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[Twolanerider]

Many of us participated in a successful fund raiser here just a few months ago.  A father who had worn the uniform, lost a wife, remarried, had wife #2 drain the bank accounts and take off leaving him and two kids broke after his employer had recently gone under.  It was a rough time for them and they were nearly homeless.  He had family heirloom shotguns as the last possession of any real value and auctioned them to raise some cash.  The group here responded with amazing grace, humility and generosity.

All was good then about a month ago the oldest kid broke a leg in a bicycle accident riding home from school.  The kid is distraught thinking her accident will have the family homeless.  A few years of stress are hitting her all at once.  She doesn't quite accept that the medical bills can't be delayed.

To help put everything to rest the hospital was contacted and uninsured costs were negotiated down to about $2500.  So we're fund raising again.  When this came up elsewhere several here spoke against the dad offering the shotguns again.  Well over half the participants in the shotgun fund raiser did so specifically with the instruction that, if they won, the guns stayed with the family.  And that's how it ended up.  So the family losing its family history and heirloom pieces again didn't seem a good option.

The suggestion was an "adopt a family" type fund raiser.  Several here publicly and privately suggested this.  It seemed what we'd do.  In the end, however, I'm not comfortable with the something-for-nothing proposition.  So.....  we've got something that perhaps many here will find to be cool.  Read on for the details.  Payment details in this post and item details in the next.

$25 per pin (each pin will also get  you one auction ticket).  We learned last time, however, that Paypal won't allow the sell of raffle tickets or any other gambling or items of chance type of purchases.  So when you do Paypal make note that you're buying saber pins.  The pins are tangible property and are allowed by Paypal.  These are pins I promise to delivery to everyone someday .

Drawing will be done Christmas day.

Paypal payment address:  rider@theamericanroad.us

If you'd prefer to mail something in rather than use Paypal send a PM and I'll respond with the address.

[Twolanerider]

Up for auction is a United States Army commissioning saber.  Young new Lieutenants have not been given the old M1902 sabers for a long time.  When the Army was broken down after Viet Nam and power in the Pentagon switched away from the Army during the Carter administration such old fashioned vestiges as these were washed away in that tide.

This saber came to me about 15 years ago.  A then one-star officer had a son in a spot of trouble.  Because of the dad’s rank and position and the particular type of trouble the son was in there was little the old man could to help.  At least not publicly.  But he could call me.  

After the young man’s troubles were resolved and father and son were happily reunited the old man wanted to pay for my time.  It wasn’t a paying type of job.  It was my pleasure and honor to help them out.  Shortly after his original commissioning saber showed up at my door.  He’d had the etching changed and it was his way of repaying a perceived debt that never really existed.

The saber even has a back story.  A then newly minted Lieutenant took it with him to Viet Nam a year after Ia Drang.  It was worn ceremonially at a few weddings or other embassy functions in Saigon.  It was thought to be lost for awhile in the confusion after Tet but was found then shipped back home shortly after.  The officer without the saber was in theater most of the time until the Easter Offensive in ‘72.  Around that time the now aged Captain was out of SE Asia for good.

I’m now godfather to the officer’s son’s son.  Have spoken to both of them about the ex-soldier and his family who are now in a bind here.  They are both completely good with the idea of the old saber being used for such a good cause.  They know me well enough to know that heirlooms aren’t really my thing; though the people they might represent really are.  That being so all are onboard with this effort.

The saber is in good condition and polished up nicely.  It’s both the saber and scabbard. $25 per pin with each pin giving you a chance on winning the saber.  No limit on the number of chances any person may buy.  

[Twolanerider]

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[Twolanerider]

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[Twolanerider]

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[murphy]

Pin $$$ on the way!

[Twolanerider]

Pin $$$ on the way!

Sweet !

[Twolanerider]

After the first day of this effort the results are: $25 in and one ticket purchased.  So far the odds are definitely in someone's favor!

[LovemyCVOgirl]

Don, your kindness to this family touches my heart.  I am saddened to see that they are still struggling.  Pay Pal sent.

[Twolanerider]

Don, your kindness to this family touches my heart.  I am saddened to see that they are still struggling.  Pay Pal sent.

This guy has worked with me outside the US a couple times.  Been there when fecal material hit the rotary oscillating appliance.  So this is no big thing.  Doing as much as I can without really pissing him off  !


Thanks very much.  


(Hmmmm; bet a babe with a saber would be hot....     )

[cvobiker]

Don,,

Think it would be a good idea to post the skills and experience your friend has, maybe someone here could help find employment which would set his family in much better situation for long term.    My employer is always hiring in Calif and Wash areas, but certain skills are required..  This is a huge forum spread across many borders.  I'd bet someone could help find employment for this man.     

[Twolanerider]

Don,,

Think it would be a good idea to post the skills and experience your friend has, maybe someone here could help find employment which would set his family in much better situation for long term.    My employer is always hiring in Calif and Wash areas, but certain skills are required..  This is a huge forum spread across many borders.  I'd bet someone could help find employment for this man.     

A few have offered something similar and it's something I've discussed with Rob.  Right now anyway says not interested in a move.  There is some extended family in the area that kids now and like and it's all the family they've got.  He doesn't want them not having any family at all to know and occasionally be with.  The younger boy especially just loves his school too. 

His last gig was several years as maintenance head on the equipment in a medium sized industrial plant.  He's always done some kind of equipment related work.  HVAC, industrial equipment, food production plant.  The part time gig he picked up recently is similar.  He's still doing odd jobs on his own but the part time thing is two days a week.  Considers it worthwhile because there's a real possibility it could go full time in February.

[Twolanerider]

And.... (drum roll please); total collected so far is $65 of the $2500 goal.  Saber is cool, need is real, cause is good.  Anyone else willing and able to get on Rudolph and ride their holiday spirit to help out?

[Twolanerider]

Total now in is $115.  However.... there was news today. 

One of our own has decided to help with an entirely different type of contribution.  This gentleman has some significant parts left from an aborted engine build.  No longer has the bike the parts were bought for.  The parts have collected dust for a year.  He's decided that more auction goods to raise funds for this cause is a far better use than anything else he might do. 

Dig this:  A brand new pair of Revolution Performance Stage 3 cylinder heads and the Revolution Performance "Monster Big Bore Kit" to take a 96" or 103" (07 and newer) to 107" with 10.5:1.  All parts are silver and the parts will come with the gasket sets.  The Big Bore kit is Revolution Performance part number 201-120W.  The heads are their part number 1017-606.

Cylinder heads info here:  http://www.revperf.com/TwinCam/twinCamCylinderHeads.html

Big bore kit info here: http://www.revperf.com/TwinCam/twinCamPerformKits.html

This contribution is about $2500 in parts.  That's huge.  I opened up my spares cabinet and have just a little bit more I can put with it.  A new set of Feuling HP+ lifters and a new SE 50mm complete throttle body. 

Going to start a new thread for this new fund raiser.  Hope to see some great response.

[Twolanerider]

Even better.  Total now in on this effort is $215.  Gotta love it.