HIM AND ALL OF THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM OTHER TOWNS THAT BLOCKED INSECTIONS FOR US AS WELL!

THIS WAS NO EASY FEAT AS THE PARADE OF BIKES WAS SOME 2 MILES LONG!

AS WE ARRIVED IN HASTINGS THE SITE WAS ENOUGH TO BRING A TEAR TO THE HARDEST OF HEARTS.  THE WHOLE CITY OF HASTINGS WAS DECKED OUT IN FLAGS AND BANNERS WELCOMING HOME THE VIET NAM ERA VETERANS.  KIDS ALOND WITH THEIR PARENTS WAVING AMERICAN FLAGS, VETERANS STANDING AT ATTENTION AND OTHERS JUST CHEERING AND WAVING WILDLY!

WHEN WE MADE OUR ARRIVAL AND THE HASTINGS AIRPORT-THEY WERE MORE THAN READY FOR US WITH AN HONOR GUARD FROM THE LOCAL AMERICAN LEGION AND MORE TOWNSPEOPLE CHEERING AND CLAPPING.  YOU COULD LITTERALLY HEAR THE APPLAUSE OVER THE RUMBLE OF THE MOTORCYCLES!  WHAT A SITE AND SOUND!

VENDORS WERE THERE TO TAKE CARE OF FOOD AND DRINK NEEDS AS WELL AND DID A GREAT JOB!

MAYOR BOB SAID SOME WORDS AND THE COMMANDER OF THE AMERICAN AND HIS COMMRADS PUT ON A BEAUTIFUL SERVICE.  THANK YOU FROM THE DEPTHS OF OUR HEARTS GENTLEMEN.

KEN BOYD PAID A WONDERFUL TRIBUTE FROM HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH VIET NAM VETERANS UPON HIS HOMECOMING FROM SERVING HIS COUNTRY IN ANOTHER THEATER OF RECENT.  kENS BEATIFUL WIFE ANDREA LED US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THEN IN OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM AND HERE VOICE WAS BEAUTIFUL! 

SANDYS HARLEY DAVIDSON FROM FREEMONT, MICH. PROVIDED THE CHASE VEHICLE AND REALLY HAD TO CHASE US!  IT SEEMS THROUGH A LACK OF COMMUNICATION HE AND ANOTHER FRIEND OF MINE ALSO PROVIDING CHASE-BECAME SEPARATED FROM US AND FINALLY CAUGHT US IN HASTINGS!  THANKS FOR HANING IN HERE GUYS!

ALAN WAIGNRIGHT-A VIET NAM VETERAN HIMSELF (HOPE THE SPELLING IN CORRECT  SIR) BROUGHT HIS 1943 STEAMAN BIPLANE IN AND GAVE 5 VERY DESERVING VIET NAM ERA VETERANS RIDES AND JUDGING FROM THE SMILES ON THEIR FACES I WILL BET THEY WILL REMEMBER THAT FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES!  THANK YOU SIR FOR THE MEMORIES!

HOOT GIBSON AND HIS FELLOW CAR ENTHUSIASTS PROVIDED A NUMBER OF BEAUTIFUL CARS OF THE ERA FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY.

MANY OTHERS WERE INVOLVED IN THIS YEARS EVENT AND AS THEY ARE BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THEM AS WELL.

PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES ON NEXT EVENT.

PICS FROM THIS YEARS EVENT WILL BE INSTALLED HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE AS WELL AS DVDS BEING MADE AVAILABLE.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS YEARS EVENT!

RIDERS...WITHOUT YOU.....IT DOESN'T HAPPEN SO THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOUR FOR COMING OUT AND RIDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           WITH MUCH GRATTITUDE AND RESPECT,

                                           Doran F. Jaffas

DVDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE:

VIETNAM LEGACY RIDE 2010 (SHORTLY-STAY TUNED).

VIETNAM LEGACY RIDE 2009

SUGGESTED DONATION IS $8.00 AND IS WELL WORTH IT!

In Memory of:

Ronald E. Smith: Green Beret 5th Special
Forces-Left behind while exposing himself to enemy fire to allow air support to spot his team and lift them out. Went missing Nov. 28, 1970 near tri border of Loas.

Jeff Gustinas: Passed away Fathers Day 2009

Served in the US Army 1974-1977 Squadron 64

ED FREEMAN: MAY 2009-AGE 80

RESCUED ABOUT 30 SOULS IN AN UNMARKED CHOPPER DURING HEAVY ENEMY GUNFIRE.

MAY HIS FAMILY REST IN THE PEACE OF CHRIST AT HIS PASSING.

Thank You:

In Country Vietnam Motorcycle Club (new)

MANY THANKS TO SANDY'S HARLEY DAVIDSON IN FREMONT FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF OUR TROOPS PAST AND PRESENT!!!!!!!!!!!!

HALL SEPTIC FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS EVENT TO HONOR OUR VIETNAM ERA VETERANS!!!!!

www.motorcyclelife.net

Please visit our Sponsor on how to make a tax deductible donation.

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO FIND FRIENDS ON THE VIRTUAL WALL

www.virtualwall.org/iStates.htm

*Please note that all laws of the State of Michigan regarding the use of helmets and safe riding practices will be carefully observed for this event to Honor Our Vietnam Era Veterans* This is a FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT AND NO ALCHOHOL WILL BE SERVED DURING THIS TIME OF PAYING TRIBUTE.

Thank you to The various Law Enforcement Agencies that will be taking part in this to provide extra security and safety at no charge to the Vietnam Legacy Ride as a show of support for this special Welcome Home Event.