On Saturday, August 26, 2017, a blistering hot summer weekend, close to 300 participants showed up to honor those lost in the line of duty and their family members. People came from all over California including those that came to ride, those that came to assist, and those that made it to the Sagebrush Cantina for the food, music, comradery, and great raffle prizes.
What a day and what a successful event this was! Successful in the grandest terms: Giving back to our Widows, Orphans, & Disabled Firefighters and making sure they are not forgotten, giving back and showing pride in the community and fire service family, and most importantly, the comradery we all share within the Fire Hogs and fire service.
LAFD Fire Hogs President Jack Wise was the M/C and introduced the LAFD Honor Guard as they brought in the Colors. In attendance at the podium were the board members from all three chapters of the Fire Hogs: The LAFD Chapter, The LACOFD Chapter, and our newest Fire Hog Chapter – the SGVFD Chapter!!
Retired FF John Lee stepped up to the plate at the last minute and sang the National Anthem a cappella as a true professional. Department Chaplin George Negrete led us in prayers. Jack gave a brief history of the 10 Bells, then introduced the widows in attendance and their families: Amy Mooreman (Dave), Karen Prosser (Darrel), Sylvia McKnight (Matt), Jeanne Urquiza (Ralph), Sandy Marquez (Willy Dunn), Melanie Allen (Glenn), and Valerie Lawrence (John). Each of the wives were presented a flower bouquet. The Honor Guard then escorted the Mooreman family to the podium where they collectively rang the 10 Bells honoring those lost. John Keyes finished the 10 Bell part of the opening ceremony with his bagpiping skills leaving nary a dry eye among all these hardened Bikers and Fire Eaters.
Dignitaries who spoke included Dennis Zine; past City Council Member and police officer, and Robert Steinbacher; LAFRA President. Missing this year from the dignitary role was recently patched member of the Fire Hogs – Ralph Terrazas. Funny how I made it this year but Ralph didn’t. You never see us in the same place together . . . makes you wonder? During these ceremonies, the Fire Hogs presented the Historical Society a $500 donation to carry on their good work.
What a day and into the wee hours of the next morning we had. From the ceremony at the Fire Museum, to the ride along Sunset Blvd to Gladstones, along PCH and through the canyons to the Sagebrush Cantina for a Tex-Mex buffet, libations, and dancing to the heart thumping music of Engineer Jimmy Como’s band – Fullhouse – for their re-union just for us!
With more than 80 packages for the raffle and live auction. very few walked away without something. I think I had the most fun auctioning off those live items, what a blast! Thanks to Karen Maga for baking her award winning Carrot Cakes which went for almost $100 each!! Another unsung hero is LAFD Fire Hog, Jim Vels, who custom painted two of the most beautiful and cherished Fire Helmets that I have ever seen. The bidding for those two items alone was so intense that the bidders themselves lost track of who was raising who. I won’t say how much they went for, cause ya had to be there! But it’s more than this retired guys makes in a month. Darrel Smith was the other winner as the highest bidder for the Fire Hogs Fire Nozzle. Also up for grabs were two FDNY style fire helmets with a Fire Hog twist that. The competition for these live auction items was so intense, my voice is still recovering!
Gary Stamison was the lead force in motivating fellow Fire Hogs to collect sponsorships and was the creator of the “Member Challenge.” This was a contest that recognized those members that brought in the highest sponsorship each year. Stami won that challenge many years in a row and as a tribute to him, after his untimely passing, the Member Challenge was renamed to the “Stami Challenge” in his honor. I am happy to say that once again Kurt Williamson and Bob Sturgeon where the hands down winners of the 2017 Stami Challenge! Thanks to each of you that donated, sponsored, or purchased items.
Between the auctions and raffles, the dance floor was packed with dancers showing their best moves while the Full House Band kept everyone on their feet with their Rock N Roll sets. The staff of the Sagebrush Cantina got involved by decking themselves in Fire Hog attire and even won some of the raffle prizes during the course of the event. Nothing can compare to the Sagebrush Cantina on a summer afternoon and this day proved no exception, drawing many of their patrons into our event.
Thanks to the major sponsors of the Fallen Heroes Memorial Ride including:
• Carrington Charity Foundation
• Tom Lindstrom RV of Moorpark
• Pelican Products
• Independent Settlement Services
• Nationwide Property & Appraisal Services
• Consolidated Analytics
• Sagebrush Cantina
• Sam Brown Shields
• Anza Hotel
• Russ Brown Attorneys at Law
• Rescue Wipes
• Straussner & Sherman IOD Lawyers
• Conejo Valley Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
I wanted to also acknowledge those that worked the months leading up to this event for their dedication and hard work without which we would be lost. Ted Kalnas and Vedamay, Taylor and Debbie Gaskin, Raul and Terry Miranda, Kurt Williamson, Bob Surgeon, Scott Gill, Jay and Cheryl Freeman who work all year to improve this event, Anita McKeown who organizes the LAPD escort, and especially Wendy for putting up with me dealing with this ride almost daily without one complaint. Jim Finn and his staff of the LAFD Historical Society who once again opened up their doors at the Museum for us. Bagpiper John Keyes, Singer extraordinaire John Lee, Chaplin George Negrete, Shannon Saffo and his Honor Guard, and FS 27 with their cadets, The LACOFD and SGVFD Chapters of the Fire Hogs, who came in with strong numbers to support this event, we are so glad you are a part of our Club.
Thanks also to shutterbugs Terry Miranda and Adam Van Gerpen. Theyspent all day taking pictures and then created photo albums for all to see at www.FireHogs.org
Most importantly thanks to the widows and family members of those lost that showed up to our event. After all it is to their honor we enjoy this day!
Additionally, a shout out to the Rocky Mountain, Old Road, and Top Rocker Chapters of the HOG, Iron Spartans, Bella Gypsies, 911 Riders, and numerous other riders with and without Clubs for once again supporting our rides.
Our next event is the Hogs Breath BBQ and Biker games on October 21, 2017. For more info on the Fire Hogs, go to www.Firehogs.org, or Facebook @ L.A.F.D. Fire Hogs, M/C.