Sturgis Journal: Senator rolls into Sturgis on motorcycle

It’s common for legislators to visit constituents, but few rumble into town on a motorcycle.

But that’s how U.S. Sen. Gary Peters arrived Thursday in Sturgis.

His ride through Michigan began Monday from his home in Oakland County and included 26 counties and 12 stops. He was scheduled to return home Friday night.

Sturgis was among those 12 stops, thanks to efforts of Cathi Garn-Abbs from Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce, who alerted Peters’ office of the “Freedom Ride for Veterans” at Hamilton Harley-Davidson in Sturgis.

It piqued Peters’ interest.

“Freedom Ride” is offered through generosity of local businesses Morgan Olson, Sturgis Bank & Trust, Burr Oak Tool and Oak Press Solutions, which joined Tommy Hamilton’s vision to offer veterans a ride, free of charge.

The companies bought the bike, which Hamilton Harley-Davidson maintains and provides the insurance. Veterans can schedule a time to use the Harley, Memorial Day through Labor Day. The first 100 veterans riding the bike have an opportunity to add an autograph.

In the first year of the program, the 2015 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Lo has been ridden by more than 60 veterans.

Peters, who served in the U.S. Navy Reserve, is one of them. He went for a short ride, then signed the fender.

“That’s a nice bike,” Peters said.

He should know.

“I’ve been riding a motorcycle since I was a teenager,”?Peters said. “It’s one of the things I just love.”

Peters thinks highly of the “Freedom Ride” opportunity.

“I think this is an incredible concept to allow veterans who may not have the opportunity to own a bike to be allowed to ride, to thank them for their service,” he said.

It aligns with one of Peters’ own efforts in sponsoring the “Fairness for Veterans” bill. It evolved from a Michigan case that was brought to Peters’ attention.

The Michigan veteran was discharged with a less-than-honorable status. That discharge prohibits him from receiving typical veterans services. However, in this case, the discharge had come from behavior that resulted from undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder. Symptoms of PTSD include depression, which can lead to substance abuse, followed by not showing up to muster — all the behaviors resulting in a less than honorable discharge, Peters said.

“It turns out there are a lot of veterans in that category,” he said.

Estimates show that, nationwide, about 20,000 veterans given a less-than-honorable discharged had undiagnosed PTSD, Peters said.

Fairness for Veterans would allow a veteran with credible medical evidence of suffering from PTSD to appeal that discharge. If the appeal went through and was changed to an honorable discharge, the veteran would have access to typical veteran medical care and services, Peters said.

Before Peters heads back to Capitol Hill, he will participate in a Labor Day parade in Detroit. It’s one of the largest of it’s kind in the country.