Of the 20 or so motorcycles displayed inside the Columbus Fairgrounds building Saturday, Bruce Hoffman’s Harley Davidson Night Train almost certainly boasted the most mileage.
Just how many miles, Hoffman isn’t sure, but the bike is on its second engine.
“It’s seen both oceans. It’s seen the Gulf,” said Hoffman, a West Point resident and member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4272 in Columbus. “It almost saw Canada, but I didn’t have a passport. The (guard) let me throw some dirt over (the border) though.”
Hoffman, a retired veteran, said he “saw the world” serving stints in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, the Navy and with a special forces unit in the Army National Guard. On Saturday, his bike was among the strongest contenders at the third annual indoor bike show, sponsored by the VFW post and its riders group.
All of Saturday’s riders vied to win one of five divisions: Frankenstein, for custom bikes; Metric, for foreign-made bikes; Trike; 1903-1999 models; and 2000-present models.
Meanwhile, Dennis Jewell, post past commander and state chairman for the riders group, was sitting this show out – not exactly by choice.
“I had to give it up two months ago due to health,” said Jewell, who noted he started riding at age 11. “ I look every morning at buying a new one. Then my wife says, ‘You know the doctor told you no.’”
He paused, looked around a moment, then added, “I miss riding.”
Jewell still came, though, proudly wearing his riders’ group orange t-shirt and remembering the show’s true purpose.
The event is one of several fundraisers the VFW post hosts throughout the year to support veterans and community efforts.
Propst Park has been VFW Post 4272’s home since 1945, Jewell said, and the organization has helped fund several improvements there over the years, including a recent bridge construction and a donation toward building the Field of Dreams for special needs athletes.
In recent weeks, the post took 10 televisions to the State Veterans Home in Kosciusko and bought gift cards for Stokes Beard Elementary students to celebrate their performance on state testing.
The VFW also offers scholarships to qualifying students toward their college education.
“The VFW does so much that people don’t realize,” Jewell said. “… In the last quarter, we’ve given $50,000 away.”
The VFW welcomes any veteran who served in a combat zone, and recruiting new members helps build a much-needed support network for those veterans, Jewell said. The retired 18-year Army veteran knows that all too well.
“Can’t nobody talk to you like another combat veteran,” he said. “… Combat veterans are just a tad bit different than most folks. I’ve had many of them say, when we get to talking, ‘I’m glad you talked to me because you know what I’m saying.’ … It’s brothers and sisters helping brothers and sisters.”
Todd Poole Sr., post vice commander who served tours in Iraq and Korea’s demilitarized zone, started riding dirt bikes at age 6 and said riding has become one of his passions.
He usually ends up pulling out of the contest to judge the bike show, but Saturday he entered his 2007 Harley Davidson Fat Boy just in case.
“People might remember from the movie ‘Terminator’ when Arnold (Schwarzenegger) walks up to the bar and tells the guy, ‘Give me your clothes and your bike,’” Poole said. “I’m on that bike.”
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.