AMERICAN LEGION POST 147 WELCOMES NEW BROTHERS

By STEPHEN HAMMILL

A half-dozen denim-and-leather-clad men, sporting facial hair and no small number of tattoos, strode up to the bar and hastily ordered their drinks. Sal the barkeep served them up, one by one. Outside, the Harley-Davidsons, at the moment silent, kept watch.

At first glance this scene could pass for a biker-bar, or something out of a war movie; but this was neither.

The men inside represented the local chapter of The Nam Knights of America Motorcycle Club, and they had come to join American Legion Post 147 at 17413 Gunn Highway in Odessa after leaving their previous home, a veterans’ facility in Land O’ Lakes.

Sal the bartender is Sal Poliandro, the commander of American Legion Post 147.
Poliandro, and the rest of the membership of the American Legion post, held a breakfast Dec. 2 to welcome the Nam Knights to their fold.

“We’re going to try and get this place rocking and rolling,” said Pete Campbell.
Campbell is president of the local chapter of the Nam Knights, a club consisting of Harley-Davidson owners dedicated to honoring the memory of those who lost their lives during the Vietnam War and to assist American veterans of all conflicts in times of need.

A small group of Harley-riding combat veterans of the Vietnam War, some of whom were also police officers, started the Nam Knights in 1989.
“The club was formed to recapture the brotherhood its founding members shared while serving in Southeast Asia, and to help other veterans of all wars who are physically or financially unable to help themselves,” according to a quote on the group’s Web site attributed to founding member Jack Quigley, who served as a platoon sergeant during the Vietnam War.

The stated mission of the Nam Knights is to honor the memory of veterans and police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty, to assist veterans and police officers in their time of need, and to promote community awareness through sponsorship and participation in various community and fundraising events.

In subsequent years, membership opened to non-law enforcement Vietnam veterans, then to law enforcement officers. Chapters may now have up to 25 percent of their membership filled by civilians.
“We get guys like mailmen, firemen,” said Campbell.

The men said the only adamant requisite for its members is that they “have to own and ride American-made motorcycles.” Campbell summed it up another way, “No weekend warriors … and no crotch rockets.”

The Nam Knights now boasts 26 chapters, nine of which are in Florida, with members made up of veterans from all eras, including the Iraq War.
Campbell stresses his group’s goal as a nonprofit organization.
“We do a lot for nursing of disabled veterans … and with helping U.S. veterans all over,” he said.
“We give what we get,” chimed in one of the members.

In their constitution, The Nam Knights state their goal to “help foster, encourage, and promote improvement of the condition of the Vietnam-era veteran.”
When the Knights went looking for new home in Tampa, Poliandro, a Vietnam veteran himself, called them back.
“We share a brotherhood – those who served over there – all of us,” he said.
The local chapter averages about 15 events and a dozen meetings a year. The Knig
hts will meet monthly at post 147.
The gruff exteriors belie a softer side to the men of Nam Knights. They get most charged up when talking about bikes, but when the subject ranges to helping others, and to their fellow veterans, more somber, reflective moods take hold.

Campbell added, “This year we’re joining the post to help some kids with a Christmas party on Dec. 16. We buy bikes for underprivileged kids. And we also do a lot for children with cancer.”

Another member expanded on the mission of the Knights in helping disabled veterans across the country, and in Tampa, “We just try to supplement what the government can’t do. We make a difference.”