CHELSEA, Maine — Warren Ard knows a lot of veterans who could use a little help.
He knows one whose wife is recovering from major surgery, another whose home recently burned and another struggling to heat his home. And then there are the homeless ones.
“The government takes better care of vets than when I got out of the service, but there are still a lot of veterans out there who can’t get the help they need,” said Ard, who served in the Army in the 1970s and now lives in Liberty. “If we know of a veteran who’s in trouble, if he needs anything, we should do our best to help him.”
That’s the premise under which Ard and some others formed the Garry Owen Motorcycle Club last year: to help veterans whenever they can and, of course, enjoy their iron two-wheeled horses. The club, which started officially last May, has already gathered donations, raffled off firewood and a handmade quilt and is organizing benefit suppers.
And then there have been some of the activities you’d expect from a motorcycle club: applying symbolic patches to their leather vests, tuning up their machines and, on Saturday, making their allegiance to the club permanent with tattoos.
For many, it might be difficult to distinguish the rough-around-the-edges Garry Owen riders from members of other motorcycle groups, but club Treasurer Curby Biagiotti of Montville said there are some key differences. The mission, he said, is purely charitable.
“We’re not a 1 percent club or an outlaw club,” he said. “Our primary goal is to help veterans, and that’s it.”
Garry Owen is not a person. Garryowen is a place in Ireland near the city of Limerick and, more importantly, a legend perpetuated in an Irish quick-step fiddle tune that dates back to the 1600s. More recently, the tune has been used by the U.S. Army’s first and seventh Cavalry Regiments and holds an honored place in military history. That history is captured by the Garry Owen Motorcycle Club’s crest, which includes the color yellow, which is a color traditionally used by American cavalries, a horse that signifies the mode of transit and a heavy black line that represents the road taken. That crest appears on the club’s vests — known as “cuts” — and after the tattoo session Saturday, on members’ bodies.
But permanent ink is not a requirement. The only qualification to join is military service by the member or someone in his immediate family and ownership of a motorcycle with a 750-cubic-centimeter-or-larger engine, whether it’s made at the Harley-Davidson factory or anywhere else.
Clint Dodge of Rockland is one of the younger members of the club who joined up about two months ago. He said he did it in honor of his grandfather, a former Navy sailor.
“I saw it as an opportunity to try to help out some veterans,” he said. “My grandfather always taught me to respect your elders. Any elders. He’d be pretty proud of what this club stands for.”
For more information about the Garry Owen Motorcycle Club, visit the website www.garryowen.org, or call Curby Biagiotti or club member Dwayne Keller of Chelsea at 313-2644 or 215-7782, respectively. Members are expected to attend monthly meetings whenever possible and to participate in fundraisers for veterans.
“We are 100-percent Americans,” reads the club’s website. “We are a family oriented club that still adheres to the values of OUR founding fathers.”
The national motorcycle association Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association does the same thing. And they are an association not a club. Clubs tend to carry the stigma of motorcycle gangs etc. They are also limited on where they can display their colors. See the CVMA web site for more information.
CVMA was developed for Viet Nam era vets and most are too old to still ride and be active. This is a younger crowd-give them a break! I belong to CVMA. I’m retired and not active in the association, but still ride and will always help a fellow Vet-anywhere-anytime.
I am an OIF Vet and I belong to CVMA. There are a lot of younger Combat Vets in CVMA. I support all organizations that support vets. I was just pointing out that CVMA does the same things.
Dana, I’m not familar with OIF vets. Please help me out-
Operation Iraqi Freedom = OIF.
What a great idea….reminds me of the Patriot Guard.
“We are 100-percent Americans,” reads the club’s website. “We are a family oriented club that still adheres to the values of OUR founding fathers.”
Then knock off the outlaw look; no one will trust you.
Otherwise:
“The horse you never rode, the road you never crossed and the colors are the reason why.” The 1st Cav dishonor will remain in place.
So you’re going to discredit this group because of how they look, and because of a rumor from the 1950s that can neither be proved or disproved? Seriously??
The best book I ever read, has an unattractive cover……..the Bible.
I’m willing to give anyone a chance to do something good. That would be oppossed to doing something bad, which seems to be the current disease lately.
You might consider giving them a chance, if they fail then you can be a self-righteous “I told you so.” melina that your trying to convince us of right now.
The 1st Cav might have lost their colors in the fifties but they more than earned them back in the Central Highland of Vietnam in the 60’s.
Boonie Rat
How long will it take before people state to run them down like they do other motorcycles
artist asked not to be identified… I dont blame him. That tat is weak.
Otherwise..any group to help vets is great!
Prob more like he didn’t want the 1%r’s knowing what he was up to. Can’t blame him.
That’s a bunch of bull!, why should any MC let them selves be intimidated by a MC of bullys?
The website is wrong. The right one is: www.garryowenmc.com
http://www.garryowenmc.org/ is the right one
dough! haha thanks.
I don’t think these guys realize that their name Garry Owen that they chose actually has a much deeper meaning for a lot of Maine soldiers than they realize… Well played-
Hmmmmmm wonder how the rest of the clubs feel about another club wearing colors..Im all for helping out and i applaud them..But..if your not an outlaw club get rid of the 3 peice patch and wear a pizza patch..just sayn..not sure the other clubs are going to be happy.. And BDN cutts? try rags or colors..Cutts? maybe its ebonic ..
Duuuuude, so impressive when you talk biker smack. Did you watch Easy Rider?
Probally because i wear a set of colors from a club within the colalition of Maine.and know wtf im talking about..im guessing your a wanna be .
Impressive (not really, but feel free to toot your own horn some more) =0)
I was wondering if they met with the Coalition of clubs or they’re gonna be surprised…
There again,we are NOT an outlaw club. We have no disrespect for the coalition of clubs.
It’s the rocker that might draw attention. I believe the colors are OK as long as there’s no rocker referenced to a territory. In any case, I’d hope they would have contacted the larger clubs to make sure all is kept well. It’s a great cause – hate to see it all go bad.
I applaud Warren Ard and his group for re-inventing the Biker Image. I have a Son (Vet) in Washington State whose group has also done this with tremendous success. Not only are these Bikers helping Vets but are an asset to their communities. i.e. Toy runs..Charity Rides for Children’s hospitals..etc.
looks aren’t everything. they are stepping up to help others in need, which is more than could be said for some.
Any help they can provide is appreciated. I couldn’t join this club even if I wanted to. I’ll be lucky if I can save up money for a 50 cc trike this year.
Veterans helping veterans is a great idea. Three-piece patch, with “MC” – not so great. Bad tat- even worse. Good thing you’re not a 1%er club eh? Let’s hope those other clubs realize that before someone gets hurt. If it’s not a 1% club why do you have prospects? I also love the fact that some dudes grandfather was a vet so he gets to join, what’s his excuse? Really though, best of luck.
Whats his excuse??? His excuse is that if you or a family were/are a Vet,you can be in the club.THAT young man has busted his azz in this club to help out VETERANS. He has more stones than a lot of guys twice his age.He joined because he wants to do some good in this world. THAT is what we are about,helping VETERANS.BTW-several of our members are also in law enforcement,something to think about.. Oh and it seems we have another award winning expert on tattoos here. Huh, what ever happened to people minding thier own buisness??
As a 24 year veteran of the military, I enlisted during Viet-Nam and just came back as a civilian from Iraq, I feel I have the right to my opinion. Helping veterans is a good thing – and the tat, well, I’ve seen better – ok? If that man truely is a young man why doesn’t he enlist…they still have a need ya know? With your hair trigger against anyone who has a different opinion I’d advise you to be very careful where you go wearing that three piece patch. If you want people to mind their (correct spelling) own business don’t have articles published in the BDN.
Correction: I dont have a hair trigger on others opinions. Unlike a lot of people ,I know not everyone will agree with me. As I said earlier,it seems that there are a lot of arm chair quarterbacks out there that know way more than anyone else and cant wait to tell you what you are doing wrong(just a generality,not aimed directly at you). We are greatful for your service and our goal is to help VETERANS. As far as the patch goes, its been around now for almost a year and EVERYONE knows about it and what we are about. We are not infringing on any other clubs buisness.
I was just saying the other day, we dont have enough motorcycle groups in Maine as role models for the young impressionist youth of Maine, lets hope Maine gets some more motorcycle groups.
And is that not how many motorcycle gangs begin, with an innocent mission to help humanity. The tattoo fad? it ended about 10 years ago.
Get a look at the table they are using… nice and sterile don’t ya think?
That the only thing you can find to put down?? The TABLE? BTW,that table is no more un sterile than any other table in a tattoo shop. Disposable needles and tubes in sterile packaging all done in accordance to guidelines.
Ever notice that whenever you do something and it gets a little publicity,the nay-sayers crawl out from hiding and ridicule what ever you are doing? Mr/Mrs/Miss Nay-sayer,what are YOU doing to help your fellow man??? Politicians wear suits,do you trust THEM?? Many of our club members fought in combat,were wounded and many fellow servicemen have DIED to give you nay-sayers the right to come along and ridicule,threaten,and put down what others are doing to help others.Miss Wing,please forward your email to our website so that next time one of us gets a tattoo we can get your expert opinion on it…Again, Garry Owen MC is NOT an outlaw club.we are 100 percent Americans.
I am sure some dudes grandfather would appreciate that comment.
I am very proud to be a vet and i think it is good for the vets that didn;t go over seas;that ride bikes to be able to become a member of this club . Im looking foward to meeting these guys R.E.O