Ride Report and photos submitted  by: John Stein, aka “Goldwing30″


Sometimes when you think you have dotted your eyes, crossed your tee’s and made all of your calls, your Hero catches a tailwind and arrives a little early. I called the family to meet us at the airport. I then briefed the crew about our package, MA2 Steve Emerson arrived last week at Camp Pendelton, California, for demobilization. From there, Steve had to fly to his home base in Jacksonville, Florida to secure his canine partner, DINGO. Dingo is Steve’s military working dog. During Steve’s first tour, he and Dingo TWICE found caches of weapons buried in the desert by the enemy.

Steve and Dingo are heroes on the war front, and Steve is also a hero here on the home front for the work that he has done in Jacksonville. According to Steve’s mom, Harriette, “Steve started a program in Jacksonville, where he has a group of guys and gals from the base greet every person returning from Iraq or Afghanistan. Since that initiative was apparently important to him, I thought it would be nice for us to be able to do something special for him. He is so proud of his service to this country, and of course, we are very proud of him.”

After  9-11 Steve felt a commitment to serve his country, despite his friends strongly discouraging him to enlist. When his first four year tour in the Navy did not include a deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan, he re-enlisted in order to increase his chances to do what he said was “his part”…. and he has done that now …. twice.

We ended up meeting the family at the terminal lining up 25 Motorcycles and 6 Cages. Inside we took a position outside the elevator while A Heroes Welcome went upstairs, I had His mom bring Steve to me when they were done at the gate. After introducing myself, I said I understand you know something about homecomings and placed them all into the elevator. I must say this was a very humbled soldier when the cheers, Hugs and Handshakes were for him. When he made it thru with his family close at his side I slipped him his coin.

We had another excellent escort by the Philadelphia Highway Patrol and North Hampton PD, Steve could not get over  the “Rock Star” treatment. Flags lined the street as we made our way to the house, Sirens wailing, engines revving people cheering.  At the house AHW was there with all of the neighbors,  and the local fire truck.

While at the house we had the honor of passing on a few more coins, first to Steve’s father who served four years in the Navy second to Gold Star mom Fran Dembowski and Third to Steve’s uncle who is a Vietnam Veteran, This veteran appreciated that coin  more with each person he showed because of the words on the back.

Thank you Steve for your service and Dedication.

Thank You to the Emerson family for the hospitality