CALENDAR FEATURE

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, and even several overseas. 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. Veterans interested in learning more about Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association can visit: www.combatvet.us

Regional Chapters include: CVMA 12-1, Central Ohio

CVMA12-1.org www.Facebook.com/OhioCVMA

CVMA 12-5, Shiloh

Serving members from Sandusky, Lorain, Ashland, Marion, and Mount Vernon CVMA12-5.org Tango@cvma-oh-12-5.org

CVMA 12-7, Northeast Ohio www.CVMA12-7.org www.Facebook.com/CVMA12.7

CVMA 12-8, Hillsboro

Dragonfly0665.wixsite.com/mysite Dadkins4800@yahoo.com

CVMA 35-1, UP Michigan

www.Facebook.com/UPCVMA CombatVet.org

CVMA 35-3, Southeastern Michigan

CVMA353.wordpress.com CVMAMI353@gmail.com

CVMA 35-4, Western Michigan

Covering Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo area. www.Facebook.com/CVMAwestMichigan CVMAMi35-4.org

CVMA 35-7, The Lost Boys

www.facebook.com/CVMALostBoys cvma.lostboys@usa.com

Leathernecks Nation Motorcycle Club

Leathernecksnationmc.com

Our members consist of a very special breed of person. In most military services, you can be all that you can be, but the members of this club who joined the Marines found themselves being more than they ever thought possible. Both Marines and FMF Corpsmen who wore the eagle, globe, and anchor, have a very special bond and loyalty to one another, which comes quite natural to us. When you combine this bond with the love of motorcycling through the beauty of the country in which we would die for – you’ve created a special breed of person – A Leathernecks Nation Motorcycle Club Member! We are looking for a few good men who served with the Marine Corps, as well as Navy Corpsmen who served with the FMF. Honorably discharged, active duty, or retirees only. Our colors are earned only through hard work, respect, dedication and loyalty to the club. All cruiser style bikes are welcome but American is preferred. We are not a 1% club.

Leathernecks Nation Glorious Bastards Chapter OH

mcooper101@yahoo.com Summit, Portage Counties OH www.facebook.com/leathernecksnation

Leathernecks MC War Machine Chapter

1323 Eureka Rd., Wyandotte MI Find us on Facebook “Leathernecks MC War Machine Chapter”

Leathernecks MC, Dawg Haus Chapter of Michigan

Open every other Saturday 7258 Lakeshore, Lexington MI www.facebook.com/DawgHausChapter dawghauslmci@gmail.com

Incorporated in 1995, Rolling Thunder®, Inc. is a class 501(c)(4) non-profit organization with over 90 chartered chapters 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 non-veterans. 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 www.rollingthunderchapter2ohio.com

Rolling Thunder, Chapter 10 Ohio

Meetings 1st Sunday of the Month at 1:30pm Wapak VFW 712 Dixie Hwy, Wapakoneta OH 45895 www.RollingThunderOhio10.com President.Ohio.10@gmail.com

Rolling Thunder Michigan Chapter 1

Meetings are the third Sunday of each month at 1:30pm Kaleva VFW Post #6333 13300 9 Mile Road, Kaleva MI RollingThunderMi1@gmail.com RollingThunderMichigan1.com

Rolling Thunder Michigan Chapter 4

Meetings are held on the 2nd Sunday of each month at 1pm At the Rolling Thunder MI Chapter 4 Offices 548 S Getty St Muskegon, MI 49442 RollingThunderMI4.org 231-534-5362

Rolling Thunder Michigan Chapter 5

Meetings are held 2nd Sunday of each month at 10am GBACC 218 E Grand River Ave, Brighton MI 48116 www.RollingThunderMich5.com rtmc5.President@Gmail.com (248) 505-5953

“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 veterans from all wars.”

Most Beloved Veterans

The American Legion Voted for America's Top 25 Favorite Veterans

Courtesy Military.com | By Blake Stilwell The U.S. has no shortage of famous and beloved veterans. In the relatively short history of the country, it has given its fighting men and women ample opportunity to distinguish themselves. In 2014, the American Legion, the largest veterans service organization with hundreds of thousands of posts and 2.3 million members, polled its members to find out which historical veterans are the most "beloved." Legionnaires were not shy about their responses. Some 70,000 votes came in for a pool of 100 potential candidates. The Legion compiled the information to make the following list of America's most beloved veterans, which contains a good mix of historical figures, modern-day heroes and a few surprises. See whether you agree with the Legionnaires' choices below.

1. Audie Murphy

It's not so hard to believe that the most decorated combat soldier of World War II -- and maybe ever -- tops the list of America's most beloved veterans. Murphy is the recipient of every combat award the Army had to give and a couple of combat awards from France and Belgium to boot. He received the Medal of Honor for single-handedly fighting a company of Germans in France's Colmar Pocket for an hour at just 19 years old. Murphy went on to star as himself in a movie about his own life and World War II experiences, adapted from the book he wrote about himself. That movie was just one in a string of film appearances spanning 21 years. He died in a plane crash in 1971.

2. George Washington

George Washington comes in at No. 2 on the list of beloved veterans, and just judging from his military experiences, it's easy to see why. He survived smallpox, tuberculosis, dysentery, pneumonia, malaria and diphtheria. He's had horses shot from under him, holes shot in his uniform and didn't care about winning the battle when that win would cost him the war. He defeated a global superpower because he commanded respect, and we made him President for it. Knowing his strengths and weaknesses made Washington the best America had to offer. He knew to inoculate his men against smallpox, paid for his army out of his own pocket when necessary and stopped a mutiny by putting on his freaking glasses. It brought people to tears, and if that's not love, what is?

3. Theodore Roosevelt

Everything about Theodore Roosevelt is larger than life. Before becoming president, he raised his own regiment of volunteers to invade Cuba, where he would later receive a posthumous Medal of Honor for the Battle of San Juan Hill. As president, he instituted physical fitness standards for the troops, and when they complained, he showed them it was possible. After a presidency that earned him a Nobel Peace Prize, defined the first part of the 20th century and turned the U.S. into a global naval power, he tried to raise another regiment to fight in World War I at age 60. Had the U.S. president not been a political opponent, he might have gone to France with the American Expeditionary Force.

4. Alvin York

Sgt. Alvin York epitomized the typical World War I soldier, but he was elevated to fame for his gallantry on the battlefields of France. A Tennessee farmer's son, he was drafted by the Army and tried to claim conscientious objector status. He was eventually convinced his religion didn't forbid serving, and he found himself on his way to Europe. York received the Medal of Honor for leading an assault on German machine gun positions, knocking out 35 of them while taking 132 prisoners during the MeuseArgonne Offensive. The reluctant soldier became an international hero. The movie about York's exploits became the top film of the day as the U.S. entered World War II.

EDITORS NOTE: This year we wanted to share this list of famous and some not so famous Veterans that have earned the love and respect of thousands that have served. These are primarily historical figures and take nothing away from the heroes serving today – rather we believe that they serve as a reminder of the legacy and commitment that our nation has been built upon. We should all know these heroes and their stories. If you don’t already – “google” them or maybe ask a Vet. Thanks to Military.com for sharing

5. George S. Patton

Being a standout as a World War II-era general is no easy feat, given the big names who led American troops into combat during that war. There's a good reason Gen. George S. Patton would top most people's lists, and it's not just his pre-battle speeches. He reinvigorated the U.S. Army in North Africa, turning the war against the Axis powers and then helped wreck the Germans in Sicily. Even while he wasn't in the field, his presence elsewhere was enough to keep the Germans from reinforcing their defenses at Normandy at the most crucial moment of the war. When he finally did join the war in Europe, the only thing that could keep Patton from advancing was supply shortages.

6. Dwight D. Eisenhower

Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower is something of a military anomaly. Though graduating from West Point in 1915, and despite repeated requests, Ike never saw a day of combat. Still, he was the right man for the job, learning lessons with every amphibious landing, every major operation and every political leader who voiced a concern about how he carried out the war. Eisenhower was required to be not just a military commander, but also a diplomat, military governor and a visionary for the future. He not only oversaw Operation Overlord, the invasion of occupied Europe, he also led the disarmament of Nazi Germany, the documentation of the concentration camps and the containment of Soviet communism.

7. Norman Schwarzkopf

Despite descending from a storied military family and being the architect of one of the greatest military victories of all time, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf did not glorify war. After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy in 1956, he received two Silver Stars and a Purple Heart during his first tour in Vietnam. In his second tour in Vietnam, he received his reputation for leading from the front and a famously short temper. Schwarzkopf served as deputy commander for the invasion of Grenada in 1983, but his rise to national fame came in 1991 when he planned and led Operation Desert Storm. It was the largest and most complex invasion since the invasion of Normandy in 1944. Moreover, he changed the way news media covered the war, allowing journalists more access and conducting regular press briefings.

8. Robert E. Lee

While some may disagree with the idea that Robert E. Lee isn't really an American veteran, the American Legion included Lee on its list of potential candidates and people voted for him. The commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, Lee was the most painful thorn in the side of the Union Army for most of the Civil War, and when Lee surrendered, the rest of the Confederacy soon followed. Before joining the rebel army, Lee was the son of Revolutionary War hero Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee III, a graduate of West Point and a 32-year Army veteran who fought in the MexicanAmerican War. The estate he left behind to join the Confederacy is today known as Arlington National Cemetery.

9. Jimmy Doolittle

At the beginning of World War II, the U.S. had little to celebrate. The attack on Pearl Harbor didn't have the devastating effect the Imperial Japanese navy hoped it would, but the Axis was advancing on all fronts. Americans were inundated with bad news. Then, on April 18, 1942, 16 B-25B Mitchell bombers did the impossible. Taking off from an aircraft carrier with no means of returning home, the U.S. Army Air Forces, under the command of Lt. Col. James Doolittle, bombed military and industrial targets in Tokyo, Yokohama, Yokosuka, Nagoya, Kobe and Osaka. The raids had little effect on war production, but brought the war home to the Japanese people, a huge propaganda victory that raised American morale at home. Doolittle was promoted two grades and received the Medal of Honor.

10. Ulysses S. Grant

In 1863, the Union Army was fighting for its life, but by Independence Day of that year, everything would change. The Union Army won the Battle of Gettysburg, ending the Confederate invasion of the North, but an even more important victory happened in the West. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant captured Vicksburg, Mississippi, splitting the Confederacy in two. Grant was the aggressive commander President Abraham Lincoln had been searching for since the Civil War began. Lincoln created the new rank of lieutenant general for Grant and gave him command of the Union Army. Grant immediately went on the offensive, defeating the rebels less than two years later.

11. Jimmy Stewart

World War II was an interesting time to be in the military. It was a time when every American had something to contribute, and all contributions were desperately needed. Hollywood stars were not exempt. Yet, where many stars took lighter assignments or roles in making pro-war films, some, like Jimmy Stewart, fought to get to the front. He would become the highest-ranking actor ever to serve. Stewart was already a big star, releasing "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and "The Philadelphia Story" before the war. He put his career on hold to fly missions over Hitler's Europe, receiving a Distinguished Service Cross and five Air Medals. He stayed in the Air Force Reserve for 27 years, even flying a mission in Vietnam and retiring as a brigadier general.

12. Doris "Dorie" Miller

Dorie Miller joined the Navy in 1939, at a time when very few career options were available to Black recruits. He became a mess attendant, which was the only rating he could get. After a stint on an ammunition ship, he was transferred to the USS West Virginia, a Colorado-class battleship. While he was a messman, he was also the ship's heavyweight champion boxer, and his size led to gunnery training aboard the USS Nevada, training that would be crucial on Dec. 7, 1941. That morning, he woke up to the Japanese attacking the fleet. After first helping the ship's captain, Miller jumped on a .50-caliber gun crew and began returning fire on the planes and downing two. Miller was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions at Pearl Harbor, but he would not survive the war. He was aboard the escort carrier Liscome Bay when it was torpedoed by the Japanese in November 1943.

13. Michael Murphy

Michael Murphy was a college graduate looking at law schools in 2000, but joined the Navy instead. He became a SEAL and graduated from training in November 2001, in time to join American troops in fighting the Global War on Terrorism. By 2005, he was an experienced officer on his way to Afghanistan. While there, he was part of the team conducting surveillance of Taliban leader Ahmad Shah as part of Operation Red Wings in remote areas of the country's Kunar Province. Their presence was uncovered by local goat herders who alerted the Taliban. Under attack and outnumbered, Murphy got a message to friendly forces to retrieve the SEAL team, but it cost him his life. Two others were killed in the fighting, and 16 more special operators were killed when their helicopter tried to retrieve the besieged SEAL team.

14. Eddie Rickenbacker

Eddie Rickenbacker was a self-taught engineer, World War I ace, race car champion, artist and entrepreneur. At the outbreak of World War I for the U.S., he wanted to put together a flying squadron made up entirely of race car drivers. Although that failed, he visited wartime France with Gen. John J. Pershing. The experience led him to enlist while in France. He began his career as a driver for officers, but soon became the chief engineer of an airfield in France. Eventually, his superiors allowed him to learn to fly at a local flying school. It turned out he was really good at it. By 1918, he was in gunnery school and would finally become a pursuit pilot. His first sortie came in April 1918, and his first shootdown of an enemy aircraft came two weeks later. In the seven months between his first mission and the armistice that ended World War I, Rickenbacker would shoot down 26 enemy planes and return home a hero.

15. Chris Kyle

Alternately known as either "The Legend" or "The Devil of Ramadi," depending on which side of the Iraq War you were on, Chris Kyle was a Navy SEAL who served four deployments to Iraq, where he was one of the deadliest snipers of the war and provided overwatch for U.S. Marines. He recounted his time as a sniper in his 2012 book, "American Sniper." Kyle dedicated a lot of time, effort and money toward helping disabled veterans and vets suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder during his post-military career. Tragically, Kyle and friend Chad Littlefield were killed by one of those veterans while shooting at a gun range in 2013. A memorial to Kyle was dedicated in Odessa, Texas, in 2016.

16. The Four Chaplains

In January 1943, the SS Dorchester left New York Harbor in a fleet of other troop and cargo ships, along with Coast Guard escorts. It was bound for Greenland, but would never make it. On Feb. 3, it was torpedoed by the German U-boat U-233. Only 230 of the 904 passengers and crew would survive the attack and their time in the freezing waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Four U.S. military chaplains, Methodist minister George L. Fox, Reformed Church in America minister Clark V. Poling, Catholic Church priest John P. Washington and Rabbi Alexander B. Goode were also aboard. They died helping troops get into lifeboats and gave up their own life jackets to save others. It's said they joined arms and sang as they went down with the ship.

17. Pat Tillman

Pat Tillman was a star linebacker for the Arizona State University Sun Devils and was drafted by the NFL's Arizona Cardinals as a safety in 1998. After the Sept. 11 terror attacks, Tillman famously finished his contracted 2001 season with the Cardinals, turned down a $3.6 million contract extension and joined the U.S. Army. He deployed to Iraq as part of the initial U.S.-led invasion before attending Ranger training at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 2003. He was then deployed to Afghanistan. In 2004, he was killed in action. Tillman's death was originally attributed to enemy fire, but a 2007 report found that he was instead killed by friendly fire.

18. Douglas MacArthur

Gen. Douglas MacArthur was a legend in U.S. military circles long before World War II. He served at Veracruz, fought in World War I, expelled the Bonus Army and became the youngest-ever major general. In World War II, he escaped capture by the Japanese in the Philippines, famously promising: "I shall return." He did return and helped fight the Japanese Army there as the war was wrapping up. MacArthur was the principal planner of the United Nations' response to the communist invasion of South Korea. While the UN fought for its life at the Pusan Perimeter, he launched the daring Incheon Landing, which forced the communist army to crumble. Eventually, MacArthur's public statements led to his firing by President Harry S. Truman, and the old soldier faded away.

19. John F. Kennedy

Before becoming president, John F. Kennedy joined the Navy and became commander of a patrol torpedo boat in the Pacific Theater. One night, during the Solomon Islands Campaign of 1943, his boat was rammed by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri, which completely destroyed it, killing two of its crew. The others might have died, too, if not for Kennedy directing them to nearby islands and towing wounded crew members, pulling their life jacket strap with his clenched teeth for miles at a stretch. Kennedy moved his crew this way between two islands and swam to look for aid on two others. Eventually they found a canoe with supplies and native coastwatchers, who would go and find help from friendly forces.

20. Billy Mitchell

Have you ever believed so strongly in something you were willing to risk your entire career over the issue. That’s Billy Mitchell’s primary claim to fame. The Spanish-American War and World War I veteran was positioned as deputy director of the Army Air Service, where he argued that air power was the future of naval combat, and even proved it in an exercise. Despite the proof, the U.S. military still invested in warships instead of aviation technology, a move Mitchell called “almost treasonable.” For his efforts, he was court martialed and stripped of the temporary rank of brigadier general. He left the military as a colonel. It wasn’t until after his death that his efforts were recognized and rewarded.