By Chris Genovese, Marketing Director
There’s something uniquely special about sitting down with a group of veterans that strive to help other veterans. Uncommon heroes such as these truly live by the words, “service never stops!”
Recently, I had the pleasure and honor of meeting with some folks just like this: charter members of the newly formed Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association® NY Chapter 19-11. Through a couple of sit downs, I was able to talk with the Chapter’s President, Treasurer, Sgt. at Arms, and several other members — veterans who have already dedicated years of their lives to serving our country in combat, and who are now stepping forward once again to serve fellow veterans and the local community.
I did this because, long before I came to work for Steve and Christina, the law firm became involved with veteran causes through the efforts of my predecessor and friend, Paul “Flyboy” Fedorsak, who was himself a 28-year veteran of the Air Force. As such, Flyboy was building meaningful relationships within the veteran and riding communities because he also shared and understood the bond that exists between military veterans and motorcyclists. He recognized that organizations like the CVMA® were creating not only a social outlet for veterans, but also a support system grounded in brotherhood/sisterhood, trust, and shared experience.
Through Flyboy’s leadership and involvement, our firm developed a longstanding relationship with CVMA® 19-6, a chapter that has done incredible work throughout the region for many years. Whether supporting veterans causes, directly helping individuals, organizing charity rides, or simply showing up for fellow members and other veterans in their times of need, the members of 19-6 consistently demonstrated what the CVMA® is all about. In fact, the success and growth of CVMA® 19-6 became one of the driving forces behind the national organization’s decision to establish an additional chapter here in the south towns of Western New York.
For those unfamiliar with the organization, the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association is far more than a motorcycle riding group. The CVMA® is a brotherhood and sisterhood built around veterans that support other veterans. Its members are (largely) veterans that served in combat from all branches of the United States Armed Forces, and who share a love of motorcycles, camaraderie, and community service. Across the country, CVMA® chapters are known for supporting veterans in need, participating in charitable events, standing beside Gold Star families, and making sure no veteran is forgotten. They also ride together, often hundreds of miles, to support veterans in need, and attend meetings and events for other CVMA® chapters around the country.
Here in Western New York, the creation of CVMA® 19-11 marks an exciting new chapter for the local riding community, particularly for riders in the south-towns who now have a chapter rooted directly in their “back yard.” Down in the Southern Tier, where so many of us love to ride, veterans do not have the same level of access to peer-focused support networks and other resources that exist closer to Buffalo.
That’s where CVMA® 19-11 comes in.
The new chapter serves veterans residing south of “the 33” all the way down to the Pennsylvania state line, including southern Erie County, Cattaraugus County, and Chautauqua County. The mission is simple but incredibly important: make sure veterans in those communities know they are not alone and have fellow veterans they can turn to when help is needed.
And when the members of CVMA® 19-11 say support, they mean support of any kind. During my meeting with the chapter members, one thing became very clear — these are people who genuinely want to hear from veterans in their area who may need assistance, guidance, camaraderie, or simply someone to talk to. Sometimes the need may be financial assistance or help navigating resources. Other times it may just be the need for connection and community. Either way, the members of 19-11 want veterans throughout the Southern Tier to know there are people just like them that are willing to stand beside them.
That theme is one of the reasons it was so meaningful to sit down with the members of the new 19-11 chapter. There is a clear sense of continuity between the chapters — not just in patches or traditions, but in mission and spirit. The members of 19-11 are carrying forward the same values of service and brotherhood that have defined the CVMA® nationwide and locally through 19-6.
As riders, we often talk about freedom, independence, and life on the open road. But one of the greatest strengths of the motorcycle community is that nobody rides entirely alone. When riders rally around a cause, support a brother or sister in need, or stand together for their community, that spirit becomes something much bigger than motorcycles themselves.
That’s exactly what I saw while meeting with CVMA® 19-11. This new chapter represents more than a new patch in the south-towns. It represents veterans continuing to lead from the front, continuing to serve their communities, and continuing to look out for one another long after their military service has ended.
The members of CVMA® 19-11 also encourage any veterans interested in exploring membership to reach out and learn more about the organization. Membership requirements are refreshingly straightforward: you simply need to be a veteran who owns a motorcycle of 500cc or larger and maintains a valid motorcycle license and insurance for it.
One unique aspect of the CVMA® is that there is no prospecting process for membership. As the members explained with a smile, the organization recognizes that veterans have already gone through enough of that (expletive deleted) during their military training. Instead, the emphasis is placed on respect, shared experience, and building relationships.
The organization offers three levels of membership. Full-patch membership is available to combat veterans. Support membership is open to non-combat veterans. Auxiliary membership exists for spouses of veterans who are not veterans themselves. Together, those groups create a strong extended family within the organization.
As we’ve mentioned in previous blogs; among all the motorcycle organizations and riding groups that we encounter throughout the state of New York, the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association® stands apart in one very noticeable way: the bonds between members are incredibly strong. It’s something you can feel almost immediately when you spend time around them. Watching veterans support fellow veterans is genuinely inspiring.
Now, that doesn’t mean they take themselves seriously all the time.
Like most military circles, there’s also a constant stream of friendly — and sometimes absolutely brutal — joking between members. One of the better examples involves road names. Officially, each member selects and submits their own road name as part of the membership process. Unofficially, many members still seem to “earn” those names the old-fashioned way: through equal parts humor, embarrassment, and relentless roasting from fellow members.
The chapter President also joked that the Air Force veterans in the group are hoping to recruit some Coast Guard veterans into the mix as well, which apparently would help to take the heat off of the Airmen. Naturally, that would inevitably lead to even more inter-service banter for the chapter.
Another interesting aspect of the CVMA® is that members are free to join whichever chapter they choose, regardless of where they live. Still, many riders naturally gravitate toward their local chapter because of the close friendships and camaraderie that develop through regular rides, meetings, events, and veteran outreach in their own communities.
As of May, CVMA® 19-11 had grown to 34 members with room for more. They are also fortunate to have strong representation from Native American veterans within its membership, something the chapter is especially proud of, as the organization is also known as “The Tribe.”
The coming months will keep the chapter busy as well. CVMA® 19-11 will be hosting the New York State CVMA® meeting in September, and many members are also preparing to ride to the national CVMA® meeting in Syracuse. For a brand-new chapter, they’ve already built impressive momentum and seek to maintain it.
So we’re very proud to continue supporting the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association and look forward to seeing CVMA® 19-11 grow and thrive here in Western New York. Knowing the caliber of people involved, there’s no doubt this chapter is going to make a lasting impact both within the riding community and far beyond it.
