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BERLIN WALL 20 YEARS LATER

Posted by M*A on Monday, November 09, 2009 4:14:05 PM

Posted without comment from me…but if you don’t know much about the Berlin wall…. you might want to read this.

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NEVER FORGET 9/11 CEREMONY AND RIDE...EASTLAKE, OHIO

Posted by M*A on Sunday, September 07, 2008 5:09:58 PM

DH and I headed out this morning in the rain that kept falling…until we got to Eastlake…right behind a group of bikes headed for the ceremony.  It was sponsored by Western Reserve Harley-Davidson.

Eastlake’s Boulevard of 500 Flags honoring…everyday…the veterans from the Eastlake area.  (I can’t describe the rush of emotion that came over me at the sight of all those flags.)

The ceremony began with Rev. Rich Bartley, Blue Knights Chaplain giving the invocation.  Jim Mantel of WGAR and Monica Robins of WKYC were there.  Monica sang the National Anthem…goosebumps!  Speakers were Robbie Senatore from the New York City Fire Department who lost 343 of his fellow firefighters on 9/11,  Detective Andy Ezzo of the Cleveland Police Department and Bob Smith whose son, Colin was seriously injured in Iraq.  Sadly, the sound system left a lot to be desired and it was difficult to hear most of the speakers.  The ceremony concluded with a 21 gun salute to all of our fallen heroes.  Amazing Grace was played by the Cleveland Firefighters Memorial Pipes and Drums.

While standing at the memorial… part of which is two beams from the Trade Center… I overheard this Mom explaining to her three little boys the meaning of the twisted pieces of metal they were looking at, and why they had come to this place full of motorcycles this morning.  It brought tears to my eyes and reminded me of the man explaining to his little girl at the WWII Memorial what the field of stars represented.

One thing I did hear clearly from the stage was a reminder that while many of us will stop and thank someone in military service…we seldom thank those on the frontlines here at home…our Police Officers and Firefighters.  They too serve, are volunteers and leave home not knowing what awaits them in the course of their duty.  We need to remember them and thank them.

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

It’s hard to believe it’s been 7 years.   And…I think there are those that have forgotten..or at least…who have not given much thought to that terrible day and what it represents.  It is much easier not to think about it…not to look at the photographs and the videos.  But we need to.  Because as cliche as it may be, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Thank You…all who serve…military and civilian.

*With a little luck, there may be video to come…we’ll see!

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NEVER FORGET 9-11 RALLY CLEVELAND AREA

Posted by M*A on Monday, August 11, 2008 6:51:41 PM

This morning I received a flyer for the Western Reserve Harley Dealership “Never Forget 9-11 Rally”. Words…how often 7 years ago did you hear…”never forget”. That’s what was said about Pearl Harbor too. I wonder if you asked random people under a certain age…could they tell you? When was the last time you saw images from 9-11 on television? Personally, I think they should be shown everyday.

Those of a certain age will remember….back in the day…when television wasn’t 24/7. There actually came a time, midnight usually, when stations actually went off the air. Before they did, the National Anthem was played, with a visual of the American Flag or like this. The Daughter often begins one of her rants with “if I ran things”…well…if *I* ran things…we’d begin and end the day with the pictures of the towers falling. Or…maybe that would just make us immune…how about once a week? It’s all too easy to avoid thinking about the horrors of that day. We say it was terrible, a tragedy, but we don’t really let ourselves go there. We listen to politicians say we need to reach out…talk to the people that hate this country so much. I just don’t understand that…the simple fact is there are just some people you can’t talk to. The “reasons” for the attack have been debated and written about by people who know a lot more than I do so I’ll skip the rant here. I’ll just say that any religion/ideology that leads to the images in the video below…is the enemy. Never Forget…..

“NEVER FORGET 9/11 RALLY”

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2008

11:30 A.M. Public Ceremony

BOULEVARD OF FLAGS

EASTLAKE, OHIO (R. 91& Lakeshore Blvd.)

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE AND THEIR FAMILIES!

Motorcycles will depart from various Harley Davidson dealerships in a processional ride to the Boulevard of Flags. JIM MANTEL of WGAR will MC the ceremony. MONICA ROBINS of WKYC will sing the National Anthem. The ceremony will honor the 3000 Americans, Firefighters and Police that lost their lives on September 11, 2001 and over 4100 American soldiers that have lost their lives in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. The Ceremony will begin at 11:30 AM and conclude at 12:30 PM. The Boulevard of Flags has 500 flags honoring our Fallen Hero’s from Wars past and present. The City Eastlake is one of the only cities in the USA to have a 9/11 Memorial consisting of actual steel girders from the World Trade Center, granite from the Pentagon and grass from Flight 93 crash site in Shanksville.

Motorcycles will begin to stage at the following locations at 9:00 A.M.

Lake Erie Harley Davidson, Avon, Ohio - (10:00 AM Departure)

Harley Davidson Sales Company, W.145 &Lorain; Cleveland, Ohio

South East Harley Davidson; Bedford Hts., Ohio

Western Reserve Harley Davidson; Mentor, Ohio

Motorcycles will depart for Eastlake, Ohio at 10:30 AM

Processional Ride from Eastlake Ohio to Western Reserve Harley Davidson immediately after the ceremony for food and entertainment, in honor of the families who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. Sponsored by Western Reserve Harley Davidson from 12:30 to 3:00 PM.

Rally Organizer John “KIKS” Kikol  440-327-6966  or kiksharley@aol.com

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