Memorial Day, a question of our own honor

Sitting here in San Deigo, Calif after a 7 day ride cross country, reflecting on the 3pm moment of silence while taps played in honor of our fallen hero's and I have to wonder:

How many across this country even know what this day is all about?
How many of those who do took the moment of silence?

Compared too:

The numbers at the beach, in the back yard BBQ,ing, or engaging in any number of the activities our fallen hero's died for us to freely engage in with little thought given to anything other than how much one can cram into just another three day weekend?

And what disservice/dishonor do we bring to those who died for us as:

We allow the freedoms paid for with blood diminish,

we advocate for the continued oppression of the already oppressed and downtrodden who have followed the light of liberty to our shores of increased corporate/governmental corruption,

we stand by meekly as a "justice" system (?) designed to to protect the rights of individuals confers individual status to corporations,

we subject ourselves to a class system whereby the privileged flourish, rewarded for failure with our tax dollars, as the backbone of the country, the common man, loses, job, home and dignity,

where we reward corporations who support child abuse/slavery in foreign lands with the profit of our labors,

where we allow our elected representatives to appoint bureaucratic representatives who collude and conspire to further deplete our pocketbooks and our freedoms with impunity?

God Bless America! God Bless those who have given their life for her!  And damnation to those who do nothing, or worse yet pay lip service, to Americas dream and her defenders.

As our principles crumble around us our own hypocrisy rots our souls.

 From South Florida Ride Captain Harry Trawick:

CONFIRMED MISSION:
 William S. Walden (79) U.S. Army Vet., Member American Legion Post#519, Thomasville, Ga.31792.The Patriot Guard Riders have been requested to stand in honor of another American Hero with Flag Line for his visitation and escort for his final services.

Visitation: 06/01/2010
Hadley Funeral Home
622 N. Broad Street
Thomasville, Ga. 31792
5:00 - 8:00 PM  Meet at the funeral home
Please bring flags.

Funeral:
Stage: 09:15
Briefing: 09:30
KSU: 09:45
Shell Station
2362 US Hwy 319 S (corner Meridian Rd and Tallahassee Hwy in Grady Co.)
Thomasville, Ga. 31792

Service: 11:00 - Flag  Line
Pleasant Hill CME Church
Meridian Road
Beachton, Ga

Followed by escort to Evergreen Cemetary

Please Bring Flags
--
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Bushwhacker in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO, what a ride!!"

Is ABATE of Florida being rewarded for failure? Are we being ripped off again?

Thanks to Biker Rogue for tipping us off to the following:

Press Release
Contact: David “Lockdown” Rich Public Relations Trustee, ABATE of Florida, Inc.
386.490.4821 FAX: 396.490.4482 statepr@abateflorida.com www.ABATEFlorida.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
State of Florida Provides ABATE of Florida, Inc. With
A Quarter of a Million Dollars for Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Program
Tallahassee, FL, May 28, 2010 – As Florida Governor Crist signed the 2010-2011 Florida Budget (HB 5001) into law today, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) recognized ABATE of Florida, Inc. for our continuing work attempting to make the roadways of Florida safer for all motorcyclists. By signing the Florida Budget into law, effective July 1, 2010, ABATE of Florida, Inc. will receive a quarter of a million dollars specifically to promote motorcycle safety and awareness. The exact language states:
“2735 SPECIAL CATEGORIES: CONTRACTED SERVICES FROM HIGHWAY SAFETY OPERATING TRUST FUND . . . . . . . . . . . . 443,874

From the funds in Specific Appropriation 2735, nonrecurring funds in the amount of $250,000 are for the purpose of promoting motorcycle safety awareness through public information and education campaigns.

These funds are provided to the American Bikers Aiming Toward Education of Florida, Inc. The American Bikers Aiming Toward Education of Florida, Inc. is required to provide an independent program audit to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to ensure that these funds were utilized to enhance motorcycle safety education. The expense of this required independent program audit may be funded from a portion of the funds provided.”
This is not the first time ABATE of Florida, Inc. has received funds from the Florida DHSMV. Over the last few years, the Government of Florida has recognized ABATE’s valuable Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Program (MSAP) for saving lives of motorcyclists statewide. ABATE’s Program is implemented by ABATE’s 32 chapters throughout Florida. As in the past with this appropriation, the standard audit is a normal course of business.

ABATE’s Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Program has been presented to local civic groups, many schools, and public events all over Florida. For more information about our MSAP or to schedule a presentation, please visit www.ABATEFlorida.com to contact a local chapter near you.
----
With over 7,500 members, ABATE of Florida, Inc. is Florida’s largest Motorcyclists’ Rights Organization, and the fourth largest nationwide. ABATE of Florida members consist of all types of motorcyclists. Our missions include educating the public about motorcycle awareness and continuing to fight in Tallahassee for the rights of every motorcyclist and the public in general. To aid in these ends, we have an exclusive lobbyist and have founded the Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Program, both with the intentions to help make the roads safer for everyone.
# # #

Prior to the Florida Legislature session close we had contacted officials at both the Florida Department of Transportation and The Department of Motor Vehicles, Highway Safety and Transportation.  All of whom stated that ABATE of FLorida at the time of our conversation was receiving no state funding.

This was done in response to various claims by ABATE of Florida that they were receiving a certain number of state dollars (the most often mentioned amount was $500.000).

Now we must ask, how is it, that despite continued failure on the legislative front addressing motorcycle safety they have demonstrated any competence in delivering on what they promise?

Currently ABATE touts as it's flagship safety initiative school visits encouraging motorcycle awareness.
They also failed at various stabs at bumper stickers, billboards and radio spots.

Compare the awareness efforts of ABATE of Florida with those of  Mother on a Mission, Diane Pearson at

http://genepearson.org/ who turned down state funding and relies on donations?



We must also ask where are the data, studies, certifications, peer reviews, statistics, etc. thay demonstrate that the awareness visits to the schools have demonstrated the least bit of effectiveness?

Or is this money some kind of "Quid Pro Quo" pay off from certain legislators guaranteeing continued failure of motorcycle safety initiatives on the legislative front?

These questions become even more important as officers of ABATE of Florida come up for re-election. Why this press release now?  Is it for us who have observed questionable practices by the organization? OR is it to further delude the general membership into believing their dues money actually accomplishes anything?

As  TAX PAYER, motorcyclist or not, I want to see proof that my tax dollars are being spent wisely and not just part and parcel of general corruption that has infected this country from the top to the lowliest municipal bureaucrat!

Florida-Crippled Old Biker Brothers (COBB) put bikes on the road for "Can You See Me Now".

Following sent by Newt from COBB:

May 16, 2010,  "DO YOU SEE ME NOW"  

Some left in groups from Lakeland HD. Logan's Roadhouse in Kissimmee, Hideout Bar in St. Cloud, Seminole HD, Franks in Ocoee, Lakeside Bar & Grille in Clermont, Crossroads in Deland and many individually drove to Bruce Rossmeyer's Destination Daytona for a rally to increase motorists awareness of bikers on the highways and attempt to influence Florida lawmakers to impose stiffer penalties on inattentive drivers who cause injury and death.  Did you know in Florida,  Cruelty to Animals, Marijuana Possession, Criminal Mischief and Disorderly Conduct have more serious punishments than inattentive motorists that injure or kill bikers? ? ? 

          we could not have done this without our partners.

SPECIAL THANKS TO MANDY ROSSMEYER-CAMPBELL and BRUCE ROSSMEYER's DESTINATIONDAYTONA FOR HOSTING THE EVENT  

Thanks to our partners at Logan's Roadhouse in Kissimmee, Donna's Hideout in St. Cloud, Franks in Ocoee, Lakeside Bar & Grille in Clermont, Crossroads Bar in Deland, Seminole HD, Lakeland HD, Bike Nite Pam & Phil plus all the wonderful bikers who showed up to support the event.  What a great group!

Thank you Mike Politis for being our guest speaker and sharing important information.

A very special thank you to all the Chapter One Cobbers who worked so hard to mark yet another milestone in Chapter history. Thanks Midget for accepting the chairpersonship and President ET. For fear of leaving someone's name out, members names aren't mentioned except for the following.

One special member went above and beyond promoting and coordinating points of origin for this occasion.  The results of his individual effort brought an estimated 100 bikes.  Additionally he helped in every aspect of the event. We commend our Brother and Historian DJ for a job well done.

No official count was taken, but an estimated 650 to 800 bikers showed up for this event

We appreciate the update and are  uplifted when we see other groups in the state tackling the problem of biker brothers and sisters being killed by the negligence of others.  Including, but not limited to, our own elected representatives who would place the treatment of animals over and above the individuals they are elected to represent.

For all to long, we ourselves, the Florida Biker, have sat back allowing this situation to continue.

The answer lies not in waiting for the Florida legislature to have some sort of revelation that, yes our lifestyle is deserving of respect.  But in putting Bikes on the road and in the public's face sending the message that we will be SEEN and HEARD!

See here for pics of this event.