Members of the first Knights of Columbus Motorcycle Ministry in New Jersey
gather in front of St. Andrew's Knights' building in the Avenel section of Woodbridge last week.
Posted on 08/23/2009 6:34:12 PM PDT by Coleus
The motorcycles roared down the street, their riders in black leather vests. Long hair peeked from under helmets. Clad in jeans, dark shades and short-sleeve shirts revealing the occasional tattoo, they parked their bikes and headed toward the Catholic church last month. Almost 100 strong, these bikers are out to change public opinion.
One sported a patch on his vest that read: "These Are My Sunday Clothes." They're not your father's Knights of Columbus. They're knights on bikes, New Jersey's first Knights' Motorcycle Ministry. "We want to make sure that the public image of bikers isn't what they see on TV", said John Brandon, president of the Motorcycle Ministry and a knight for 13 years. He cited TV shows like "Sons of Anarchy," where bikers are characterized as violent outlaws heavy into drug trafficking.
"They're the 1 percent, we're changing the image of what a motorcyclist is," said Brandon, 58, of the Belford section of Middletown. The ministry stretches from Raritan and Kenilworth in the north to Brick and Jackson in the south. Unlike Knights of Columbus that are attached to specific parishes, this sub-group meets in various churches throughout the state to plan their charitable works.
Although approved by the New Jersey Knights of Columbus in October, the seasonal nature of riding stalled the ministry until May, said Special Programs Director James Stoever, 50, of Brick Township. "We stay active as much as we can all year round, but nobody wants to go for a ride in February," he said. Brandon said the ministry benefits several charities, but doesn't have a specific focus.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
Members of the first Knights of Columbus Motorcycle Ministry in New Jersey
gather in front of St. Andrew's Knights' building in the Avenel section of Woodbridge last week.
Great picutre!
Cool!
Ride safe.
Are you in the pix?
Ride safely.
Jersey Ping
Good on ‘em!
Great pic!
Ride safe!
And tomorrow they will most likely put their suit and ties back on and go back to the workplace. Todays “Bikers” are not anything like the bikers of 20 years ago.
Good on all of em.
BTTT!!!
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