Ask, Care, Escort.... and RIDE!!!!

Hello friends.  I hope this post finds each of you well and that you are enjoying all that Spring has to offer.  I especially hope that you are able to be racking up some of those two wheeled miles that have proven to be elusive to me.

If you’re in search of a place to ride and a reason to do so, let me help you out.  Bear with me here for a minute as I unload on you a burden that weighs heavy on my heart. 

Since the attacks on 9-11, our country has been at war, the longest war in the history of our nation.  A war like we have never before fought, and with an all volunteer force.  We’ve all watched the 24 hour news feeds of the war on our televisions, from the streaks of green flame of the anti-aircraft batteries around Baghdad, to the earth trembling scenes of IED explosions in Kandahar.  We have seen the toppling of Saddam’s statues along with the hanging of Saddam himself.  We have celebrated the death of Osama Bin Laden and mourned the loss of our sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters in uniform.

Eleven years of war.  It has lasted so long that there are some that forget we are even still fighting.  Nearly 5,000 of our servicemen and women have paid the ultimate price on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan.  Five thousand front porch visits from stone faced messengers telling a family that their loved one will not be returning.  Devastating.

Now, let’s talk about something else equally as devastating and to me, far more shocking and unacceptable.  Our military are coming home from war zones daily.  We celebrate them.  We call them heroes, and deservedly so.  They stood in the gap for us.  They laid their lives on the line for us.  They accepted as part of their daily lives, the understanding that if by chance their life was to be given for us, then so be it.  But what happens to them after the welcome home parties? 

Our military are being killed at an unacceptable rate, but not necessarily by the enemies of our country.  They are dying by their own hand, and they are doing it at an alarming rate.

 

Fact:  Our veterans are committing suicide at the rate of nearly 2 dozen per day. 

Fact: There are many specific risks that our veterans are dealing with including:

·                              Multiple deployments to hostile environments

·                              Length of deployments

·                              Exposure to extreme stress, death, and combat.

·                             Physical and sexual assault while in service (not limited just to women)

·                            Service related injuries such as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Post-Traumatic 

               Stress Disorder (PTSD), and other mental health diagnoses.

Fact: When our veterans receive the needed (and available) care from a VA facility (specifically a VA Serious Mental Illness Treatment, Research, and Evaluation Center), they are three times LESS likely to commit suicide. 

Friends, this has to stop!  

In step the American Gold Star Mothers, specifically Mrs. Cindy Tatum and Mrs. Molly Morel.  The AGSM’s are an association of ladies who have lost children in military service to our country.   If you will recall, Bumpus Harley-Davidson teamed with these remarkable ladies last summer and launched "A Tour of Duty" in which we were able to raise over $25,000 to help fund the building of a Fisher House facility in Murfreesboro.  The issue of soldier suicide (as well as Marine, Sailor, and Airman…. As these Marine mom’s quickly pointed out to me) was one that weighed on them as much as me.  We began the process of researching what was needed and what could be done.  Into the picture steps Irene Trebilcock, an active duty member of the TN Army National Guard, a dedicated Harley-Davidson rider, an Iraq veteran, friend and wife of BHD sales team member and Iraq veteran Dan Trebilcock.  Irene is also the liaison for the TN National Guard for suicide prevention. 

Here’s what we learned.  There are many programs that are set up for our returning veterans to seek and receive the assistance they need.  What we do not have is AWARENESS!  The culture in which our vets exist does not always lend itself to one that encourages them to seek help.  We have to help them through that barrier. 

This need sparked “A Tour of Duty II”, a ride to end the epidemic of veteran suicide.  We are partnering with the AGSM’s to raise money to fund awareness campaigns for the programs that can and will save the life of a vet on the precipice.  We will also spread the word across the state of Tennessee of how we can break the cycle amongst the veterans that exist in our circle of family and friends. 

This Saturday, June 8 at all Bumpus HD locations, TOD2 will launch.  Here’s how it works.  Stop by any BHD location.  With your $20 registration fee, you will receive a powerful “Tour of Duty II” t-shirt emblazoned across the back with the warning signs of veteran suicide, and a passport.  The ride functions like this.  Take that passport to all other BHD locations and get a stamp.  You can ride at your own leisure whenever you have time to do so.  The ride will culminate with a final bash at BHD in Jackson on July the 20^th.  Have your completed passport in to us by that time, drop it in a bucket and one lucky rider will win a $2500 Bumpus HD card. 

The tour is every day.  You can register at any time.  If you can’t make the ride, hit every location, or don’t ride at all, no problem.  Your $20 donation will still get you a t-shirt. 

More importantly, you’ll be making a difference amongst those that offered their life for yours.  They deserve it. 

It’s all about the ACE card…

A.C.E.

ASK-     Ask a veteran if they are ok.  Do they ever think of hurting themselves.

Care-     Care for a veteran.  Remove means for self harm.  Remain calm.  Actively listen and show

              understanding.  Produce relief. 

Escort-  Escort the veteran.  Never leave them alone.  Get them to a VA facility or emergency room.  Call a suicide prevention hotline.

For more information on Tour of Duty II contact me at scott.bumpus@bumpusharleydavidson.com or

Memphis area Joe Kilpatrick at joe.kilpatrick@bumpusharleydavidson.com

Middle Tennessee Kathy Potter at kathy.potter@bumpusharleydavidson.com

Jackson area Brittany Crouse at b.crouse@bumpusharleydavidson.com

For more information on suicide prevention contact The Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 or www.veteranscrisisline.net

Ride safe and with purpose and I’ll see you this Saturday for the kickoff.

For Steven

It's become almost a cliche when it is said that no one has a bigger heart than a biker, but let me tell you about what I've had the honor to be a part of today.  Airman First Class Steven Spencer was a 21 year old Jackson native, and the son of Rob Spencer.  Rob and his girlfriend Amanda are friends of mine and the dealership.  Steven's Aunt Sam worked on the sales staff at the store for a while as well.  Steven was serving our country in the US Air Force at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City when he and another fellow Airman tragically lost their lives in an accident in the early morning hours the day after Christmas.

Today was Steven's day to come back home to Jackson.  I received a call from Sam asking if the the store could be used as a staging area for a ride down to the airport in Memphis so that Steven could be received and escorted home.  Of course I agreed to this and through email and Facebook we did what we could to get the word out.  The plan was to meet at the store at 2PM and then head out for Memphis at 2:30.  No one had any idea how many bikes would be joining us, but as the noon hour rolled over, it became apparent that the message was circulating.

After a few quick words from Rob, Sam, and others of the contingent of Spencer family members, the group numbering four or five dozen pulled out and headed for I-40 West, under escort from the Jackson Police Department.  We arrived at the Delta Cargo terminal at Memphis International an hour and a half or so later.  Memphis traffic is always a hairy tangled mess to deal with, but trying to keep pace with traffic, dragging fifty to sixty bikes, riding straight into a blinding sunset and get everyone to our destination intact was an effort unto itself.

Upon arrival at the terminal, we were met by several Memphis area members of the Patriot Guard Riders.  These people are an amazing group of men and women who take it upon themselves to create not only a safe haven for the families of deceased service members, but do so for people they've never met.  As we waited for the casket holding AFC Spencer to arrive, I mingled through the crowd.  It should have come as no surprise to me, but many of the people there did not know Steven at all, and several did not know his family.  They just felt the need to do something meaningful for the family of a young man that stepped up to serve his country.

We'd been there for about an hour when the roll up door was raised and out emerged the flag draped casket bearing one of Jackson's native sons, carried by six men, dressed in black leather.  He was led down the ramp to the waiting coach.  His family followed closely behind, holding each other up, and being collectively held up by the contingent of extended family that had made the trip with them, many of whom they did not know they even had a week ago.

When it became time to leave, the group was briefed by our Patriot Guard escort and the Memphis PD that would be getting us out of town.  By now the sun had set, and I was quite apprehensive about the ride back to Jackson.  It was about 5:30 and we should have been hitting the thickest of Memphis rush hour traffic.  I just knew that it would be a white knuckler of a ride.

On the contrary.  With the exception of one mishap leaving the terminal, the group and I experienced a ride like I'd never before been a part of.  I've been on funeral processions and parades before and have ridden under police escort scores of times, but what I experienced this evening floored me.  The Memphis Police Department Motorcycle Squad virtually closed down I-240 from the airport all the way out to the I-40E junction at rush hour.  We rode completely alone along the busiest stretch of interstate during the busiest time of day, as safe as a baby in its mothers arms.  All exits were closed.  If a stray car did happen to find its way onto our path, it either pulled to the side of the road once it saw us or was quickly corralled by one of the motor patrol officers.  Respect. The MPD carried us, untouched nearly to the county line where we were picked up by the Tennessee Highway Patrol and carried to the Jackson City limits where the JPD once again had all exits shut down, awaiting the arrival of its hometown boy.  Off the interstate, up North Highland and into the parking lot of George Smith North Chapel.  Awesome.  Stunning.  Chilling.

Here's what I saw tonight.  I saw the most professional, efficient and courteous police escort from the Memphis Police Department Motor Patrol that I've ever witnessed.  I saw men and women who answer the call immediately for total strangers in order to ensure that their deceased service/family member has the honorable sendoff they deserve.  I saw grown  men holding each other up.  I saw an outpouring of love from total strangers to a family that is seeing its darkest days.  I saw the trembling lip of an otherwise stoic Air Force Airman, in his class A dress blue uniform as he handed over his fallen comrade that he'd been escorting since Tinker.  I saw patriotism, pride, sadness, hope, honor, and most of all, love.

Steven's family and friends will say their final goodbye's to him this Sunday at George A Smith South Funeral home at 2 PM and then his remains will make their final journey on this Earth to Hopewell Cemetery in Medina.  If you can make it, the family would be honored to have you ride in Steven's memory.  If you can't, please remember Rob, Amanda, Sam and the rest of Steven's family in the days, weeks and months to come.  Steven was theirs.  They have shared him with us, and for that I am truly humbled.

Thank you AFC Steven Spencer for your life, your service, and your legacy.  And don't worry about your family.  We'll take care of them.  They're our family too.

Ride Safe and with purpose.

Scott Michael Bumpus