Here is a video web page for those that went to the memorial service and a look for those that couldn’t make it. It is by the Clubhouse Magazine.
Clubhouse Magazine. Homepage ( http://theclubhousemagazine.com/)
http://theclubhousemagazine.com/CHMSput/SputMemorial/pageflip.html
Elmer
To All TMRA2 Members:
These last few weeks have been very sad and difficult for those of us who worked so closely to Sputnik. We are still trying to get our balance back and we know those biker boots are hard to fill.
But we wanted to give everyone an update on the status of the Texas Motorcycle Rights Association. Were are still up and running, we are still taking memberships, and we still have the TMRA2 chapters going. As everyone knows by now the Bikers of Texas are trying to move forward with our motorcycle rights agenda. The TMRA2 Legislative Task Force promised Sputnik to keep working at the capitol and to continue the fight for Bikers Rights so that is what were are going to do..
In the TMRA2 membership meeting last May, Sputnik announced that he wanted Paul Landers, to take his place at the capitol and it was approved by the District Advisor’s and members that attended. Paul has been working side by side with our chairman at the capitol the entire session. In addition, Paul has a 20 year history of working with Sputnik and others in the political arena. As you can see in the attached documentation from this passed session, Paul and the US Defenders worked side by side with TMRA2
and Sputnik for the last three years. The history of last years session is documented on the attached letter called the history of SB1967. http://www.tmra2.org/images/HISTORYOFSB1967.pdf
Right now TMRA2 is planning a Membership and District Advisor meeting sometime in October with Paul Landers and others, to outline the future of “where we go from here”.
There will also be a special NCOM Region 2 Convention November 19th and 20th, 2010 where Paul will break out the future of TMRA2 in Texas and what to expect on Legislative Day. All TMRA2 members are strongly encouraged to attend this informative meeting.
States from the Southern region will be exchanging ideas on biker politics in their state and Texas needs to have a big turn out for this event to show our solidarity. All of the bikers who have worked hard on motorcycle rights here in Texas are a model to all other states because of our success here in Texas. If we did not work together, we would not have been successful. Here is the information below to make your reservations.
If you have any questions, please contact me at 512-971-1377. Many thanks to our members for all the years of hard work and thanks in advance for the work that will be in the future. Sputnik was very proud of us. Also, below is a letter I received from Jesse McDugald at NCOM, he wanted me to share it with the TMRA2 members.
Sincerely;
Terri Williams
TMRA2 State Secretary
http://www.dfwrally.com/NCOM-Region-2-Meeting.html
Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas,
Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska
Location: DeSoto, Texas
Hotel: MCM Grande Hotel
Date: November 19th & 20th
More Info Go To: www.dfwrally.com
The bond
that links your true family
is not one of blood, but
of respect and joy in
each other’s life.
These words come from the book Illusions by Richard Bach and for me they epitomize my feelings about Sputnik. His “true family” is huge because of the respect so many of us have for him. We truly miss you Sputnik.
“Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?” I spoke these famous words at the NCOM convention in Richmond as an example of the caliber of man that I saw in Sputnik.
Although famous, these words are little known because we seldom hear them due to the impact of the sentence that followed. But for me they are
necessary to an understanding of my friend and his love of LIBERTY. They are the words of Patrick Henry spoken on March 23, 1775 and in their entirety they are Sputnik.
“Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery?“Forbid it, Almighty God – I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death.”
Whenever I thought of Sputnik I thought of those words of Patrick Henry and said to myself that if Sputnik were alive during the War for American Independence he would’ve probably spoken those same exact words. With Sputnik’s passing I’ve come to realize that although he shared the exact same love of freedom as Patrick Henry he never would have used such fancy language. It just wasn’t his style.
As I thought more and more about Sputnik I finally figured out who he reminded me of. I’m into SciFi and one TV show I absolutely loved was STARGATE SG1. One of the main characters was a great warrior who fought to overthrow his peoples’ slave masters, or as he put it, false gods. His name was Teal’c and like his people he had a tattoo emblazoned on his forehead that he kept as a sign of his contempt for the false gods he had been forced to serve. Every time his character faced eminent death his last words were; “I DIE FREE.” No matter what the situation his thoughts were always focused on his freedom. He would rather die FREE than live a slave.
I now realize that Sputnik was the real life embodiment of Teal’c. Sputnik was a ceaseless warrior for his LIBERTY and for ours as well. He had a tattoo on his forehead as a sign of his contempt for those “false gods” that seek to enslave us. And as he faced his next step into the unknown I’m certain in his heart he shouted out:
I DIE FREE
Sputnik, you died as you lived, FREE.
You are my hero.
Jesse
Articles about Sputnik
Sputnik Memorial Ride Pictures
Links to Video Tribute
720 – 125mb
640 – 75mb
320 – 15mb
ATTENTION : SPUTNIK MEMORIAL SERVICE RIDE JULY 10TH-SATURDAY
WHEN: JULY 10TH, SATURDAY at 10:00 AM
WHERE: RALLY POINT IS AT VFW POST 8787, 500 VFW ROAD AUSTIN TEXAS 78753. KICKSTANDS UP AT 1000 AM. THE MEMORIAL RIDE WILL PROCEED TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE STATE CAPITOL BUILDING.
(The VFW will open up at 8:00am and coffee, doughnuts, and water available at the rally point) Link to map
MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR SPUTNIK TO BE HELD AT THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CAPITOL BUILDING IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE MEMORIAL RIDE.