Since 2001 [the Marietta H.O.G.] chapter has held a ride in the fall of the year called "The Ride for Freedom". This ride initially started as a response to the events of 9-11 and as I was not a chapter member at that time I do not know the beneficiary of the monies collected. In 2003 our past Director, Randy Hill changed the focus of this ride to the United Service Organization, more commonly known as the USO. Many of us know the USO as an organization that provides entertainment for service people throughout the world during holiday times as evidenced by the Bob Hope tours of years past. Yes, they do this but they do far more than that and here in Atlanta they play a very important role in the lives of our military.

On August 24 of this year the Atlanta USO team accompanied by a 3 Star General from the pentagon met the 250,000 troops returning from duty in the Middle East. When I heard that number I was astonished. Most of these service people are returning home for some R&R and some for compassionate leave due to family issues, but all are met, thanked for their service to all of us and then escorted to a quite area where they can get a bite to eat, relax a little and make phone calls prior to departing on the next leg of their journey. They also receive a "Hero Bear" to take with them and as I understand it most of the Bears are left at home with their children when they return to duty. The bear is a tangible object that allows a child to touch a part of their Mom or Dad while the parent serves.

Last year this ride had 150 bikes in total. Thanks to Full Throttle printing a letter from the chapter, the turn out was good. This year Full Throttle chose not to print an article so we will not get the press we had last year. Thanks to the efforts of Sonny Guntermann, our ride is being publicized. Sonny is blanketing all Atlanta area motorcycle shops with flyers and posters advertising the ride. The "Kimmer" will also give us some air time and as in the past will be lead bike or trike as the case may be for the ride, This year, Hooters is not only bringing the lovelies to support us but will also have food available at ESHD. The CMA will also be on hand with coffee thanks to Ann and Jonathan.

Sign up starts at 11am on 11-6 and the ride will leave at 1pm. If there is one charity ride you do a year, this should be the one, if for no other reason, than this is your chapter’s event. The ride cost is $25 per rider with $5 for a passenger and you will get a nice patch will rockers for the rides you have done in the past. Please join us on November 6th. As in the past vets and active duty military will ride up front, our small way of saying thanks to those that have served in the past and those who are serving to keep us free today.