Veteran Enhancement Project

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Frederick, MD
Veteran Enhancement Project

To provide support to US Military veterans by fostering brotherhood through all things motorcycle. Many veterans find that riding a motorcycle is therapeutic.

The first motorcycle clubs were born from returning veterans after war. Many military members that came back from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan found it very awkward to talk about their feelings with a group of people they did not know or therapists they had no link with. There is one common thing that we all have. “Riding motorcycles calms me.” Getting a bike was the best thing we e

ver did. What I found and embraced is that this works! And so that’s where Veteran Enhancement Project Inc. is going to start. This idea was born out of the effort to combat the 22 veterans a day that take their lives. It has unlimited possibilities. Veteran Enhancement Project Inc. is a very unique grassroots movement towards the brotherhood of all things motorcycle. Many veterans can’t afford to maintain and most do not know how to work on their own motorcycle. will give veterans a place that they can work on their bikes and those of others. If they need help, it will be available and so they will be able to learn what needs to be done. This will put them on the path to developing a skilled trade. They will then be able to fix things up on their own. If they choose they will then be able help to fix up motorcycles for those in need. Some veterans come back from war as single/double amputees and cannot afford to make the conversion to a three wheel trike with special accommodations for their medical situation. will provide a service to these veterans AT NO COST! The veteran will develop a sense of pride by learning something new, helping others and/or creating a true piece of art. This will set them on the path of self-advocacy and reduced depression. There is also the additional dimension of comradery these veterans will experience as they work with other veterans. This comradery is unique among the services, and something the veteran never stops craving. As a member of a large veteran’s group, I know how therapeutic it is to be with those who have the same issues and may be craving the same thing. At the same time they will be learning the skills they need to take care of their own motorcycle and this will provide opportunities in a new career or hobby in the motorcycle service industry. We will make sure that their motorcycles are safe and presentable. will tackle that and more. We’ll help them pour their hearts and souls into their work, and with it, create an enduring reminder of their path to healing.

02/09/2024

Benjamin F. Hardy was an African-American custom motorcycle builder who made the Captain America and Billy choppers for the 1969 Peter Fonda road movie Easy Rider.

The Captain America bike, made from a then 20-year-old, heavily customized Harley-Davidson panhead is considered one of the most iconic motorcycles ever built, one which captured the zeitgeist of a generation and became an anti-establishment symbol.

Working with another Black motorcycle builder, coordinator Cliff Vaughs, Hardy built two 'Billy' bikes and three 'Captain Americas', one of which was destroyed in the making of the movie, the rest of which were stolen. The 'Billy' bike was typical of the custom motorcycles Black bikers were riding at the time.
Hardy and Vaughs remained largely unknown and uncredited for 25 years as they were not accepted due to being African-Americans, and were not welcomed into the mainstream motorcycle world in the USA.

Known locally as "Benny" and "King of Bikes" Ben Hardy's Motorcycle Service was located at 1168 E. Florence in Los Angeles. He was a mentor to many of the local motorcyclists in South Central, Los Angeles.
His work was featured in the “Black Chrome” exhibition at the California African American Museum.

12/18/2023

12/03/2023

This would be amazing! 🤯🤯
https://inspiringdesigns.net/harley-campers/

10/31/2023

Happy Halloween from VEP!🎃

09/22/2023

Connect today! Find a lost battle buddy on “Together we served” and chat with your veteran community on “Rally point”.

TWS has reconnected more US Military Veterans than any other organization

09/10/2023

Let’s hear ‘em…

-Saving Private Ryan
-American Sniper
-Full Metal Jacket

09/09/2023

During a study at Harvard in 1957, Dr. Curt Richter placed rats in a pool of water to test how long they could tread water.
On average they'd give up, sink and drown after 15 minutes.
But right before they gave up due to exhaustion,

the researchers would pluck them out,
dry them off,

let them rest for a few minutes and put them back in for a second round.

In this second try, how long do you think they lasted?

Remember, they had just swam until failure only a few short minutes ago...

How long do you think?

Another 15 minutes?

10 minutes?

5 minutes?

NO!

60 HOURS!

That's not an error.

That's right!

60 HOURS of swimming which is 2.5 DAYS!

The conclusion drawn was that since the rats BELIEVED that they would eventually be
rescued,

they could push their bodies way past what they previously thought impossible.

I will leave you with this thought:

If an Unstoppable Belief can cause exhausted rats to swim for that long,

what could a Belief in yourself and your Capabilities Do for You?

Remember What you’re capable of.

Remember Why you’re here.

Keep swimming and

Never Ever Quit.

THE SARGENT
NE-KAH-NE-TAH

08/27/2023

Rock star Bret Michaels spoke with PennLive before he volunteered his time at Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, where his father is buried.

08/07/2023

https://www.uso.org/stories/2276-8-purple-heart-facts #:~:text=The%20Purple%20Heart%20Was%20One,secured%20grand%20victories%20in%20battle.

07/26/2023

💟🇺🇸🇺🇸Update-delivered💟🇺🇸🇺🇸
VEP delivered the completed bike to Vietnam Veteran, John Allen Bordeaux! See the attached pictures for the results of the build.
————————————————————————-
**VEP project alert***

Our current VEP build is for an adored Grandfather/Veteran, John Allen Bordeaux.

His Granddaughter contacted VEP to rehab a much loved motorcycle(28 years old), which had fallen into disrepair. He had attempted to have it repaired and a series of awful situations left him very disappointed. Not to worry, Tom was up for the challenge and the drive!

After a good look at the bike, it was just beyond safe repair. Thankfully a generous donor has stepped in with a great bike for him. It still needs a total overhaul, maintenance and a custom paint job fitting this hero.

We learned a bit about John and found out he has been riding since he was just 15 years old. He was a draftee to Vietnam, having to leave his young wife and two girls behind. He twice earned the Purple Heart during his tour (1967-1969) in the 1/40th FA. He is the kind of guy that, “would give you the shirt off his back if it meant that you stayed warm and he would give you his last dollar if it meant you had a drink or a snack”. His greatest wish is to get back on a motorcycle.

Address

Frederick, MD

Telephone

+12402326176

Website

http://www.vepusa.org/

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Our Story

Many veterans find that riding a motorcycle is therapeutic. The first motorcycle clubs were born from returning veterans after war. Many military members that came back from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan found it very awkward to talk about their feelings with a group of people they did not know or therapists they had no link with. There is one common thing that we all have. “Riding motorcycles calms me.” Getting a bike was the best thing we ever did. What I found and embraced is that this works! And so that’s where Veteran Enhancement Project Inc. is going to start. This idea was born out of the effort to combat the 22 veterans a day that take their lives. It has unlimited possibilities. Veteran Enhancement Project Inc. is a very unique grassroots movement towards the brotherhood of all things motorcycle. Many veterans can’t afford to maintain and most do not know how to work on their own motorcycle. Veteran Enhancement Project Inc. will give veterans a place that they can work on their bikes and those of others. If they need help, it will be available and so they will be able to learn what needs to be done. This will put them on the path to developing a skilled trade. They will then be able to fix things up on their own. If they choose they will then be able help to fix up motorcycles for those in need. Some veterans come back from war as single/double amputees and cannot afford to make the conversion to a three wheel trike with special accommodations for their medical situation. Veteran Enhancement Project Inc. will provide a service to these veterans AT NO COST! The veteran will develop a sense of pride by learning something new, helping others and/or creating a true piece of art. This will set them on the path of self-advocacy and reduced depression. There is also the additional dimension of comradery these veterans will experience as they work with other veterans. This comradery is unique among the services, and something the veteran never stops craving. As a member of a large veteran’s group, I know how therapeutic it is to be with those who have the same issues and may be craving the same thing. At the same time they will be learning the skills they need to take care of their own motorcycle and this will provide opportunities in a new career or hobby in the motorcycle service industry. We will make sure that their motorcycles are safe and presentable. Veteran Enhancement Project Inc. will tackle that and more. We’ll help them pour their hearts and souls into their work, and with it, create an enduring reminder of their path to healing.