Navy veteran Fritz Radcliffe said he rides motorcycles for the sense of liberation and connection with other bikers.
And also to feel a little like an outlaw.
“It’s a brotherhood,” Radcliffe said. “The freedom on the bike. … The camaraderie of the brothers. But it’s about being an outlaw in a way.”
Radcliffe said he rode with the Hells Angels for a time when he was younger, but eventually found his way to the VFW Riders of Oak Harbor.
“I got tired of being under surveillance,” Radcliffe said. “I like being around the veterans a lot more.”
Motorcycle ownership among veterans is a decades-long tradition that was — and still is — a way to stay connected with other veterans and retirees.
Myron Brundage, president of the VFW Riders out of Oak Harbor’s VFW Post 7392, said the group was started four years ago simply as a way for local vets to get together.
“You approach the road totally different on a motorcycle,” Brundage said. “Only bikers understand why we do this.”
In addition, the groups lend emotional support to veterans who can associate with those who have served in the military.
“We all have that same thing in common,” Brundage said.
For that reason, the VFW Riders and other island groups also try to give back, Brundage said.
Initially, they organized and raised money to support VFW programs and much needed equipment updates.
Today, the group has turned to veteran outreach, providing money and personal items to low-income and indigent vets. This year, the VFW Riders have donated $1,000 to the opportunity council to help provide necessities to the island’s veterans.
“I enjoy helping the vets,” Radcliffe said. “They’re the ones that need the help.”
While the VFW Riders is one of the largest veteran motorcycle clubs on the island, there are a number of veteran-centered, motorcycle-related groups.
In July, Brothers in Arms held a benefit run for Pets for Vets, a nonprofit, volunteer organization that takes rescue animals, trains and places as companion animals with veterans suffering from PTSD and similar conditions.
Local veterans and civilians also participate in the Patriot Guard Riders, a national organization that provide escorts and flag lines to any fallen service personnel, including first responders, or returning squadrons.
What they have in common, according to their mission statement, is an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security.
Other groups include the Combat Vets Association and the Legacy Vets.
Bruno Bechthold joined another organization, the Run for the Wall, last year and completed his second run with them last month.
Bechthold joined more than 2,000 riders for the a country-wide, 8,000-mile motorcycle ride that culminates in a visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.
“Birds fly and motorcycles ride wherever the heart wants to go,” Bechthold said. “As military retirees we often ride with fellow retires from all branches but still share that common bond, which in itself creates fun and friends.”
According to their website, the Run for the Wall’s mission is to “call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action, to honor the memory of those Killed in Action from all wars, to promote healing for veterans and their families and to support our military personnel all over the world.”
Bechthold said those who made the military their career lived and followed strict rules. Riding, on the other hand, only requires rules for safety and gives unlimited access to freedom.
“My second run … was just as meaningful and fun filled as the first time,” Bechthold said. “This time there were less tears at the (Vietnam Memorial) wall. …
“One thing for sure, I’m ready to go again next year.”
