CHARLIE MIKE

CHARLIE MIKE (C-M) means “Continue Mission” using the military phonetic alphabet.

It is a command given to keep moving forward and complete the mission objective after an operational military unit experiences delay, obstacles, or adversity. 

For veterans, it’s a call to continue service beyond the uniform.   

I’ve posted many times over the years about my involvement with the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (CVMA).  Everyone’s experience with being deployed to a combat zone is different, but the common ground of that experience makes for a powerful connection with others.  The organization’s motto of “Vets helping vets” manifests in many ways; from rolling en masse at charity rides, to standing a flag line at a military funeral, to building a wheelchair ramp on a disabled veteran’s home, to meeting a fellow member for an ad hoc ride when they need company to get through a tough time.  When I joined the organization a decade ago, I really enjoyed the large group activities and was involved in most events.  Over the years however, I have become less engaged in group endeavors and prefer the connection that small assemblies provide.  I made an exception this year for our local chapter’s (CVMA 15-1) annual Charlie Mike event.  A long weekend of no official chapter business or sanctioned rides, just a Labor Day weekend of fellowship and riding.  A weekend of being there for each other and continuing the mission of unit cohesion in life after service.

Most everyone rolled out to Robbinsville, on the edge of the NC-TN border, at different times from the Fayetteville, NC area to all converge at the Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge on Friday evening.  As I had done for 4^th of July weekend, I met up with Dave (aka Buzz) for the approximately 4-hour ride, but this time with his girlfriend “Jessie” riding two-up.  Jessie and I hit it off right away and quickly joined forces to persuade Buzz to conform to pit stop timing based on our bladder sizes and comfort levels instead of gas level indicators 🙂

Though the weekend was a re-ride of many of the routes I had previously travelled on two-wheels, it’s always worth it to re-experience them through the eyes of riders who had not yet explored these specific routes.  I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend of small group riding mixed with sitting around a fire with the larger group in the evenings listening to a local band and sharing stories about rides and deployments.  I’m sure that if you asked each chapter member about their experiences during this event, you’d get 60 different answers…which made it such a success in my book 😀 The lodge, the mountains and forests, the routes, and most of all, the company and fellowship, of this event added to an already spectacular riding season of adventures.