More About The CVMA
We are
an Association of Combat Veterans from all branches of the United States Armed Forces who ride motorcycles as a hobby. As a registered 501(c)(19) veterans’ charity, our mission is to support and protect those who have defended our country and our freedoms. Our focus is to provide assistance and help to individual veterans, veteran care facilities, other veteran organizations and registered charities. We sponsor and participate in many veteran-related motorcycle (and other) charity events each year, and as a non-profit organization, donate to
various veteran causes.
Our membership is comprised of Full Members (those with verified combat service), Supporter Members (those who have non-combat military service and have a strong dedication to helping veterans), and Auxiliary Members (Spouses of both Full and Support members). We have members from all 50 states and numerous countries abroad, including combat areas.
Please note that we are an ASSOCIATION and NOT a MOTORCYCLE CLUB (MC). Although we may be in a geographic area, we do not claim territory. We do not have a club house. We do not wear cuts or colors, but rather vests. The patch on our back is one piece.
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HISTORY
In 1999, the Combat Vets Motorcycle Club was introduced to the internet. Up until the first part of 2001 many were led to believe it was a true and established motorcycle organization. Through many turns of events it was found out that CVMC was an internet scam to bilk money from Combat Veterans. In the early months of 2001 many of the members found this scam out and alerted one another, 45 members decided to form a Combat Veterans Association. The birth of the CVMA appeared as a nonprofit Association approximately May 1st 2001. The 2 main things that brought them together were motorcycle riding & being Veterans from Combat zones. The original 45 members adopted a patch to wear, indicating that they are the original founding fathers of the CVMA. In May of 2001, the CVMA adopted the CVMA/VFW patch. This was done with the VFW's ok as all CVMA members were or became VFW members and entitled to wear the VFW patch. Over the next year and a half, the CVMA was well accepted at Post and Division levels within the VFW. Many meetings, conversations, and letters over this period with the VFW National BOD always sounded positive but with no results of developing a relationship.
In December 2002, the CVMA membership voted to move on towards the Association it was to become. VFW membership was no longer required, opening the CVMA up to all Combat Veterans who rode motorcycles. 15 December 2002, it was voted that the CVMA would wear a combination of the CVMA background and the old skull logo as a one piece patch. Membership requirements for being a new member were; Combat Veteran and rode a motorcycle as a hobby. The patch is worn by full members only.
Our Patch Meaning
Our CVMA patch has a very significant meaning to all of our members:
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Red, represents the blood that has been shed on the battlefield.
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Military Gold, represents all branches of the military service of the United States.
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Black, represents the heavy hearts possessed for those who gave their lives and for those that are considered missing in action or prisoners of war.
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The Skull and Ace of Spade represents the death that war leaves in its wake.