Members of the Amarillo Chapter of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, 2318 of Amarillo attended the Patio of Honor Bricklaying Ceremony, held May 21 in front of the Amarillo VA Health Care System, to honor the Missing in Action soldiers who served honorably in the Armed Services.
“We’re the only chapter here in the Panhandle of Texas,” said David Silva, executive officer of the group.
The group is an Association of Combat Veterans from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces who ride motorcycles as a hobby, as their website states.
“Our chapter was established July 2017, as part of the National Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. We are the 18th chapter of 31 at the present time in the state of Texas,” said Don “Too Easy” Elison, a 34-year veteran of the Army, with service in Afghanistan and other areas. He retired as a colonel and serves as a primary care provider at the AVAHC.
“Our main goal is to support veterans of all services who live close to the Panhandle of Texas. We also extend into New Mexico, Oklahoma and Colorado at times due to our proximity to our sisters and brothers in those states,” he said.
“We support several other nonprofits locally who provide services and support to the overall population in the Panhandle of Texas, most notably Hope Lives Here, The Ruck Up Foundation, and BOOM Adventures,” Elison said.
Raising awareness of veteran suicide
The retired Army colonel said that many of their members also participate in outside nonprofit organizations and their cause. Each month, their chapter hosts a “22 to none“ dinner at a local restaurant, to raise awareness of veteran suicide.
At those events, the association invites local and state level guest speakers to discuss the ongoing efforts to provide counseling support services for veterans and their families, who may be suffering from depression, post-traumatic stress, and other anxieties related to their service to the nation.
“While we don’t keep an active count of the individuals that we’ve directly supported, each week members receive calls, texts, and email messages to support those in need locally,” Elison said.
“This is what we do.”
The motorcycle association’s mission is to support and defend those who have defended our country and our freedoms. They focus on providing assistance to individual veterans, veteran care facilities, other veteran organizations and registered charities.
The group sponsors and participates in many veteran-related motorcycle events and other charity events each year, and as a nonprofit organization, they donate to various veteran causes.
Their group has full-members — those who have non-combat military service and have a strong dedication to helping veterans — and auxiliary members, spouses of both full and support members.
They also have members from all 50 states and numerous countries abroad, including combat areas.
Silva said that they are an association and not a motorcycle club, and they do not claim territory or have a clubhouse. They wear vests, rather than cuts or colors, and the patch on their back is one piece.
Silva said that the next closest group is 140 miles away.
Their next scheduled event, according to their website, is an annual Fun Run that has a pre-event Friday and starts at 9 a.m. Saturday at Tripp’s Harley Davidson in Amarillo, with all proceeds going to local veterans.
Anyone interested in donating can go to their website at cvmatx2318.com.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo veterans motorcycle group supports fellow service members
Reporting by Nell Williams, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
