Posted on Mar 12, 2020
SrA Sheila Holmes
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Last night a person that I know from a local motorcycle group (not Legion) said that the group honored her father who recently passed with a flag line. She said that they pressured her into the flag line even though her father never served in the military and she told them that. The headquarters President justified it by saying, “Well he received a draft notice, didn’t he?”

Later in the conversation, she mentioned one of our mutual friends as being a veteran and that he would not have allowed anything like stolen valor. I told her he was not a veteran and that we actually both belonged to the same American Legion and he grew up hanging around the American Legion post, but he is a member of the Sons of the American Legion; he is not a Legionnaire, not a dual member, and he is not a veteran. We argued for about five minutes over this and I finally hung up.

I’m returning my colors tomorrow; I never even wore them but I don’t feel comfortable with this group now.

I see the draft notice as different from actually having served. Am I wrong?

03/16/2020 Edit: Yesterday, one of the members contacted me back and clarified, "The flag lines are for anyone we want to honor, first responders, military, and our families are very high on the list." As they say here in Phila, "I'm feelin some type of way about this." I told him he needs to educate the entire group on who their flag lines are for, and as a representative of the organization, the secretary should know better.

03/23/2020 Edit: The moto group is NOT the Legion Riders -just a local moto org that promotes themselves a veterans and first responders group)

09/07/20 Edit: Well, after much anxiety, I wanted to update about this. Covid hit and I haven't been back to that group. The Sgt at Arms felt I shouldn't make any hasty decisions, but I just knew it wasn't a right fit. More recently, after watching the group respond to peaceful BLM march with "No they don't" when marchers proclaimed, "Black Lives Matter," and screaming at the marchers "Black Lives Splatter," display their flag line as if fellow protesting citizens aren't patriotic, use the local VFW with confederate flags and a woman veteran screaming and flipping off protesters, and watching two of their trucks dump black diesel smoke right in front of peacefully marching protesters, I cut ties with the group by initially removing the vast majority from facebook. The very next day, their Sgt At Arms felt the need to send me a private message on FB, "I see you unfriended me, friend," with a big ole thumbs up, which I ignored. A few days later, he sent me this big long Trump rant about how he was supporting troops (he never served) and I let him have it. I told him I don't care who he votes for, but his behavior doesn't represent me, and if he contacted me again, I'd file harassment charges -and I blocked him on messenger. Two days later he sends a text, "I've been ordered to collect our patches from you. Namely our backpatch and alpha chapter." I told him I burned them and that if he contacted me again, I'd involve the police. So that's that. Always go with your gut.
Edited >1 y ago
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SPC William Szkromiuk
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I just wonder sometimes.
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SrA Sheila Holmes
SrA Sheila Holmes
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You and me both.
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SGT Dave Tracy
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Why question yourself?


You knew the answers all along.
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SGT Dave Tracy
SGT Dave Tracy
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SrA Sheila Holmes - Hmm. Interesting. I have no doubt these people meant well, but frankly it sounds like you helped them fix themselves a bit. Good work!
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SrA Sheila Holmes
SrA Sheila Holmes
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Thanks for the positive feedback.
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PO1 Woody W.
PO1 Woody W.
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SrA Sheila Holmes - I think I read somewhere within this thread you mentioning "Warriors Watch....." and it that's the case.... I find their "Rational" ironic.... way back in 2006, Warrior Watch splintered off of the Patriot Guard Riders, when that organization decided to include <to which they objected to> Military Welcome Homes/Send Offs; Veterans; 1st Responders & L.E.O." into their Mission Statement. Before that, it was exclusively US Military KIA's (War on Terrorism) funerals. PGR would have their own Mission stumbles.... example.... one of the local festivals here wanted the PGR in their festival parade. I obbjected because no part supported our mission statement. 75 riders showed up to ride the parade. three days latter, we had an Honor Mission for a Retired USA/USN Navy SEAL Captain <my former CO>.... and 6 riders <including myself> were present for that. I was disappointed, and members couldn't understand why... since it was so good for PR/recruitment. My simple response.... The first parade I planned & arranged.... <a Veterans Day Parade>, I insured we had a bona-fide USMC Combat Warrior, <who was on leave for 2 weeks from his unit which was serving in Iraq at the time> standing in the back of a P/U Truck with his Dress Blues on, and the PGR Motorcycles escorting the Truck.... Welcoming him home.... not just a "dog & pony" which made it about the organization. Any good leader worthy his salt, and make it about the mission and maintain the integrity the organization's mission.

Now, if my presumption about your group is incorrect Sheila..... like the "Church Lady" in SNL would say.... "Never mind...." ;-)
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SrA Sheila Holmes
SrA Sheila Holmes
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PO1 Woody W. This is really great historical info to have. The original group was no typical VSO rider group, and not Legion, Patriot, or or WWR. Thank you for the background.
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CPO Jack De Merit
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Common Sense says that the answer is no UNLESS you report to the draft facility and are enlisted in a branch of the military. Then you are a veteran but only if you serve.
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SrA Sheila Holmes
SrA Sheila Holmes
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It’s obviously NOT common sense of several people were confused; in particulate, the young woman who was told differently in this instance.
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