Thunder Roads Magazine of Oregon | Page 23

Ride RED WHITE AND BLUE - Our Oath Never Expires Members (those with non-combat military service) and Auxiliary Members, those of spouses of Full or Support members. Combat Veteran Motorcycle Association Chapter 29 Eve “Rogue” Greenman – CVMA Public Relations The Oregon chapter of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association was established in 2007. Since the CVMA does not claim territory, they use numbers to denote their State and local chapters. Oregon was the 29th state to have a CVMA chapter, hence the 29. Our first Chapter 29-1 was formed in 2009. The original members included only 13 members. Today, CVMA continues to grow and perform our mission of “Vets Helping Vets” at the community levels with multiple chapters located throughout the state. We are an association of combat veterans from all branches of the United States armed forces who ride motorcycles. We are not a club nor will we ever attempt to be a motorcycle club, we do wear a one-piece patch (emblem / logo) used to represent the CVMA. The emblem of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association is in the shape of a skull encompassed by the following colors. The color Red representing the blood that has been shed on the battlefield. The military Gold, representing all branches of the military service of the United States. Black, presenting the heavy hearts possessed for those who gave their lives and for those that are considered missing in action or prisoners of war. The Skull and Ace of Spade represents the death that war leaves in its wake. Association membership is broken down into Full Members (those with verified combat service) Supporter “OUR MISSION” We are an Association of Combat Veterans from all branches of the United States Armed Services. Our mission now is to support and defend those who have defended our country and our freedoms. Our focus is to help veteran-care facilities provide a warm meal, clothing, shelter and guidance, or simply to say “thank you” and “welcome home.” “MOTTO” Vet’s helping Vet’s Our primary focus is to help and support veterans, combat or non-combat, in any way we can. We do this by participating in numerous motorcycle and non-motorcycle events each year. As a non-profit organization, we donate time and resources to various veterans’ care facilities as well as many veterans’ charities. Our reason for coming together as an association is to focus on Veterans Helping Veterans, including our own membership. CVMA has a brotherhood... it is a brotherhood of sharing the experience of combat. The scars of combat are both physical and mental. Some scars are far more traumatic than others. The experiences of each member is different from another... each service has its mission. The full members talk about the bad times and go od times of serving in combat. The moments they share help them sort out the hard times in dealing with the injury and / or loss of fallen soldiers. There are lots of closed doors in the minds of combat Thunder Roads Magazine® Oregon 20