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Who has the moral right to tell people who ride they are being disrespectful of our troops if they wear their riding gear in a Remembrance Day parade?

That is the question I am asking today.

The police chief of Kawartha Lakes (Lindsay ON) John Hagarty, has stated that motorcycle gear is not appropriate garb to be marching in a Remembrance Day parade.



The riding club involved at the centre of this from Lindsay ON - the Kawartha Charity Riders.

I have interviewed the mayor of Kawartha Lakes, Ric McGee, Pamela VanMeer a reporter from CHEX TV in Peterborough, John Sherman of the Sir Sam Hughes Branch of the Legion, Rick Gibson of the Kawartha Charity Riders, sent emails requesting an interview with the chief, John Hagarty and the chair of the police service board in Kawartha Lakes, Gord James.

I will give you the results of those interviews in a much later piece - for now I want to ask the question...

WHO has the moral or legal right to tell any citizen that their wearing of motorcycle gear in a Remembrance Day parade is disrespectful?

Who would tell Darlene Cushman - Silver Cross Mother and motorcyclist that she would be disrespectful if she wore her motorcycle garb in a Remembrance Day parade?

Who will tell Trapper Cane of the CAV that he is disrespectful for wear his motorcycle garb in a Remembrance Day parade?

Or any veteran that rides with a motorcycle group/association for that matter?

Why did this man put the Legion in the middle of this?

Hopefully we will find out soon...

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Post a Comment

  1. This sounds like sour grapes...someone is pissy cos they can't ride...

    if you watched the national Remembrance Day ceremonies from Ottawa you will have seen that there was a biker gang there too...and they laid a wreath....a memorial ceremony that included hundreds of veterans and the Governor General.

    they are called Veterans MC and probably marched in the parade as well.

    no one has the moral right to judge anyone as to how they represent themselves respectfully.

    what this chief has done is called profiling.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bonecutter6:24 PM

    The only people I would listen to would be the Vets themselves. Other than that I don't need some jumped up public servant to act as my moral compass.

    Early on when I was a CAV member we got some of those comments because no one knew who we were or what we were about. As they got to understand what the CAV's mission was, we were welcomed to take part in their events. In fact, some of those who questioned us at first later became members.

    Just one comment regarding the previous post: the crests that I saw attending the ceremonies in Ottawa belonged to Veterans UN-NATO Canada. They are not a gang or MC. That distinction would be important to them.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous5:16 PM

    I'm not aware of any Rememberance Day Service "Dress Code". Very nice of the Charity Riders to take the high rode. John Hagarty obviously misses the point. Shame on him!

    ReplyDelete
  4. The Madscanner9:29 AM

    Hagarty is out of line for singling out one organisation. Should the cadets be banned because they wear a uniform which is part of their identity? Should the military be banned because they wear a uniform which is part of their identity? Should the fire, ambulance, and police services be banned because they wear a uniform which is part of their identity?

    If Hagarty has an issue with organised motorcyclists, then let him say so, rather than hiding behind an asinine interpretation of what "uniform" is acceptable in a PUBLIC event.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Bill Finlayson9:35 PM

    Gentlemen,
    I just watched CTV's coverage on the events that took place at the Remembrance Day Ceremony Via our 3 PPCLI FB page and I'm thoroughly disgusted with the attitude of the Mayor and totally appalled that the Legion sided with him. I want you to know gentlemen that not everyone feels as they do especially myself and many of our brothers in the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, and I offer our condolences for the shitty treatment that you received. It's a sad day in Canadian history indeed when ANYONE is told to stand down when their willing to March in respect of our fallen brothers and sisters. Truthfully it infuriates me.
    Sincerely
    William Finlayson.
    3 P.P.C.L.I.-Ret'd

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous9:43 PM

    Gentlemen,
    I just watched CTV's coverage on the events that took place at the Remembrance Day Ceremony Via our 3 PPCLI FB page and I'm thoroughly disgusted with the attitude of the Mayor and totally appalled that the Legion sided with him. I want you to know gentlemen that not everyone feels as they do especially myself and many of our brothers in the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, and I offer our condolences for the shitty treatment that you received. It's a sad day in Canadian history indeed when ANYONE is told to stand down when their willing to March in respect of our fallen brothers and sisters. Truthfully it infuriates me.
    Sincerely
    William Finlayson.
    3 P.P.C.L.I.-Ret'd

    ReplyDelete

 
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