A local group of motorcyle-riding U.S. veterans led by Gilroyan
Mark Zappa was turned down by the organizers of the Morgan Hill 4th
of July parade. Full article
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A local group of motorcyle-riding U.S. veterans was turned down by the organizers of the Morgan Hill 4th of July parade and won’t be riding the route Monday. The Patriot Guard Riders and its captain, Gilroy resident and Air Force veteran Mark Zappa, simply didn’t follow the rules said Bob Hunt, who has organized the parade with his wife Maureen since 1995, and if they had, the parade has long banned extremely loud vehicles such as Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
In the late 1990s, Hunt witnessed the loud rapping, or revving of the engine, by motorcycles in the parade and saw young children screaming and putting their hands over their ears. “It really, really pained them,” Hunt said. “We always critique the parade afterward and it was suggested that some people are going to follow the rules and some won’t. Unfortunately, we can’t trust that they all won’t do that. So we put a ban against any motorcycle or a vehicle that had a muffler that produces high decibels,” he said.
Zappa said Hunt’s explanation of “medical concerns” are silly. The Patriot Guard Riders have participated in parades many times and accompany funerals of dead soldiers; “we know how to behave,” Zappa said.
“We’re basically walking the bikes, they’re idling. We don’t rev the bikes. Nothing what I promised (Hunt), he was not buying,” Zappa said.
Hunt said firstly the Patriot Guard Riders did not apply to join the parade and instead tried to “ride the coattails” of the Blue Star Moms – mothers of stationed service men and women, and veterans – who will walk in Morgan Hill’s parade. Each participant must submit an application – the deadline was June 4 to the Northern California Parade Judges Association – and follow the rules, Hunt said.
Zappa wanted to add 12 motorcycles to the parade, but with the application deadline passed and the rules on noise, the Patriot Guard Riders will have to watch the parade this year.
Hunt added that the loud motorcycle revving poses a risk because horses are walking in the parade and could be spooked, though they do separate the horses from any potential problems.
“In this case, we have found to experience no matter how much they promise not to rap the engine, it’s just too exciting and some of the members can’t resist,” Hunt said.
Just last month, 50 local Patriot Guard Riders rode in the Gilroy Memorial Day Parade without incident, said parade chairwoman Christy Bracco. She did admit the motorcycles do make too much noise and organizers plan to discuss the revving.
“We tell them to conduct themselves properly, but it can get dangerous if they lose control because they’re close to the crowd, the children. It’s for safety” if motorcycles aren’t allow to rev, she said. “We’re just trying to be more strict about it,” Bracco added.
A group of 12 motorcycles, however, will participate in Redwood City’s 4th of July parade. Zappa said he faced similar backlash from their organizer about the size of their proposed motorcycle caravan. Redwood City organizers asked for three bikes; Zappa laughed at the suggestion; and now 12 from the national organization will ride Monday.
Just last month, 50 local Patriot Guard Riders rode in the Gilroy Memorial Day Parade without incident, said parade chairwoman Christy Bracco. She did admit the motorcycles do make too much noise and organizers plan to discuss the revving.
“We tell them to conduct themselves properly, but it can get dangerous if they lose control because they’re close to the crowd, the children. It’s for safety” if motorcycles aren’t allow to rev, she said. “We’re just trying to be more strict about it,” Bracco added.
Some disagreement about the Morgan Hill parade came because of the irregularly updated website, www.mhfreedomfest.com, that posted a partial list of parade rules, omitting some information about vehicles. Hunt said the site is new (it was created this year and has previously posted incorrect information). The rules are “real, not recently invented,” Hunt said. He and his wife Maureen dutifully enforce them. The parade and all events are put on by the nonprofit group Freedom Fest and run entirely by volunteers. The Hunts have been volunteers since 1973.
“I’m not convinced this is really the reason,” Zappa said about the noise and “medical issues” Hunt suggested about the exposure of motorcycle revving in front of young children sitting along the parade route. At some sections, the street is as narrow as one lane and spectators are within 10 feet of parade cars, marching bands, equestrian groups and other participants.
“The rule is arbitrary. It’s not published. For us to be excluded is bogus,” Zappa said.
After Zappa was told Monday that the Patriot Guard Riders wouldn’t be in the parade, a few hate e-mails have been sent to the Hunts, though not from Zappa, Hunt said.
To which Hunt called funny, since he’s a Korean War veteran and was on his first Harley at 12-years-old.
“It’s not something against motorcycle riders and it’s not against Patriot Riders, for sure. I really respect them,” Hunt said. He said he actually believed that Zappa could control his group of riders, but “we can’t have a rule for one and a rule for someone else.”
