Military Appreciation Month & Rolling Thunder®, Inc Ride For Freedom.

May is Military Appreciation Month and we can’t think of a better way to spend it than by attending this year’s Rolling Thunder®, Inc’s Ride for Freedom in Washington D.C. Rolling Thunder®, Inc events will begin Friday, May 24^th with a Candlelight Vigil at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and then conclude on Sunday, May 26^th with the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom from the Pentagon to Washington D.C and a musical tribute to our nation’s veterans.

National Military Appreciation Month began as a way to show our appreciation for the men and women who make up our armed services. It is also a wonderful way to recognize our armed service history and allows Americans the opportunity to educate the next generation on the historical impact our military has had on our country. Through participation in the community, fun events, and educational programs, National Military Appreciation Month recognizes all those on active duty in all branches of the services, as well thousands of veterans and their families.         

National Military Appreciation Month History

The first legislation that was enacted for National Military Appreciation Month was in 1999 when the U.S. Senate designated May as National Military Appreciation Month. This came with the support and sponsorship of Senator John McCain and Representative Duncan Hunter. In April 2004, both Houses of Congress passed comprehensive legislation that May was National Military Appreciation Month and urged the President to issue an annual proclamation. This called for the American people to recognize the armed forces through ceremonies and events throughout the month of May.

Rolling Thunder®, Inc and POW/MIA’s

While the rest of the country celebrates Memorial Day and honors our veterans and armed service men and women, Rolling Thunder®, Inc will be riding in honor of the POW/MIA’s that are still unaccounted for—most specifically, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. Sgt. Bergdahl has been a Prisoner of War since 2009 when he was captured by the Taliban. He is believed to be held somewhere in Pakistan and is being held until the U.S. releases 21 Afghan prisoners and Aafia Siddiqui. The Haqqani network, an insurgent group affiliated with the Taliban has threatened to execute Bergdahl if Siddiqui is not released.

Rolling Thunder®, Inc welcomes all supporters – whether you ride a motorcycle or not.  If you have never attended Rolling Thunder®, Inc Ride for Freedom, as a rider, as a passenger or as a spectator, you are missing a truly touching event.

To learn more about Rolling Thunder®, Inc and to find out how you can support an incredible non-profit organization head to http://www.rollingthunder1.org

Russ Brown Motorcycle Lawyers

Russ Brown Motorcycle Lawyers have been fighting for injured riders for over thirty-five years.  Regardless of where your motorcycle crash injury occurred Russ Brown Attorneys can help you.  From California to Pennsylvania, Ohio to Texas, Florida to Wisconsin, Minnesota to Arizona – we have top motorcycle accident lawyer s ready to help you with your motorcycle accident injury case. 

German Mechanic Builds Bike Powered by Airplane Engine  

Here’s to innovative thinking–German mechanic Frank Ohle has created, what he calls the Red Baron; a chopper that features a 9 cylinder, 150hp Rotec Radial R3600 aircraft engine.  

This truly unique motorcycle has garnered international accolades as a triumph of engineering.  It has been featured in popular vehicle media outlets like Motorrad and Top Gear, to name just two.  A video featuring the bike has also gone viral on the Internet. 

Taking a full 18 months to construct, Ohle drafted and crafted every detail of this bike, (other than the engine), from the frame to the headlights.  The engine itself is a standard aircraft power plant built for use in small planes.  Painted red with splashes of white, the motorcycle was constructed to capture the spirit and look of its namesake, the Red Baron.

Ohle also elected to keep a small propeller on the front of the engine, adding a really cool element to the look of the bike it, which gives both the rider and spectator the odd feeling that the bike will take off any minute, (though we all know that’s impossible).    

This is not the first time Ohle has captured the imaginations of European gearheads with the spectacular creations that roll out of his shop.  He has captured numerous building titles around Europe with his customized motorcycle creations. 

Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys

Texting and Driving – It Can Wait

It’s a rare occurrence in such a competitive business, but the nation’s 4 biggest mobile phone companies, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon Wireless have united behind AT&T’s “It Can Wait” campaign to raise awareness and combat the texting and driving epidemic. 

It is a fact that a motorist is 23 times more likely to be involved in an incident when texting and operating a vehicle.  The issue has become a hot topic around the country with many states enacting legislation prohibiting the practice.

It’s not the first time the big four have fought texting and driving.  In separate campaigns, Sprint Nextel Corp began with an education program targeting teens in 2005.  AT&T and Verizon have been running ads since 2009 and, along with T-Mobile even have their own smartphone apps that help discourage the practice.  With the issue becoming more and more of a safety concern, the industry leaders decided it’s time to join together and send out a clear message to anyone operating a motor vehicle.  “Every CEO in the industry that you talk to recognizes that this is an issue that needs to be dealt with,” AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said in an interview. “I think we all understand that pooling our resources with one consistent message is a lot more powerful than all four of us having different messages and going different directions.”

The “It Can Wait” campaign will feature radio and television spots to help drive home the dangers of distracted driving.  The website, www.itcanwait.com, features simulators, facts about texting and driving, links to smartphone apps that help eliminate the practice as well as a link where one can take the pledge to never text and drive again.

What these companies are doing falls directly in line with what Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys has been advocating for some time through the “Keep Me Alive, Don’t Text and Drive” sticker campaign.  The roads are a safer place for riders and drivers alike when everyone behind the wheel is focused on driving and not their phone.  With the “Keep Me Alive Don’t Text & Drive” program, Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys has put a focus on safety—after all, no text message is important enough to risk serious injury or even death.

To learn more about Russ Brown’s anti-texting campaign, check it out at http://www.russbrown.com/motorcycle-lawyer-texting-campaign.html. 

Ride Safe

Russ Brown Motorcycle Lawyers

Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys: Rolling Thunder® and the History of the POW/MIA Flag

In 1971, MIA wife and National League of Families member Mrs. Michael Hoff recognized the need for a symbol for the nation’s POW/MIAs. Mrs. Hoff contacted Norman Rivkees, Vice-President of Annin & Company flag makers. The company commissioned WWII veteran and advertising firm creative director, Newton Heisley to design the flag.

Heisley sketched several designs based on his memories as a wartime pilot. The design chosen portrays the silhouette of a man’s head with barbed wire and a watch tower in the background. Underneath the design is the motto, “You Are Not Forgotten.” The flags were manufactured and distributed after receiving approval from the National League of Families.

The 101^st Congress officially recognized the POW/MIA flag in 1990 and under Public Law 101-355, designated it as “the symbol of our Nation’s concern and commitment to resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, thus ending the uncertainty for the families and the nation.”

National POW/MIA Recognition Day is the third Friday of September. The flag flies over the White House every year on this day and is the only flag, with the exception of the American flag, to have ever flown at the White House. The flag also flies, continually, over the rotunda of the Capitol. The flag‘s message is spread through its visibility.

Rolling Thunder®

Since their incorporation in 1995, Rolling Thunder®. has operated by the watchwords, “We Will Not Forget.” They are an organization committed to bringing full accountability for the POW/MIAs of all wars, by increasing awareness of this issue to the government, the media and the public. One of their biggest public reminders is the annual Rolling Thunder® Demonstration held in our nation’s capital.

Every year since 1988, the venue for the Rolling Thunder® Demonstration has been Washington D.C. on Memorial Day weekend. This year, the Ride for Freedom will take place on Sunday, May 26. The ride will start in the parking lot of the Pentagon and end near the John Ericsson Memorial and will honor Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl who was captured by Taliban insurgents on June 30, 2009 and remains in captivity somewhere in Afghanistan to this day.

For more information and to find out how you can get involved visit http://www.rollingthunder1.org/

Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys – Rolling Thunder 2013

In honor of Rolling Thunder® Inc’s Ride For Freedom – Russ Brown Motorcycle Lawyers have created a commemorative sticker available to anyone in the USA.  To get your free Rolling Thunder® Inc 2013 sticker head to http://www.killabikergotojail.com

Get your free Rolling Thunder Sticker – http://www.killabikergotojail.com

Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys: 2013 Breakout

Harley-Davidson, Inc. has always been an innovative company, setting the standard for quality of production in the motorcycle world. Now, they are raising the bar once again.

Every model year since 1999, Harley-Davidson has chosen a small selection of its production version motorcycle models for the mass market and created limited-edition customizations of those models with accessories not found on the mainstream versions. This year, they wanted to show the market that they could take something from their Custom Vehicle Operations line-up and, in the middle of the model year, come back with a production version.

In the absence of its usual winter dealership meeting, Harley-Davidson instead, introduced the 2013 FXSB Breakout Softail motorcycle at Daytona Bike Week. The Florida motorcycle rally is one of the world’s largest, second only to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.

The production version of Breakout bears many similarities to its CVO counterpart that was introduced in August. This marks the first time that crews from the CVO and standard Harley lines have worked together to produce the two versions.

Both motorcycles have a long, low stance, but the factory production model has less chrome, a slightly less powerful engine and gloss black Gasser aluminum wheels. The Gasser wheels are new and specific to the Breakout, according to Harley styling manager Kirk Rasmussen.  A gloss black finish has also been applied to the new cast aluminum oil tank, brake rotors and handlebar.

“With Breakout we got down to motorcycle essentials, which means emphasizing the powertrain and wheels,” says Rasmussen. “The black and chrome engine visually pops out of the center of the bike, and then to maximize the impact of the tires, the fenders are chopped. We wanted a lot of rubber showing to give the Breakout a tough, muscular look.”

Genevieve Schmitt, publisher of Women Riders Now, notes that the bike also has a lower seat, potentially making it popular with female riders. Although with its authentic swagger, it’s sure to turn everyone’s head.

The 2013 Breakout is available in Vivid Black, Big Blue Pearl and Ember Red Sunglo and lists for as little as $17,899. ABS does not come standard, but for an additional $1,195, an ABS/security factory-installed option is available.

“Everyone else is still trying to catch up with Harley-Davidson in the touring bike department,” said Schmitt, “and here Harley is once again throwing a curve ball with the Breakout.”

This riding season, be sure to protect yourself with a BAM membership. BAM is our free roadside and legal assistance program with close to 2 million members. It is the nation’s largest motorcycle assistance program of bikers helping bikers and we are proud to offer it to motorcyclists across the country—absolutely FREE. Call us today at 1-800-4-BIKERS or visit us on the web to learn more about BAM or our law firm.

Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys

]]> http://www.russbrown.com/motorcycle-lawyer-blog/8062/harley-davidson-2013-breakout.html/feed 0 http://www.russbrown.com/motorcycle-lawyer-blog/8053/will-nevada-legalize-lane-splitting.html http://www.russbrown.com/motorcycle-lawyer-blog/8053/will-nevada-legalize-lane-splitting.html#comments Sat, 11 May 2013 11:20:31 +0000 Matt Goettsch http://www.russbrown.com/motorcycle-lawyer-blog/?p=8053 Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys: Nevada Weighs Legalizing Lane-Splitting

Nevada, known for Vegas, casinos and the Hoover Damn, may soon also be known as the second state in America that allows lane-splitting for motorcyclists and, the first to fully legalize it.  Nevada bill AB236 passed the Assembly vote on April 19th, and now moves onto the state Senate for approval.  Even though it passed the Assembly vote in an overwhelming fashion, the bill has nevertheless created a polarizing effect within the legislature and in the public, as people debate the positives and negatives of lane-splitting.

The bill itself seems to take much of its structure from the already existing guidelines used in the state of California.  The major points of the bill consist of:

Mopeds would not be allowed to lane-split;
Instead of requiring a person who was lane-splitting to drive in a cautious and prudent manner, the person should drive in a manner that is reasonable and proper; with due regard for the traffic, surface and width of the highway, the weather and other highway conditions.
Riders must not travel 10mph faster than surrounding traffic;
Riders must not exceed 30mph while splitting
The bill will take effect on January 1st, 2014, as opposed to the original date of October 1st of this year.

Safety is logically the main concern of the differing opinions on the practice.  Ill advised 4 wheeled vehicle drivers can create dangerous situations for motorcyclists and need to be aware of the practice and when they might expect to see it happening.  Bikers themselves need to realize when to lane-split based upon the surroundings and conditions—for example; staying away from the practice around large vehicles, toll booths, at high rates of speed etc.

Some politicians like Republican Assemblyman from Las Vegas, Paul Anderson don’t agree with it, stating “overall it becomes a pretty dangerous situation, we’re not known for having the safest streets anyways, and adding traffic between the lanes just adds to the hazards”.  Countering this position is motorcyclist Rick Eckhardt of Reno who is steadfast in his belief that lane splitting should be legalized. “I’m hoping we will be a model for a very conservative bill that works correctly that will save lives and hopefully ours will be a model for the rest of the country,” he said.

Either way, the bill is heading to the state Senate for approval and lane splitting could well be a reality very soon in the Silver State.

Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys

Russ Brown Motorcycle Lawyers have been fighting for injured Nevada riders for over thirty-five years.  Regardless of where in Nevada your accident injury happened Russ Brown Motorcycle Lawyer s can help you.  From Reno to Las Vegas, Carson City to Lake Mead – Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys in Nevada can help you.

Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys: Prince Harry lays wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia

Prince Harry is in the US and today on day 2 of his tour he stopped at the Arlington National Cemetary in Virginia.  He laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns and one on the grave of an American soldier, who died in Afghanistan with a message that said “To my comrades-in-arms of the United States of America, who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of freedom.”

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

On March 4, 1921, Congress approved the burial of an unidentified American soldier from WWI in the plaza of the new amphitheater at Arlington Cemetery. On November 11, 1921, the unknown serviceman, who had been brought back from France, was laid to rest in the marble tomb.

In 1932, a sarcophagus was dedicated and installed at the head of the unknown soldier’s grave. To the west of this grave are the crypts of an unknown soldier from WWII and an unknown soldier from the Korean War, both laid to rest on May 30, 1958.

Between these two, lies a crypt that once held an unknown from Vietnam. In 1998, his remains were positively identified as First Lieutenant Michael Blassie and were removed.

The Tomb of the Unknowns is a simple white marble structure that holds powerful symbolic meaning.    Three Greek figures adorn the east panel that faces Washington, D.C. They represent Peace, Victory and Valor. The north and south panels each bear three wreaths which represent the six major battles engaged in by American troops in France. The western panel of the sarcophagus bears the inscription, HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD.

Every minute of every day since April 6, 1948, the Tomb of the Unknowns has been watched over by “The Old Guard”, sentinels from the Army’s 3^rd Infantry Regiment. It is considered one of the highest honors to serve as a tomb guard. Less than twenty percent of volunteers are accepted and only a fraction of those will pass training.

Rolling Thunder® Inc Ride For Freedom 2013

Since their incorporation in 1995, Rolling Thunder, Inc. has operated by the watchwords, “We Will Not Forget.” They are an organization committed to bringing full accountability for the POW/MIAs of all wars, by increasing awareness of this issue to the government, the media and the public. One of their biggest public reminders is the annual Rolling Thunder Demonstration held in our nation’s capital.

Every year since 1988, the venue for the Rolling Thunder Demonstration has been Washington D.C. on Memorial Day weekend. This year, the Ride for Freedom will take place on Sunday, May 26. The ride will start in the Pentagon parking lot and end near the John Ericsson Memorial and will honor Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl who was captured by Taliban insurgents on June 30, 2009 and remains in captivity somewhere in Afghanistan to this day.

The Tomb of the Unknowns is one of the destinations for many of those who attend Rolling Thunder® Inc’s Ride for Freedom, all to pay their respects and to ‘Never Forget.’

For more information on Rolling Thunder® Inc Ride For Freedom 2013 Washington, DC head to http://www.rollingthunder1.org/

Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys

Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys: Accident statistics for 2012

In a recently released report by the Governors Highway Safety Association, it appears that motorcycle fatalities and accidents are on the rise.  The Association points to a number of reasons but mainly attributes the rise to changes in mandatory helmet laws in some states.

The Governors Highway Safety Association is a group that represents the states and monitors highway safety while making recommendations to increase that safety.  Addressing everything from impaired driving, speeding, and occupant protection, the Association attempts to influence driving laws, increase safety and promote best practices.

Delving deeper into the Association’s reports, one can readily see that motorcycle fatalities are indeed on the rise.  Thirty four states saw an increase in fatalities with the state of Oregon seeing a statistical rise of 32% and Indiana, a 29% increase.  Taking into account that the amount of registered riders is also on the rise, the logical conclusion is that more riders will result in more accidents.  In the state of Pennsylvania alone, the amount of registered riders jumped from 265,054 to 409,017 between 2011 and 2012.  That’s an increase of 54% over the two years! 

A much longer riding season in 2012 is another contributing factor barely mentioned in the report issued by the Governors Highway Safety Association.  In fact, 2012 set records for average temperatures in 48 of the 50 states.  Along with the fact that the warmer temperatures occurred much earlier than they have this year, one can come to the conclusion that the 2012 riding season was a longer than normal which in turn, encouraged riders to get out on their bikes earlier and more often.  More time on the road will directly correlate to the increase in fatalities—a longer season provides increased chances of accidents.  California can be taken as an example to support this hypothesis as the riding season there is typically stable and fatalities dropped slightly, from 321 deaths in 2011 to 318 in 2012.

Ultimately though, the helmet debate will undoubtedly continue in earnest as the report strongly suggests that helmet usage is the large and looming issue when it comes to motorcycle fatalities but is it? Now only 19 states have mandatory helmet laws versus the 1997 level of 26.  In fact, between 2010 and 2012, in most states with only partial helmet laws, fatally injured riders were five times more likely to have ridden without the protection of a helmet as those in states with universal helmet laws.  But is that due to helmet law or the large increase in riders and the longer then usual riding season?

The debate rages on!

Ride Safe!

Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys: Sturgis 2013 Come for the Motorcycles and Stay for the Entertainment

There has to be at least a thousand reasons why motorcycle enthusiasts make the trek every year in August to the biggest and oldest motorcycle rally in the world, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, but no matter what drives bikers from every part of the world to get in the wind to be a part of the largest gathering of motorcyclists in Sturgis, South Dakota one thing is for sure is it is guaranteed to always be the greatest non-stop biker celebration you could ever imagine.

For most motorcyclists it is all about the beautiful scenic rides, seeing their Sturgis friends that have become family over the years, and of course the icing on the cake is the non-stop entertainment.

Hundreds of thousands of bikers will make the run to the 2013 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. It takes a lot of first class entertainment to keep the party rolling  the during the ten day event and no one does that better then the Legendary Sturgis Buffalo Chip.

The Sturgis Buffalo Chip is one of the best places in the world to see live music. The Legendary Buffalo Chip is all about giving their customers the absolute finest experience in everything they do while at their campground and they have a state of the art professional stage complete with pro lights and sound system making the natural amphitheater surroundings of the main area the perfect location for enjoying live music anywhere!

The Buffalo Chip truly lives up to their promise of the “Best Party Anywhere” by not only having a professional stage and sound system, but they also book the top musical acts to entertain their guests. The 2013 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally line up at the Buffalo Chip includes:

ZZ Top * Kid Rock * Toby Keith * Queensryche * Sublime * Halestorm * Mastodon * Machinehead * Brantley Gilbert * Charlie Brechtel Band * Iron Cowgirl Missy * Midstokke * Rob Zombie * The Cult * and many more yet to be announced.

Because of the immense size of Sturgis Buffalo Chip Amphitheater it is a common practice for Buffalo Chip rally goers to ride their motorcycles right up to the stage to park and sit while they enjoy the live music, this is definitely something you can’t do at most other places in the world that offer live music.

In addition to the great sound system and top notch musical acts, the Sturgis Buffalo Chip offers plenty of space to stretch out and have a good time, and if you prefer you can watch your favorite band from one of the bars located within the campground, and should you get hungry there is also plenty of good food to go with all of the musical entertainment!

To add a little excitement to your concert going experience you can Zip the Chip.  That’s right, there is a zip line that goes right across the amphitheater.  Imagine zipping over the heads of thousands of concert goers!

There are many reasons, thousands upon thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts return to Sturgis, South Dakota year after year and we are amongst them.  We are looking forward to being welcomed ‘home’ in August at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip and seeing the friends we have made over the years.  We hope to see many of you there!

Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys – Sturgis Rally 2013