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From the Gazeebo...  

WWR: ON "BROTHERHOOD"

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. For he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother." - Shakespeare

As bikers and veterans, which many (by no means all) of us are, we have become used to using the word "brother" in addressing each other, even when meeting new members, riders on the road, soldiers in the airport. (Editorial note: Throughout this essay and to avoid the cumbersome "he/she" type of PC language, I will use the word "brother" and "brotherhood," and leave it understand that ALL fellow road warriors and veterans are included in that descriptive, male and female alike.) I've had reason lately to think about the concept of brotherhood as we, the members of the Warriors' Watch Riders and other MCs and Veteran's groups, see it.

The sense of brotherhood that we have for a fellow human being grows out of shared experiences. A brotherhood exists between bikers because being a biker is something quite different from being, say, a "driver." A "driver" operates an automobile. A "biker" lives a lifestyle. A biker expresses an attitude and a way of looking at the world. But more than that, a biker lives a high-risk lifestyle.

The bond of brotherhood grows stronger when shared experiences become shared risks. Riding a motorcycle every day and for long distances is inherently risky - much more risky than simply driving a car - and the willing acceptance of this high risk adds to the sense of brotherhood with fellow riders.

Along with shared experiences, shared attitudes, shared risks, come shared values. Bikers share a value system that puts a higher importance on the ride than on the destination. In other words, it ain't where you're going that's the thing, rather it's how you get there and what you see, do, and experience along the way - another difference between a driver and a rider.

The Ride to a particular destination is often the cause of some degree of hardship. The rider is exposed to extremes of weather. A 40 degree temperature is chilly. But at 55 miles per hour an uncomfortable chill turns into a dangerously cold 28 degree hazard. Some road conditions that wouldn't even be noticed by a driver - debris, sand, potholes, sharp curves, the oil slick at the toll booth - can be deadly to a rider, and encounters with these hazards add to the risks and hardships that come as a cost of a Ride and by extension build the bonds of biker brotherhood. When a fellow rider approaching in the other direction gives you "the wave," he isn't just saying "howdy." He's acknowledging that in you he sees a fellow rider who shares all of these experiences. He's saying to you, "yes, I feel exhilaration, the freedom of the wind. I, like you, have endured the cold and the rain and the heat. I know the feeling of 800 pounds of Harley Davidson pinning down my leg. I, like you, have left skin, leather and denim behind on asphalt. I, like you, I know that the Ride is more than just getting to the destination. I, like you, know that the more hardship that is endured on a Ride, the more fun it is to tell the story of that Ride later.

This is the unique biker brotherhood, a brotherhood of shared experience and shared risk, the brotherhood of the Ride.

Now, take all of that, above, and add to it our love and devotion for our nation's warriors, and ours becomes a true brotherhood of shared convictions. It is this devotion to our troops that brings us together to begin with - it is the primary bond that ties us together. For those of us who are also veterans, the bonds tighten even further. I remember once during a Welcome Home celebration for a young soldier who was particularly surprised and honored by the attention he was receiving. I pulled him aside at one point and said to him, "You may not understand this now, but it is the truth: you have just earned hundreds of new brothers. If you ever want to test that, just call." If your bike breaks down on a Ride, we may not have the money to fix it for you, but we will never leave you behind. Never.

Brotherhood comes of shared values, experiences, ideals, and is strengthened through shared suffering, hardship and blood.

Most of you have experienced this: You meet some WWRiders from another state - either travelling, or you travelled to them. I remember Medsman from the St. Louis area, Lisa and Denise from the Chicago area, and our brothers and sisters in Georgia, all saying virtually the same thing - that they had the same feeling that we had upon meeting them - that we knew them already, that we were immediately at ease with them, as if we had been riding together for years. This is the WWR brotherhood - a uniquely American brotherhood.

I will leave this with a final thought: Brotherhood means being there when it's uncomfortable. When you do your next welcome home, look closely at the Warrior guest of honor, and imagine yourself inside his head for a moment. When the joy of coming home is done, when the fun and excitement of his welcome home escort is past, when he is alone and beginning to settle into "normal" life in America, he may begin to feel differently. Be his brother - check on him. Give the family a call, say "I'm so and so and I was the such and such person on the motorcycle. I just wanted to let you know that we're thinking about you, and remind you that we are still here to support you if we can, if you call for us." Too many soldiers, the best and brightest that our nation has to offer, are having "readjustment" problems, and often these are problems that we could help with through small and simple gestures of friendship - in other words, acts of brotherhood. WE WILL LEAVE NO BROTHER/SISTER BEHIND. When the parade is over and the flags and banners are taken down and the friends and family members go home, the Warriors' Watch will still be there, in one way or another. It's what we do, it's who we are, and God bless you for it.

- Wayne Lutz

TELEVISION APPEARANCE

If you live in the Philadelphia, Tri-State area, be sure to tune in this Sunday morning to CW Philly, on channell 57. At 8am Gold Star Mother and Operation Bedding founder Mary Conboy and yours truly, Wayne Lutz, will be the guests on a half-hour Sunday morning show called Speak Out! The show was actually taped last night at the CBS building in center city. We will be talking about Operation Bedding, Mary's Marine son Adam Conboy, killed in Iraq three and a half years ago, and our newest project, Big Brothers-In-Arms.

MEMBER NEWS

CORRECTION: NEW NEW JERSEY ASCS

In last week's The Ride I reported on the new ASC appointments in New Jersey. I incorrectly said that these were SCs: Tugboat, Tiny and Sidecar. This was incorrect, I should have said Tugboat, Tiny and Paulie B. But the rest of my statement then stands: "I know your hearts and I've seen your hustle, and we are all grateful to you for continuing the hard work taking place in Jersey."

FALL HAS FALLEN, OCTOBER IS HERE.

Here is your October Riding Tip:

Contrary to the rumors, CARVED PUMPKINS ARE NOT DOD APPROVED RIDING HEADWEAR.

SEND A CARE PACKAGE TO OUR TROOPS

If you are looking for an easy way to support our troops, look no further than my favorite troop-support fund, the Adam Conboy Fund's "Operation Bedding." Since its founding three years ago by Gold Star Mom Mary Conboy, Operation Bedding has sent over 10,000 care packages to troops. They know the ropes, they know what's needed. For $20, Operation Bedding will pack and ship a care package in your name to a Warrior who needs it most. Go to the Operation Bedding webiste to get yours!

NEW STUFF

If you haven't been to the Warriors' Watch Riders "Store" lately, there are a lot of new pins and patches there now, and more is coming soon - including one big surprise that we hope to have ready by Christmas. Check out the store! (We finally changed the name of the PayPal account, from "Annettes' Herb Garden," to something a little more, shall we say, "manly." "Free American Biker." Hey! Man-Up!

OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS, NEWS REPORTS SAY THAT 4,000 TROOPS WILL BE COMING HOME FROM IRAQ. WE WILL BE BUSY, DOING WHAT WE LOVE TO DO, WHAT WE DO BEST. . Please check the Mission Planning Forums for upcoming Welcome Home rides - we need your support! The Mission Planning forums can be viewed even if you are not registered on the forums. However, if you have NOT YET REGISTERED ON THE FORUMS, PLEASE DO SO NOW to ensure that you do not miss any of the excitement, planning and discussion of this upcoming activity! Click on this link and register on the forums now!

Until next time: MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS THIS, STILL THE GREATEST NATION ON EARTH, AND ALL OF THOSE WHO DO, HAVE, OR WILL DEFEND HER, AT HOME AND ABROAD.

- Wayne Lutz

*This newsletter is named "The Weekly Ride" or "The Ride", for short, in memory of and to honor Sgt. Jennifer Hartman, U.S. Army. Sgt. Hartman was killed in Iraq by America's enemies. She died in defense of our freedom at the age of 20. This quote from Jennifer was read at her graveside:

"It's not about what happened in the past. It's not about what might happen in the future. It's about the ride, for Christ's sake."

Click here for a Tribute to Sgt. Jennifer Hartman: "The Ride"