The 86th Annual Sturgis Gathering of Bikers is in full swing this week – bringing tens of thousands of people to South Dakota each year.
At the center of the rally are veterans. The Sturgis Rally honors active-duty servicemen and women, veterans, first responders and Gold Star Families with special concerts and events. On Wednesday, Aug. 12, they held a Military Appreciation Day that began with a free pancake breakfast, exhibitors, a showcase of motorcycles and an A B-1 flyover.
Veterans and motorcycle culture have a long history of “brotherhood” that is reported as far back as the end of World War II, when soldiers who came back from war started riding clubs with surplus military bikes. The American Legion Riders report having 100,000 riders today. Riding on a motorcycle offers “wind therapy” for many veterans.
Communities across the country often hold their own events prior to the Sturgis run and also to honor their local veterans. In that spirit, a blessing of the Motorcycles was held at Las Palmas Park in the City of San Fernando.
Tomas Manos is one of the Veterans who participated in the event, which offered a prayer for protection and safe travels. He is also part of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Rogue Warriors, a motorcycle community associated with VFW Post 6885 in Santa Clarita.
Manos served in the Marines and was deployed six times between 2002 and 2014, three times to Iraq. He said that in time, he made many friends who never returned home.
“It’s in their memory that I wear these patches and ride for them in their honor – every single day,” Manos said.
He’s been part of the group for a couple of years, but has been a motorcycle rider since 2010 and currently owns three of them. As a motorcyclist and a veteran, Manos has gone to multiple events to support the community, including participating in Memorial Day events and honor rides – events meant to support injured veterans, active-duty military and first responders.
“What this [Blessing of the Motorcycles] means to us and to me is it’s another way for people to get together that have like-minded interests in one place, … veterans especially,” Manos said. “We’re not very social, so this is a good time for us to get together, re-socialize with people that have similar interests and similar language, and share stories and relive our glory days.”
Steven Garcia also came from Santa Clarita for the blessing. He’s currently on reserve duty, but was on active duty for the Army between 2018 and 2023. He entered the motorcycle scene in 2022, acquiring his first bike from a friend he served alongside. He quickly grew to like it and bought another one the following year.
“It’s very fun. Even though riding motorcycles is more dangerous, … the engine reminds me of when I was a machine gunner,” Garcia said. “It’s just that the motor brings me nostalgia.”
Being around so many veterans for the Saturday blessing, he humorously equated it to “a bunch of grown-ass kids talking smack” to one another.
“Nothing’s changed with [the humor shared by] all the veterans through the different eras,” Garcia said with a smile. “It’s just the dark humor that we have. A lot of people never understand, but it’s freaking funny.”
Organizers of the Blessing of the Motorcycles would like to continue the event and erect a veterans wall to honor all those who’ve served in their local community.
Editor Diana Martinez contributed to this article