Blue Ribbons and Gold Medals

For years we have performed a ceremony created and improved by members of the Viet Nam Vets Motorcycle Club of Alaska. In the early nineties, we needed a way to celebrate veterans and honor those men and women who died for our country. We chose to emulate the battle field ceremony of placing a weapon in the ground, with helmet, boots, and dog tags. We named our ceremony “The Fallen Warrior Ceremony.” Over the years, we have performed our ceremony at numerous military and civilian functions each year. From POW Day, Memorial Day, to MIA Day, we are asked to honor fallen warriors. The Ceremony goes something like this:

It is with sincere gratitude and honor that we, the members of the Viet Nam Vets Motorcycle Club are among you gathered here today to remember fellow veterans that have given their lives for the preservation of America’s precious freedoms. To show our respect to our fellow comrades lost in conflict, we are proud to conduct this Fallen Warrior Ceremony. Since ancient times, soldiers paid their respect to a fallen brother, by erecting a small monument on the battlefield, comprised of his battle gear and weapons to mark the passing of a fellow warrior, and to let others know that his sacrifice should not be so easily forgotten. Times have changed but not the ritual, and although the sword has been replaced with the rifle, this symbol of reverence to those who have passed before us continues to this day.

At this time in the ceremony we have a Brother move forward and plant a rifle in the ground, a second Brother moves forward and place a helmet on the stock of the rifle, and then a third Brother moves forward and places boots and dog tags at the base of the rifle. During some performances we have a female veteran to move forward and place a red rose at the base of the rifle to symbolize our undying love for our fallen warrior. Everyone salutes and Taps on a bugle or Amazing Grace on bag pipes is played to conclude the ceremony. We hope to make the Fallen Warrior
Ceremony available on our web site for viewing.

The good folks over at the Alaska VA asked us to perform our ceremony for the VA’s Creative Arts competition. We took the time to tape our ceremony, submitted it, and astonishingly we received the Blue Ribbon for "Group Drama” in the Alaska state region competition.

You have to understand how humorous this was being a bunch of bikers who support veteran’s issues on a part time basis. Winning at state level entitled us to be entered in the national contest. Our tape was submitted to the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival presented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the American Legion Auxiliary, and Help Hospitalized Veterans and a couple months later we learn that we are the Gold Medal winners in the drama category for Group Interpretive Performance. By this time, we are astounded at our fortunate luck. However, we also realized this gave us a tremendous opportunity to perform our ceremony on a national stage. The creative arts festival was created to give veterans an outlet for their talents while giving them a therapeutic tool for copping with their numerous difficulties. So once a year the VA gathers all the regional winners in one location and puts on a week long festival to honor both artists and performers.

Bulldog and Face present a POW/MIA coin to Elizabeth Mackey, Director of the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival
	A second POW/MIA coin, courtesy of the Anchorage Chapter, Viet Nam Vets Motorcycle Club Alaska, was presented to Brian McClung in appreciation for many long hours spent transporting festival participants

Upon arriving in Salt Lake City, we quickly realized that we were out of our league when it came to the talented veterans that had been assembled. The folks have had books published, been featured in magazines, TV broadcasts, put out their own music CDs, you name it. We walked into the lobby of the Marriott with our club colors on and immediately everyone began backing away. After a few days they got used to us and we began to fit in. It was extremely gratifying to meet veterans from WWII up to now who were great heroes. Medal of Honor recipients, prisoners of war, and veterans who have received the Purple Heart were there to show case their talents. Every veteran in the country with artistic or performing talents should enter their local contest. If you make it to the national level, we assure you that it will be a great time.

A little Area Beautification c/o
VNVM/C ALASKA

Salt Lake City, Utah Harley-Davidson.

Feel free to visit us at www.vnvmc-ak.com or call Scrounger at 907-227-3155 if you have any questions.


	Bulldog and Face of the Anchorage Chapter, Viet Nam Vets Motorcycle Club Alaska receive Blue Ribbons and Gold Medals from Arlan Spector of the Alaska Veterans Administration (the second place poster is also displayed).