Bruce Rossmeyer

I just found out that Harley Davidson dealer, enthusiast, mogul Bruce Rossmeyer died this past weekend. While I myself am not a Harley rider, it's always a tragedy to know that another rider has been killed on the road. My dad has been active in the community for many years, and I know from him that Mr. Rossmeyer was huge in the Harley world, and has been involved in a lot of events like the one I'm trying to put together. RIP sir.

http://www.brucerossmeyer.com/

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/topstories/news-article.aspx?storyid=142602&catid=3

Keep 'em Flying......

I just read an article about something that's going on with the homeless in NY. They are actually paying for one way tickets to fly their homeless to other states, or even other countries. Incredible.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/29/nyregion/29oneway.html

Backward and Forward

My computer was killed by a virus about a month ago. I've rebuilt this old machine so many times that I'm used to nuking and rebuilding my whole system and OS, but inevitably, there is always one thing I forget. In this case, I forgot to save my internet favorites, so I've lost a lot of the homeless and veteran related web links that I had found over this past year. That's the bad news. The good news is that I got in touch with someone from KCAL news. She read my mission statement and gave me her address at work, so that she may forward it to her newsdesk. I hope it helps get this going.

LA ranked as America's "meanest city" towards homeless..

Well, another big turnout in LA, this time for none other than the "King of Pop" memorial service. Nice that LA can foot the estimated $1.5 million bill. Villaraigosa comes through again. In the meantime, studies have listed Los Angeles as the nation's worst in its treatment of homeless as criminals. You can read the LA Times report here.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/07/law-center-slams-la-as-americas-meanest-city-toward-homeless.html

The Dream Fullfilled......sort of

Last week, my dream finally came to fruition! Everything went off smoothly, without a hitch, just as I had always envisioned it, always imagined it! Thousands of people participated! The streets were blocked off and the procession was led down it's route by the LAPD! Mayor Villaraigoso and the City Councilmembers got millions in donations from the local businessess, and it all ended up at a place that could hold such a huge event; The LA Coliseum. It was everything I had dreamed of when I first came up with the idea for Operation Homeward Bound! Unfortunately, I'm not talking about the event I've been working so hard to make happen. I'm talking about the Los Angeles Lakers championship parade and celebration. Congratulations to the Lakers and their fans. Thank you to the politicians who were able to raise the money, and the local millionares and billionares who were able to deliver on said donations. All of you are the people I've been trying to contact for the past 3 years, including the Lakers themselves. I suppose if there is a positive, it's that I know such moves can be made, such money can be donated, and the politicians can make these kinds of things happen.

E-mail update

Just a quick heads up. OperationHB@roninapache.com is no longer a valid e-mail. Please direct your questions and comments to Pete@roninapache.com. Thanks,
Pete

Blaze of Glory

Here's my usual disclaimer: If you're new to this blog, please read my first post to get an understanding of what I'm trying to accomplish. The short version is that I'm trying to create a charity motorcycle run to fight homelesness in Los Angeles, with an emphasis on homeless vets. Success in LA will be branched out in other cities across the nation. That's the short version. Now for this week's post.
I've been real busy lately, but still trying to move forward. I saw Paul Rieckhoff, a First Lieutenant and Iraq War Vet, on the Stephen Colbert Report last night. I'm going to try and get in contact with his organization, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. http://iava.org/
Also, I just found out about a ride with a similar mission to my own, in Orange County, CA. It's the Blaze of Glory run. It's this coming weekend, kind of short notice, but I hope some of you will see it here and try to make it out there. I'm going to try and volunteer, maybe I can make some contacts. Find out more at http://www.blazeofgloryoc.com/
That's all for now,
Pete