Photo By Master Sgt. Lynette Hoke | Col. Michael Huddleston and Warrent Officer Keith Schweitzer double check their saftey...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Lynette Hoke
Minnesota National Guard Public Affairs
LAKEVILLE, Minn. -- GhostRiders, Inc. loaned the Minnesota National Guard (MNNG) the use of two of their Swift Bar Chopper custom motorcycles. The bikes, valued at $35,000 each, were brought to Ft. McCoy, Wis. for initial reintegration of the 1st Brigade Combat Team (1st BCT) who recently returned from a 22 month tour in Iraq.
On Aug. 31st, Brig. Gen. Jon L. Trost, Assistant Adjutant General, Joint Force Headquarters, presented a certificate of appreciation to the company for their selfless service with helping current and returning service members.
"The bikes they lent were essential to our mission of reintegration," said Sgt. 1st. Class Gerard Hummel, State Safety Assistant and Program Manager for Motorcycle Safety. "Motorcycle and vehicle safety is an identified hazard for returning Soldiers as their skills have atrophied while on deployment."
The custom bikes were quite the topic of conversation during the reintegration programs. The custom motorcycles which GhostRiders, Inc. loaned to the MNNG bought curious persons and seasoned riders alike into a display area. This stressed the importance of new driving policies and safety courses for returning Soldiers.
"Many additional Soldiers from other states were given information about program initiatives their states have taken in motorcycle safety," said Hummel. "Minnesota actually identified and signed up an additional 220 Soldiers that were interested in taking a motorcycle safety class."
During the event where the bikes were displayed, Ft. McCoy, the demobilization site for the 1st BCT, processed around three thousand Soldiers from Minnesota and 36 other states.
"I was not able to witness it first hand, but from photos and what I heard, it seemed to be a huge success," said Joe Hemberger, General Manager of GhostRiders, Inc. "The way that Sgt. 1st Class Hummel used it was probably the same way we would have done it ourselves."
Hemberger is a former member of the 133rd Air Force Security Forces Squadron with the Minnesota National Guard. He is also the only prior service member on the GhostRiders, Inc. team and knew the significance of having a Brigadier General come into his shop.
"I think this was a huge honor," said Hemberger. "I am the only military guy here and I don't think the other guys get what it means to have a General come down to our business and present a certificate of appreciation, it was a huge, huge deal."
"Compared to what the Soldiers do for us, what we did was nothing," said Hemberger.
| Date Taken: | 08.01.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 09.04.2007 16:01 |
| Story ID: | 12181 |
| Location: | LAKEVILLE, US |
| Web Views: | 244 |
| Downloads: | 221 |
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