More than 200 Fire Hogs, family, and friends showed up on June 13, 2015, to honor our Fallen Heroes – what a successful event this was! Successful in the grandest terms of giving back to our Widows & Orphans and making sure they are not forgotten, showing pride in the community, and most importantly the comradery we share within the Fire Hogs and fire service.
Dan Curry sang the National Anthem acapella as a true professional. Chaplin Danny Leon led us in prayers and blessings for the ride. Jack Wise introduced those in attendance who lost beloved members: Sylvia McKnight (Matt McKnight) along with his brother Mitch and their children, Laurie Harris (Brett Harris) Lee, Cheryl Lee (Brian Lee) and their children, and Valerie Lawrence (John Lawrence). He gave a brief history of the 10 Bells and then introduced the Mc Knight family who were escorted up to the podium by the Color Guard and collectively rang the 10 Bells honoring those lost. Randy Keyes finished the opening ceremony with his bagpiping skills leaving nary a dry eye among all these harden bikers. Dignitaries who spoke included Fire Chief and Fire Hog prospect Ralph Terrazas, who mentioned that his efforts to gain full patch status may rest on certain transfers, and Councilmember Mitch Englander who presented the Fire Hogs with a Council Resolution! Representing CD 4 our very own retired firefighter Issac Burke also had some great support.
Now usually after the speeches the dignitaries drive off into the sunset and that’s it. But this year Councilmember Englander and Fire Chief/prospect Terrazas joined the ride upfront with the board members. During these ceremonies the Fire Hogs M/C presented to the Historical Society (Jim Finn) a $500 donation to carry on their good work.
The weather was a little cooler then past rides but that didn’t deter the 150 motorcycles from enjoying the ceremony at the Fire Museum and the escorted ride along Sunset and PCH, through the Canyons of Malibu, along Mulholland and into the Sagebrush Cantina for the taco bar, libations, and dancing to the heart thumping music of Engineer Jimmy Como’s band Full House.
With countless raffle items and three live auction items there were very few that walked away without something. I always enjoy the live auction the best as the Van Blarcom brothers try to out bid each other. The competition for these items was intense – my daughter even got involved bidding for the Fire Axe!
Gary Stamison was the lead force in motivating fellow Fire Hogs to collect sponsorships for our Memorial Ride and was the creator of the “Member Challenge,” a contest that recognized those members that brought in the highest sponsorship. 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. We are still collecting the receipts but the past few year’s winners, Kurt Williamson and Bob Sturgeon, faced their biggest challenge to date.
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 and Roll sets. There is just nothing that can compare to the Sagebrush Cantina on a summer afternoon and this day proved no exception, drawing many of their patrons into our event.
After our Main Event at the Cantina ended, many of us took the festivities back to the Anza Hotel. After that it was back to the Sagebrush where their house band was in full swing. I understand a few of the night owls closed the Cantina in true Fire Hog fashion!
Thanks to the major sponsors of the Fallen Heroes Memorial Ride including:
Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys, CoreLogic, Jason Knight and Fire Axe Inc., Sagebrush Cantina, Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association, Sam Brown, Lagunitas Brewing, California Causuality, Fire Fighters First Credit Union, Tour Paks and One Capital Management.
I also wanted to acknowledge those that worked the months leading up to this event for their dedication and countless hours of hard work without which we would be lost: Val Lawrence and her group of volunteers, Ted Kalnas and Vedamay, Taylor and Debbie Gaskin, Raul and Terry Miranda, Kurt Williamson, Bob Surgeon, Tuzz Daddy, Scott Gill, Jay and Cheryl Freeman, and especially Wendy for putting up with me dealing with this ride almost daily for the last six months without one complaint. Also Jim Finn and his staff of the LAFD Historical Society who once again opened up their doors at the museum for us to put on this event, bagpiper John Keyes, singer extraordinaire Dan Curry, Chaplin Danny Leon, Shanon Saffo and his Honor Guard, and Fire Station 27 with their cadets.
We couldn’t have documented this entire event without the help of the shutterbugs Terry Miranda and Adam Van Gerpen who not only spent all day taking pictures while the rest of us tore it up, they also created photo albums of the days events for all to see. Go to www.firehogs.org to check out the pics.
There are many more that helped and assisted in other ways that deserve our gratitude as well. It is also important to mention a few that were absent from this year’s ride. Founding member and MC John O’Connor and Michelle were MARRIED in Ireland during this weekend! But did ya have to take the whole board with ya? Also Fire Hog Angel Meza and his lovely bride Juliana were married this weekend. Congratulations to both couples!
Most importantly thanks to the widows and family members of those lost that showed up to our event, many of which stayed to enjoy the festivities. We hope that our tribute was just. After all it is to their honor we ride this day!
Additionally, a heartfelt thanks to the LACoFD chapter of the Fire Hogs who really stepped up in supporting this ride in numbers and assistance. Also a shout out to the Wind and Fire M/C, Smoke Eaters M/C, Gunfighters M/C, and Iron Brotherhood M/C for once again supporting our rides!
For those that didn’t make it, it was YOUR LOSS . . .
Our next event is the Hogs Breath BBQ and Biker games on October 10, 2015.
Members wishing more information on becoming a Fire Hog and information on upcoming events go to our website at www.FireHogs.org. Follow us on Facebook @ L.A.F.D. Fire Hogs, M/C.