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Cruiser
Posts: 141
Cumming, GA | The next time you witness someone with the large flags, maybe you should take the time to talk with him or her. They may well be one of the Patriot Guard Riders that ride with the flags to honor our men and women that have been KIA, deploying, returning home or recently deceased. If you are not familiar with the group, check out the web site (www.patriotguard.org). We need all the support that we can get. In fact, we just today escorted 60+ WWII veterans from Fayetteville, GA to the airport and all the way to the terminal for their annual trip to visit the memorials in DC. BTW... we were flying flags (3' x 5' . My Vision had an American flag, a Marine flag and a Patriot Guard Flag. The vets love it. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 192
Republic of Tejas | Guess the OP has never heard of, or participated in a Patriot Guard Mission for an American KIA or fallen Vet, EMT, or LEO???
http://www.patriotguard.org/
That is the reason I fly a full sized flag on days we are escorting Americas fallen. (sorry it looks like flaming, just one mans opinion)
Edited by OldGringo 2009-05-04 8:16 PM
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Tourer
Posts: 367
Cottage Grove, Mn | Happy to hear that there are other PGR members on this thread. I joined the PGR in 05 and have been on over 50 missions for KIA, welcome home, deployment, echo taps and veterans services because it's about Honor and Dignity.
I have traveled as far as 300 miles to attend funerals because they were in rural areas and not many PGR members lived in the area and because it's about Honor and Dignity
I have never been on a mission that at some point I did not shed a tear for the brave men and women of the armed services because it's about Honor and Dignity
These are the people I fly my flags for and if it makes my Vision look like a bandwagon then don't look, it's your choice.
For the past few days I have tried to understand anyone's desire to poke fun at or not understand someone's choice to display the American Flag or the POW/MIA flag on their bike and all I got is a headache.
Everyone has the inalienable right to freedom of choice and you my choice not to, but as a PGR member and citizen of this great country I will continue to exercise my inalienable right to freedom of choice and fly my flags on my bike in honor of this great country and those that have served her and paid the ultimate price for doing so because it's about Honor and Dignity.
I also invite anyone to go to http://patriotguard.org/ check us out look for a mission in your area and attend, talk to the other PGR I'll wager you will join and have a better understanding of why we do what we do.
I hope to see some Vision riders at the National Gathering of the Guard in Ogden.
Did I mention it's about Honor and Dignity?
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Tourer
Posts: 548
Mount Vernon, WA United States | Hey Hey now guys... lets not go there. No one was poking anyone. Re-read the original post, it's a legit questions for the unknowing. I've been riding since the 70's (somebody else do the math)... I hadn't heard of the Patriot Guard until a couple of years ago. I also do not think the original post was about someone who may be in a parade or on a mission of any sort, as that would be rather obvious, but sometimes not. It was a legit question that got legit answers, no need to get into a tussle over it.
So far in this thread, Visions, Motorcycle Traditions, PGR, and safety. Lets keep it that way. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 810
| VisionNWRider - 2009-05-03 8:50 AM Ok I'm going to get flamed again. The same goes for flags. Dont get me wrong I Love this country more than anyone and have served in the military (Army) too but when i see these guys/gals ride by with flags attached to there bikes all i can think of is man cant you leave that at home straped to your garage flag pole? The other day I seen some guy on a HD with what had to be (2) 3 foot flag poles attched to his bike and these were huge Flags, the usual US flag and of course the POW one. I swear his bike was weaving due to his flags. I just dont get the reason for the stuffed animals and flags. Please no flamming (ok a little flamming is ok LOL) I really want to know why folks strap this stuff to their bikes. To me it just seems to take away from the bike itself. IMO. The answer is simple. To educate people with no respect for the flag and to remind them what it stands for. So few people understand it these days. This was taught in the American schools I went to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU9iCANi02o
Edited by TimS 2009-05-05 10:22 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 1340
Gainesville Fl Home of the Gators | Why must people go in, and change the topic line?? All it does is confuse people when they go back to find a post |
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Tourer
Posts: 363
Goldsboro, NC | I suppose that lots of folks fly flags on their bike to show that they are patriotic. Unfortunately, they sometimes can't quite pull off the good intention. I've seen lots of bikes with flags.... and we'll see bunches of them on Memorial Day.
Please, folks, take a look at Title 4 Chapter 1 of the United States Code: http://www.ushistory.org/BETSY/flagcode.htm
in brief:
1) The US flag is to be flown on the right side of a vehicle.
2) The flag is to be higher than any other flag. (this includes the POW flag)
3) When flown from a vehicle, the staff is to be vertical... not that slant-back thingy I see so often. (think about it... slanting back looks better at a stop, but as soon as it sees any wind, you are tearing the flag from the bottom up)
4) This one is a bit of a fuzzy... be proportional. A flag for patriotism is great, especially when flown properly. A bigger flag does NOT mean you are more patriotic (when did it become a contest, anyway?). A bigassed flag on a bike is disproportionate and gaudy... not respectful.
I understand people's desire to be patriotic. I flew the flag on my shoulder for the Artillery for a while myself... and for the Scouts before that. I simply would like to see those who wish to be patriotic do their homework and do it right. Otherwise, they deserve the same turning of the tables that Olympic athletes do when they achieve greatness, then turn it farcical by draping themselves in the flag.
Do it right and you are showing respect to the flag and will deserve some of your own respect. Do it like some hayseed and you will be ridiculed. Want people to remember POW/MIA's? Show some respect for the flag under which they fought.
Paul Podbielski
The TrailBarge
Edited by trailbarge 2009-05-05 11:38 AM
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Tourer
Posts: 367
Cottage Grove, Mn | trailbarge - 2009-05-05 10:32 AM
I suppose that lots of folks fly flags on their bike to show that they are patriotic. Unfortunately, they sometimes can't quite pull off the good intention. I've seen lots of bikes with flags.... and we'll see bunches of them on Memorial Day.
Please, folks, take a look at Title 4 Chapter 1 of the United States Code: http://www.ushistory.org/BETSY/flagcode.htm
in brief:
1) The US flag is to be flown on the right side of a vehicle.
2) The flag is to be higher than any other flag. (this includes the POW flag)
3) When flown from a vehicle, the staff is to be vertical... not that slant-back thingy I see so often. (think about it... slanting back looks better at a stop, but as soon as it sees any wind, you are tearing the flag from the bottom up)
4) This one is a bit of a fuzzy... be proportional. A flag for patriotism is great, especially when flown properly. A bigger flag does NOT mean you are more patriotic (when did it become a contest, anyway?). A bigassed flag on a bike is disproportionate and gaudy... not respectful.
I understand people's desire to be patriotic. I flew the flag on my shoulder for the Artillery for a while myself... and for the Scouts before that. I simply would like to see those who wish to be patriotic do their homework and do it right. Otherwise, they deserve the same turning of the tables that Olympic athletes do when they achieve greatness, then turn it farcical by draping themselves in the flag.
Do it right and you are showing respect to the flag and will deserve some of your own respect. Do it like some hayseed and you will be ridiculed. Want people to remember POW/MIA's? Show some respect for the flag under which they fought.
Paul Podbielski
The TrailBarge
I could not agree more. |
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Tourer
Posts: 367
Cottage Grove, Mn | Miles - 2009-05-05 9:07 AM
Hey Hey now guys... lets not go there. No one was poking anyone. Re-read the original post, it's a legit questions for the unknowing. I've been riding since the 70's (somebody else do the math)... I hadn't heard of the Patriot Guard until a couple of years ago. I also do not think the original post was about someone who may be in a parade or on a mission of any sort, as that would be rather obvious, but sometimes not. It was a legit question that got legit answers, no need to get into a tussle over it.
So far in this thread, Visions, Motorcycle Traditions, PGR, and safety. Lets keep it that way.
Miles;
Out of respect Sir you should re-read them all. I never directly accused anyone of poking fun but the insinuations are certainly there.
I took your advice and re-read the first post again and I did find his question there about the flag but what bothered me about it was the question spoke volumes about his disapproval for flying the flag on a motorcycle; and I quote "when I see these guys/gals ride by with flags attached to there bikes all I can think of is man can't you leave that at home strapped to your garage flag pole?" I find that to be more of an opinion than a question.
His second post should have been his first, maybe then he would not have gotten flamed.
A question was asked and was answered appropriately. And I still find the post to be condescending and poking fun at anyone who didn't see things his way. It's kind of like you're entitled to your opinion as long as it's the same as mine.
Respectfully
Blackjack
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Cruiser
Posts: 244
Fargo, ND | All that being said, can any of you point me to a good quality flag mount for the Vision Street luggage rack, and also possibly a mount to use when I have my touring trunk mounted without a rack? Since my son is in the Marines, I ride with the Patriot Guard when I can. I have an idea for a non-marring mount on the luggage rack, but I don't know how I can make one for the trunk without adding the top rack on that as well.
Thanks. |
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Tourer
Posts: 367
Cottage Grove, Mn | nohawg - 2009-05-05 2:57 PM
All that being said, can any of you point me to a good quality flag mount for the Vision Street luggage rack, and also possibly a mount to use when I have my touring trunk mounted without a rack? Since my son is in the Marines, I ride with the Patriot Guard when I can. I have an idea for a non-marring mount on the luggage rack, but I don't know how I can make one for the trunk without adding the top rack on that as well.
Thanks.
Nohaug
Try these,they fit the trunk mounted luggage rack. they also have taller masts if you want to go with a larger flag.
Good luck
http://www.thepropad.com/p-55-msq-25-kuryakyn-goldwing-flat-luggage... |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1158
Richmond, Virginia | Wow guys, what an unexpected emotional reading from all these posts. It makes you/me consider the diversity of the American spirit.
it goes without saying that our bikes themselves are a form of self expression. The fact that we all bought a bike that looks like nothing else on the road, fully aware that 50% of the people would think it was beautiful yet 50% would think it was ugly didnt disuade us from
our purchase. Ok seriousness aside, you all know you can expect some form of sarcasm or humor from me, so i wont let you down. DUDES WHAT IS UP WITH TASSLES ON A BIKE !!! tassles belong on either a stripper, a parade float, or a stripper ON a parade float (my personal favorite yet rarely seen on Thanksgiving day). When we went down to bike week a few weeks ago, i saw so many bikes with tassles on the handlebars they reminded me of the little pink bikes little girls rode. Then i saw bike seats trimmed with tassles, saddle bags with tassles, leather jackets with tassles, ass chaps with tassles, hats with tassles tassles with their own tassles. All i could envision were huge fly swatters going down the road. The good news? none were on Visions thank god.
I think i would rather have a stuffed animal or flag on my bike any day, but tassles just have to go. Are we all lucky to be able to decorate our bikes as we please? hell yeah, are there some who dont know good taste if it pulled up next to their trailor park?
BTW if you are considering either a flag or a furry creature for your bike, take it from me, dont mount it on the dash, its just like putting two fuzzy dice on the front of a speedboat, when you are parked it looks cool, when you are moving expect a mouthful of fuz. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Hey, what a great time to bring this up. Has any tassled the Vision floorboards yet? I bet it would look great! |
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Tourer
Posts: 367
Cottage Grove, Mn | VaParadox - 2009-05-05 8:32 PM
Wow guys, what an unexpected emotional reading from all these posts. It makes you/me consider the diversity of the American spirit.
it goes without saying that our bikes themselves are a form of self expression. The fact that we all bought a bike that looks like nothing else on the road, fully aware that 50% of the people would think it was beautiful yet 50% would think it was ugly didnt disuade us from
our purchase. Ok seriousness aside, you all know you can expect some form of sarcasm or humor from me, so i wont let you down. DUDES WHAT IS UP WITH TASSLES ON A BIKE !!! tassles belong on either a stripper, a parade float, or a stripper ON a parade float (my personal favorite yet rarely seen on Thanksgiving day). When we went down to bike week a few weeks ago, i saw so many bikes with tassles on the handlebars they reminded me of the little pink bikes little girls rode. Then i saw bike seats trimmed with tassles, saddle bags with tassles, leather jackets with tassles, ass chaps with tassles, hats with tassles tassles with their own tassles. All i could envision were huge fly swatters going down the road. The good news? none were on Visions thank god.
I think i would rather have a stuffed animal or flag on my bike any day, but tassles just have to go. Are we all lucky to be able to decorate our bikes as we please? hell yeah, are there some who dont know good taste if it pulled up next to their trailor park?
BTW if you are considering either a flag or a furry creature for your bike, take it from me, dont mount it on the dash, its just like putting two fuzzy dice on the front of a speedboat, when you are parked it looks cool, when you are moving expect a mouthful of fuz.
See, there you go, I just finished gluing those little fuzzy balls to the dash and around the trunk lid and was planning on putting the tasseled floorboard covers on later today but noooooo you had to go and ruin it. I really don't give a rats a$$ what people hang on there bikes and sometimes it hurts my brain thinking about it I say to each his own.
I don't even care if people give me crap about what I put on my bike unless it's the two flags that I fly and hold near and dear. I have my private reason for flying those flags and refuse to be scorned or made fun of for doing so.
That said I'm going back out to the man cave and try to figure out where I can hang one of those little pine tree air fresheners so I can smell it at 90mph or do you have something to say about that to. lol
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Iron Butt
Posts: 639
Tri Cities, WA | Thanks all for the input. Again I was not trying to stir the nest but apparently i did and that was not my intention. Again i could care less what you put on your bikes or in your bikes I was just wondering why others feel a need to mount the things i mentioned above in my first post. No more and no less. I appreciate all the input even though like most threads it got steered off in another direction from the original post. Like I said I love my country and I have served it well and so has my entire personal family who have served this country for over 40 years in military service.. Even today and every day I go to work I risk my life and body to help protect the community from Rapist, Child molsters, thieves, Con artist, robbers you name it. I get very a little apprecation from the community as a whole for the job i do and so many do today in law enforcement, but somebody has to do it in order for us to live the way we want to live in the U.S. So please keep that in mind when responding to my original post. By the way there was some good funny post in this thread and of course good ole VaParadox didnt let me down with his response ROFLOL. Take care all and hope I didnt get to many of you in a uproar when it was not needed. Ride safe all. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | Let me say by saying over and over, "tHANK yoU" TO anyone who has served the public interest. It's a pain in the butt and I'm glad some choose to do it. VisionNWrider, I too thought what a Pri*# but then I thought some folks just don't get it or care. It appears you get it, but in a different form.
As I try to explain to one of my coworkers all the time: Definition , Definition, Definition, Define what patriotism or being an American is all about. I bet that you and a few others would all agree on some basis of the definition but would disagree on certain aspects of your definition. The older I get the more I am inclined to put a flag on just about anything. I know have four flags hanging in my shop and they are awesome. If I could take a few moments to hang a flag on my vision I would. then I would also hang a Texas flag on the left side, which can be flown at the same height, but I digress.
I recommend everyone customize and accessorize to their hearts content. I would if I could find the cash. But I don't so I get the stock vision. maybe one day. Gaudy to me, but beautiful to the next guy. Kinda like women, all are beautiful, just different strokes for different folks.
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Cruiser
Posts: 261
Sugar Land, TX (Outside of Houston) | rwilly - 2009-05-03 1:46 PM
They do it for the attention.
My middle son put a Green Monkey on the back of his Crotch Rocket. It was a Chick Magnet and it's arms flapped in the wind when he rode it which always brought a chuckle..
But I have a Vision, so nothing else is needed to draw people in 
But I am waiting on a good design for large flags for the Patriot Rider formations
Richard |
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Why o why must you do that?
