When Ric Menjivar left for his retirement party, he didn’t ride to the party alone. The 64-year-old Gilroyan was escorted by more than 30 other motorcyclists from the Patriot Guard Riders, a visually powerful entourage with flashing lights and waving flags.
Menjivar served as a Sergeant in the Air Force from 1968 to 1971 and was deployed in the Vietnam war for one year beginning in 1969. When he returned home in 1970, his welcome home from service wasn’t a welcome at all, according to Tom Lewis, Gilroy resident and fellow Patriot Guard Rider.
On Jan. 2, that missing welcome was formally and ceremoniously remedied.
“We gave him the welcome home he never got,” said Lewis. “We are making sure that never happens again.”
The grand motorcade escort was planned alongside Menjivar’s retirement, which marks a 40-year career with the United States Postal Service. He started as a local postman and worked his way up to telecommunications maintenance in the regional area.
On Jan. 2, patriot riders first staged at the Shell gas station on Pacheco Pass Highway, gathering in a circle to brief on what rider Mark Zappa of Gilroy called “the mission” – an outlined route to Menjivar’s home on Victoria Drive.
“It’s especially great for us when we get to do a retirement of a Vietnam Veteran, when they were literally spit upon,” said Zappa.
The Patriot Guard is a “diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation,” with “one thing in common besides motorcycles – an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security,” according to the group’s website. A number of South County residents belong to this national organization. They frequently demonstrate their support for soldiers at parades, on Veterans and Memorial Day, homecomings and funerals.
Zappa mentioned that it was fortunate to see a retirement, such as Menjivar’s, but that the duty of the Patriot Riders is to attend any event held in honor of a veteran. America’s servicemen and women deserve to feel welcome and respected, Zappa said, whether they served in Word War II or present day conflicts.
The Patriot Guard Riders started in August 2005 in Kansas, when members of the American Legion Riders heard about the funeral of a veteran being disturbed by protesters of the Iraq war. The founders decided to recruit chapters within each state, thus enabling the patriots to respond throughout the country. Membership has grown tremendously, currently boasting “hundreds of thousands of members,” according to Zappa.
Any motorcycle club can join the Patriot Guard Riders, as the organization is a melting pot of various groups. At least three separate groups were represented at the Jan. 2 ride, including the American Legion Riders, Third Day Riders and Menjivar’s own group, a Christian Motorcycle club known as CROSS Ministries.
From the Shell station, the Patriot Riders rode to Menjivar’s home to escort the retiree in a commanding formation.
“It’s overwhelming; I’m humbled by this turnout,” said an astonished Menjivar. “I don’t have the words to express it all.”
His wife of 28 years, Francine, also was humbled by the display. “I just want to thank everyone for honoring my husband. He’s a great example of a husband and has been raising his family in the Lord,” she said.
Menjivar got outfitted in his riding gear and was joined on his Harley Davidson by his daughter. The father/daughter pair took position at the head of the column, and, with flags waving, led the whole procession to Crossroads Christian Center in Morgan Hill.
The train of riders dismounted upon reaching their destination, and Menjivar gave a farewell speech as he stepped down from his CROSS Ministries Leadership. Menjivar decided to resign from his position with CROSS in order to spend more time with his church, acting as a small group leader at Crossroads.
Before anyone could think he was leaving the club completely, he quickly added, “but I’ll be seeing you again soon.”
The group gathered in a circle to pray for Menjivar and Pastor Lupe Gomez of CROSS Ministries before adjourning to the fellowship hall to celebrate Menjivar’s 40 years in the Postal Service.
Many family and friends showed up to commemorate the occasion, including Menjivar’s five children: Ricardo, Danny, Rochelle, David and Haleena.
Menjivar’s oldest son and namesake, Ricardo, shares more than his name with his father. Ricardo also served his country, serving four years in the Air Force from 1992 to 1996 in Texas. Ricardo smiled when he remembered the support his father gave him while completing boot camp.
“He prepared me for military life, and for adulthood,” said Ricardo.
All of Menjivar’s children spoke about their father with gratitude and respect.
Danny, Menjivar’s second-oldest son, was happy to see his father’s hard work rewarded, even if the recognition came late.
“Having the guard here, and the church, it says a lot about my father,” he observed. “For them to be willing to put their time aside, it shows.”
Menjivar’s plans for retirement are simple: days filled with fishing and riding his motorcycle. He’s even talked about organizing an annual ride to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. to pay respect to the fallen.
It wasn’t just family that turned up in droves to the event, but co-workers as well.
That included Grace Nichols, one of Menjivar’s co-worker’s who thanked him for his military service.
“One of the things I truly admire, with all the things you have lived though, is that you still have this innocence about you,” she told him.
