MOTORCYCLE MINISTRY

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has established a national Veterans Crisis Line to ensure that Veterans in emotional crisis have free, 24/7 access to trained counselors. To operate the hotline, the VA partnered with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Veterans, family members and friends can call the lifeline number, 800-273-TALK (8255) and press “1” to be routed to the hotline and speak to a counselor about any issue that is creating a crisis situation in his or her life. 741 741 (Ohio’s Crisis Text Line) website: days (not for training) on or after October There are a wealth of resources and organizations dedicated to serving veterans and their families in recognition of their service and sacrifices made. There are a tremendous number of resources out there, many of which can be accessed by www.OhioVets.gov We wanted to include a few items here worth mentioning specifically, but will have far

Veterans Crisis Line

Contact: 800-273-8255 or text 4HOPE to State Hunting and Fishing County Veterans Service Offices www.veteranscrisisline.net Eligibility: Ohio Revised Code provides In Ohio, each county has a Veterans Ohio Veterans Bonus former prisoners of war to receive a fishing professionals that are certified and A State Bonus for those serving in license, hunting license, fur taker permit, dedicated to helping Veterans, their Afghanistan and Elsewhere deer permit, wild turkey permit, wetlands spouses and children, as well as surviving This program provides a monetary bonus for those who served during the time of the conflict in Afghanistan. It pays $100 per month for service in Afghanistan and $50 habitat stamp or any combination of these licenses free of charge. More information can be found at http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov or by calling family members of deceased Veterans. They can assist Ohio’s Veterans in applying for benefits earned by active military service. These include: per month for service elsewhere, up to a 800-Wildlife (945-3543). Federal – Disability Compensation, maximum of $1,500. Eligibility: Veterans Pension, Healthcare, Education, Home (including those currently serving) can Loans, Burial and Survivor Benefits determine if they are eligible by visiting State – Veterans Bonus, Education, the website and using the eligibility tools. Employment, Healthcare, Home Loans, Generally, anyone who served honorably Ohio Veterans Homes, and Military Injury anywhere in the world for more than 90 Relief Fund. more online at www.ThunderRoadsOhio.com – just click on the veterans tab. for eligible resident disabled Veterans and Service Office which is staffed with 7, 2001 is eligible. Applicants must have Local – Claim Preparation and Assistance, been Ohio residents at the time of entry Financial Assistance, Transportation to onto active duty and must be current Ohio VA Medical Appointments, and Indigent residents. Burials. Contact: Applications and Q&A are Many County Veterans Service and County located at: www.veteransbonus.ohio.gov Recorders also make Veterans ID Cards. or at any of Ohio’s 88 County Veterans Ohio Veterans can find their local Service Service Offices. For more information, call Office by calling 877-OHIO-VET (877-644877-OHIOVET (877-644-6838), select 6838) or by visiting www.OhioVets.gov option 2. For instance, the Washington County Please Note: Bonuses offered by the State Veterans Commission (see below) has of Ohio for service during previous wars partnered with Thunder Roads Ohio to have expired help get their message to more Veterans. They will also have copies of Thunder Roads Ohio available each month at their offices.

10 THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

There are numerous motorcycle-oriented Veterans groups across Ohio. We’ve included a few here in effort to encourage those looking for Brothers and Sisters to ride with – to take the step and find a group. Comradery and time with folks that you can connect to as a Veteran is invaluable. Thunder Roads Ohio will be regularly featuring Veterans groups within the magazine and online. We will also be publishing a VETERANS RIDE GUIDE for the STATE OF OHIO in 2019. This will include Veteran Oriented motorcycle events and organizations across Ohio – including a calendar covering the entire riding season. It’s our goal to help support countless charitable organizations, events, and the veterans they serve with this program. For information on how your organization or event can be included in upcoming Veterans features or in the VETERANS RIDE GUIDE, email us at ThunderRoadsOhio@gmail.com

Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association

We are an Association of Combat Veterans from all branches of the United States Armed Forces who ride motorcycles as a hobby. Our mission now is to support and defend those who have defended our country and our freedoms. Our membership is comprised of Full Members (those with verified combat service) and Supporter Members (those who have non-combat military service and have a sincere dedication to helping veterans). Many members continue to serve in our Armed Forces, with several serving in combat areas now. Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association has over 250 Chapters in all 50 states, along with 2 in Germany and 1 in South Korea. One of the great aspects of this organization is that each Chapter can decide which Veteran issue(s) they wish to focus on to best serve our nation’s heroes in their respective Veteran community. The Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Ohio Chapter 12-1 is in the greater Columbus are, serving Central Ohio. Our mission is to help Veterans Care Facilities like the Fisher House, Save A Warrior, and Mission 22. The Fisher House is a home away from home for veterans, active duty, and their families providing a warm loving environment for them to stay in while their family member is in the hospital. Save A Warrior and Mission 22 set to help stop veterans suicide. Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, Ohio Chapter 12-7 serving the greater Cleveland area, has made it our mission to support Veterans dealing with Combat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injuries and other Combat-related traumas. Veterans interested in learning more about Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association can visit: www.combatvet.us

On Facebook, you can find us at CVMA Ohio Chapter 12-7 Incorporated in 1995, Rolling Thunder®, Inc. is a class 501(c) (4) non-profit organization with over 90 chartered chapters

“Our major function is to publicize the POW/

MIA issue, to educate the public of the fact that many American prisoners of war were left behind after all past wars, to help correct the past and to protect the future veterans from being left behind should they become Prisoners of War/Missing in

Action. We are committed to helping American throughout the United States and members abroad. While many members of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. are veterans and many ride motorcycles, neither qualification is a prerequisite. Rolling Thunder®, Inc. members are old and young, men and women, veterans and nonveterans. All are united in the cause to bring full accountability for Prisoners of War (POW) and Missing in Action (MIA) of all wars, reminding the government, the media and the public by our watchwords: “We Will Not Forget.”

Rolling Thunder, Inc. Chapter 1 Ohio Meetings are the 3rd Sunday of the Month @ 2pm VFW Post 6768 8584 Olde Route 8 Northfield, OH 44067 www.rollingthunder1ohio.org

Rolling Thunder, Inc. Chapter 2 Ohio Meetings are the 1st Sunday of the Month 1pm VFW Post 3383 690 West Waterloo Road Akron, OH 44314 rollingthunderchapter2ohio.com