COMBAT VETERANS MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION
CHAPTER 4-2 HISTORY
By Darryl (Cutter) Hartung
Following is a brief history of Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (CVMA) Missouri Chapter 4-2 came to be.
Throughout the Fall and Winter months of 2005 and 2006, CVMA membership grew to over 20 members in the southern Missouri area. Members were scattered out in the Lake of the Ozarks area, Cole Camp, Farmington and Springfield.
While at the National meeting in Bowling Green, KY in June 2006, Mike "Gunner" Minor, National President and MO Chapter 4-1 Commander asked Darryl "Cutter" Hartung to take the lead in organizing a meeting with all the southern MO members to start the process of forming a new CVMA Chapter.
A meeting was held in August 2006 in Buffalo, MO., Officers were elected,
By-Laws approved and MO Chapter 4-2 became a reality.
By November 2006 the membership in the Springfield area had grown to over 20 members and those members formed MO Chapter 4-3, leaving Chapter 4-2 with 8 Full Members, 2 Auxiliary members and 1 Support member. Two 4-2 Chapter Officer positions were held by members in Springfield, so, a meeting was held 18 November and an election was held to fill the vacant Officer positions. The Chapter By-laws were read, voted on and approved.
During the winter and spring months, 2006 and 2007 the Chapters membership slowly grew.
The Chapter members worked very hard throughout the summer of 2007 preparing for their first "Support Our Veterans" Poker Run. The Run was held on 16 August 2007 and was a huge success, raising $5,000 which was donated to the Fisher House Foundation.
Chapter membership continued to grow and the 2nd Annual Support Our Veterans Run was held 15 August 2008 raising $10,020 which was again donated to the Fisher House Foundation.
The huge success of the Chapter's first two Runs were due to the hard work of not only the Full members, but the Auxiliary, Supporters, Honoree members and a few special people who are not members, but work very hard to help the Chapter to help Veterans.
The Auxiliary members gathered during the winter months of 2008 and 2009 making organizers for wheel chairs and walkers and other items which they donated to the Warrensburg, MO Veterans Home.
Currently (August 2009) MO Chapter 4-2 consists of 46 Full members, 16 Auxiliary members, 4 Support members and 1 Honoree member. Members consist of Viet Nam Veterans, Gulf War
Veterans and the Global War on Terrorism (Iraq and Afghanistan) Veterans. Many of these members are active duty Military.
Chapter recently lost 15 Full and 3 Auxiliary members when MO Chapter 4-4 was formed in the St. Louis, MO area. As history reflects, Chapter 4-2 has been the "spawning" Chapter for the formation of Chapters 4-3 and 4-4.
In addition to organizing fund raising events to benefit Veterans, Chapter members participate in many other events. Attendance and escort at funerals for fallen soldiers / Veterans is a priority for Chapter members. Attending / supporting other CVMA Chapter's fund raising events in Missouri and surrounding States. Attending Military / Veteran events sponsored by other motorcycle groups. Riding to and attending Veteran ceremonies, visiting Veteran Memorials and simply getting together and riding for fun.
Regardless of member status, MO Chapter 4-2 functions as a 'Unit' in all activities. We are a 'Team'. We are Veterans Helping Veterans.