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Description
I went to a Leatherneck Benefit ride. Attempted to, the particular venue was an enclosed back yard at a bar and I felt a little awkward going in so I just took a few shots of the bikes. The President of that particular chapter came over and wasn't too friendly, but I try not to take it too personal. Probably just looking out for the groups bikes.

Backstory: My Uncle/Godfather was a Leatherneck, I'm ashamed to say that I don't know how long he served for but he went career. His chapter was his family. A couple of years ago he took his life. To the best of our knowledge there was no note or messages left. I say 'to the best of my knowledge' because his wife was dishonest about his death. She told family and friends that he died from a heart attack while out of town for work. The truth was he went to a cemetery and took his life. There were varying stories that we heard and I think that is one of the worst parts about processing through the grief. At the time my mother and I were in Nashville and his funeral was in Columbus, OH. We didn't tell her we were coming and she was very shocked to see us (not in a good way). I met my cousins for the first time and found that his son and I are so alike its creepy. But, at the time we were not really welcomed by family.

Enter the Leathernecks. They welcomed us with open arms and gave us more love and kindness than I would have thought to expect from a group of strangers. I have lost people but only two of them have been very close, both father figures and the funeral was exceptionally hard for me. I had to leave the building and one of the riders came out and just hugged me. It went a long way.

A year or so later his wife gave me his Harley- 1998 Road Glide. Unfortunately, it hasn't run in almost 4 years now and no one knows what's wrong with it. Someone mentioned selling it to put a down payment on a new bike (my first bike was stolen out of our parking lot while I was on vacation)...needless to say they were almost punched in the face.

Description
I went to a Leatherneck Benefit ride. Attempted to, the particular venue was an enclosed back yard at a bar and I felt a little awkward going in so I just took a few shots of the bikes. The President of that particular chapter came over and wasn't too friendly, but I try not to take it too personal. Probably just looking out for the groups bikes.

Backstory: My Uncle/Godfather was a Leatherneck, I'm ashamed to say that I don't know how long he served for but he went career. His chapter was his family. A couple of years ago he took his life. To the best of our knowledge there was no note or messages left. I say 'to the best of my knowledge' because his wife was dishonest about his death. She told family and friends that he died from a heart attack while out of town for work. The truth was he went to a cemetery and took his life. There were varying stories that we heard and I think that is one of the worst parts about processing through the grief. At the time my mother and I were in Nashville and his funeral was in Columbus, OH. We didn't tell her we were coming and she was very shocked to see us (not in a good way). I met my cousins for the first time and found that his son and I are so alike its creepy. But, at the time we were not really welcomed by family.

Enter the Leathernecks. They welcomed us with open arms and gave us more love and kindness than I would have thought to expect from a group of strangers. I have lost people but only two of them have been very close, both father figures and the funeral was exceptionally hard for me. I had to leave the building and one of the riders came out and just hugged me. It went a long way.

A year or so later his wife gave me his Harley- 1998 Road Glide. Unfortunately, it hasn't run in almost 4 years now and no one knows what's wrong with it. Someone mentioned selling it to put a down payment on a new bike (my first bike was stolen out of our parking lot while I was on vacation)...needless to say they were almost punched in the face.