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The Carolinas’ Full Throttle Magazine
Military Mission In Action
By: Len “3 Wheel” Montgomery hen I arrived at Big Daddy’s Roadhouse in Fuquay Varina, NC for “Follow the Flag” poker run and swap meet, I was pleasantly surprised at the number of riders already in line to register. And they JUST…KEPT…COMING!!! The ride was sponsored by Military Missions in Action (MMIA) to benefit veterans with disabilities, members of the Armed Forces, and their families. I was not familiar with this organization beforehand, but apparently, I was the only one. Because the parking lot was filled with many veteran clubs. Some of which I was familiar with, most of which I was not. The registration was well organized. And after registering, everyone just shuffled on down the line purchasing raffle tickets and 50/50 tickets. I purchased a couple tickets for a beautiful pump shotgun. I explained that it was mine, but unfortunately someone was not listening and took it home. ‘sigh’ While the poker run was out on a ride that stretched across four counties, many folks stayed behind to prepare food, set up vendor booths and get the band (Shak-E Ground) set up. The vendors included everything from jewelry, to cigars, to clothing. Shak-E Ground played several sets of that good ole Classic Rock. And when you got hungry, your donation got you a choice of either a kielbasa or a pork chop sandwich with
all the fixin’s. When he returned from the ride, I got a few minutes to talk with the Founder and Executive Director of MMIA, Mike Dorman, and his wife Jillian Dorman. Before founding MMIA in 2008, Mike served twenty years in the Coast Guard. Jillian has been a first responder with the rescue squad/fire department. So, this is a couple who has served their country and community for quite some time. And continue to do so. When asked why he founded Military Missions In Action (MMIA)), Mike said, “It was what God called me to do. Seeing these vets coming home, and you know, they get them all pumped up and ready to go and tackle the world. Then they get home and can’t get in their bathroom. And then we see our older veterans, like our Vietnam vets and all, WWII vets, preWWII vets, and their age is becoming a disability. And the VA doesn’t recognize age as a disability. So, it was like, ‘Hey, we need to do something to take care of our own.’ So, we need to make it so they can live out their lives at home.” “Say, like my grandfather. So, he flew B-24s in WWII. He was shot down, He spent 14 months in Stalag 17-B. He came home and he weighed seventy-six pounds. In his 80s his house
