project-ml--gratitude-133005

Dinner And A Bike With American Legion Riders Post 161

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:20:39 GMT

A Night of Gratitude, Brotherhood, and Wind Therapy

On March 22, 2026, Project ML‑Gratitude had the honor of hosting a special dinner in collaboration with the American Legion Riders of Post 161, an evening rooted in gratitude, service, and the powerful connection between motorcycles and healing. That night, surrounded by friends, supporters, and fellow riders, we were proud to gift a motorcycle to a deserving veteran named Joshua Lookabill, an Afghanistan Combat Veteran.

Project ML‑Gratitude was founded with a simple but meaningful mission to give back to selected colorado veterans by providing them with motorcycles. For many veterans, the transition home can be challenging. We understand that sometimes the best therapy isn’t found in words, but in open roads, fresh air, and the freedom that comes from riding. What riders often call “wind therapy” has the power to clear the mind, restore confidence, and remind our veterans that they are seen, supported, and appreciated.

During the dinner, our founder Kim Tompkins shared the heart behind our mission and reflected on how this journey began. Her story represents the ripple of generosity that sparked Project ML‑Gratitude. When Kim's motorcycle was stolen, a stranger at the time, known as Mark Lochman stepped in and donated one of his bikes to Kim simply "because it was the right thing to do."

That selfless act inspired Kim and co‑founder Mark Jester to officially create Project ML‑Gratitude. Mark Lochman remains an active supporter of our mission. His legacy is honored as "ML" in Project ML-Gratitude. Since then, what started with one bike has grown into a mission that has now changed dozens of lives, not of just the veteran recipients, but also for many who support our mission.

At this point, AJ Naylor who was in attendance, was introduced and celebrated. AJ was our first recipient. Joshua proudly becomes recipient #24.

Our Ride Captain, Donovan Martinez, then shared how Joshua’s motorcycle came to be donated. Through an unexpected conversation at work, Donovan learned that Jerry Kuker, the father‑in‑law of one of our supporters, had a motorcycle sitting unused in his son-in-law's garage. Jerry's son-in-law spoke with Jerry, and after owning the bike for 24 years, he made the incredibly generous decision not to sell it, but instead to donate it to Project ML‑Gratitude so it could be given to a veteran in need.

That veteran is Joshua Lookabill.

Jerry’s willingness to give embodies everything our organization stands for. His motorcycle now carries far more than miles; it carries gratitude, respect, and the appreciation of a nation.

T his night would not have been possible without the American Legion Riders of Post 161, whose support, partnership, and shared values made the event truly special. Their commitment to veterans and their willingness to stand alongside Project ML‑Gratitude reinforces the strength of our riding community and the power of working together for a greater cause. We are deeply thankful for their collaboration, hospitality, and unwavering support of our mission.

To Joshua: thank you for your service and know that you are now part of a much bigger family that understands what it's like to come home.

To Jerry: thank you for your extraordinary generosity. By donating a motorcycle you have owned for 24 years, you gave Joshua far more than a bike. You gave him freedom, healing, and a lasting reminder that his service is honored. Your kindness perfectly represents the spirit of Project ML‑Gratitude and will continue to ride on with every mile Joshua travels.

This is what gratitude in motion looks like, and we are honored to be part of the ride.

Keep it on the road and in the wind!

With our gratitude...

Project ML-Gratitude Partners With Rider Justice for 2026

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 22:34:58 GMT

Partners are everything!

At Project ML‑Gratitude, partnerships rooted in compassion, community, and shared purpose are at the heart of everything we do. Today, we are honored to share an important milestone for our organization and the veterans we serve. Rider Justice—an esteemed Colorado advocate for motorcyclists and a steadfast supporter of rider safety and community empowerment—has joined us as our official 2026 partner.

This collaboration represents far more than a sponsorship. It reflects a shared belief in the healing power of connection, the transformative impact of generosity, and the unique ways motorcycles can restore independence, confidence, and hope. With Rider Justice standing beside us, Project ML‑Gratitude is poised to expand its outreach, elevate its mission, and uplift even more veterans across Colorado.

Below is the full press release announcing this meaningful partnership. We’re grateful for every individual and organization who continues to help us grow, serve, and honor veterans through the power of wind therapy and community.

Rider Justice Announces 2026 Partnership Supporting Project ML-Gratitude's Mission for Veterans | FinancialContent

There's Still Time!

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 22:41:49 GMT

Goodbye, 2025!

Kindly click on the image to access our donation page. As we near the end of the year, we wish for the new year to bless everyone with love, support, and prosperity! We truly appreciate your ongoing support. We couldn't continue this work without you!

Giving Tuesday 2025

mhenry0770@gmail.com (Matt Henry) — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 17:22:29 GMT

Every Little Bit Helps!

Please click on the image to go to our donation page. Thank you for your continued support! We couldn't keep doing this without you!

1st Annual Vets4Vets Chili-Cookoff October 25th, 2025

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 17:31:28 GMT

Vets4Vets Pools Resources

Vets4Vets is a 501(c)(19) non-profit coalition that unites several veteran motorcycle organizations with a common mission. Every dollar raised through their initiatives and events is devoted to supporting veterans in the Denver area as they navigate critical issues such as veteran suicide, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), hunger, and homelessness. Their commitment to these causes helps to ensure that veterans receive the resources and assistance veteran and veteran families need to help them live in a more positive and fulfilling way after bravely serving our country.

For this event, Vets4Vets selected a retired Coast Guard veteran who, after her service, continues to serve both veteran and community causes with passion and dedication. Sometimes the best of us find ourselves behind the 8-ball and are handed life-altering situations. Fortunately, Vets4Vets was able to step up to help her walk a few dark miles.

The Chili Cook Off event was kindly hosted by the Veterans MC at their clubhouse in Westminster, CO. It was a good turnout and fun event with a lot of new faces and a lot of tasty chile to try. There were two categories for the tasting with one winner for red chili and one for green chile. There were a total of four greens and six reds to sample. Each guest was given a pair of raffle tickets; one ticket to be deposited in front of the chile of both categories that they liked best. The winner of the Red Chili category was Mick, of the American Legion Riders, while the winner of the Green Chile category was me, Matt, from Project ML-Gratitude. Each winner collected a prize of fifty dollars. Thank you to everyone who participated and I look forward to defending my title next year!

Project ML-Gratitude was honored to be invited to participate in this year's event. It allowed us an opportunity to do what we do best and that's giving away motorcycles to veterans in need of wind therapy. This time our selected nominee is a 14-year US Army veteran who served in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Matthew Martinez is a family man who stated that transitioning to civilian life has been difficult and he joined the VFW to maybe help with the bad days. When he learned of our program, he thought that some headspace in the wind would be a much better way to let go of the bad days. We awarded Matthew a beautiful 2009 Suzuki Boulevard C50T, making him our 23rd recipient to date.

Congratulations, Matthew, thank you for your duty and commitment. We hope this bike will help you find a little peace when things get a little too noisy. PMLG salutes you!

As the event wound down, there was one more surprise in store. Veterans MC presented a generous monetary donation to Project ML-Gratitude. VetsMC, we are truly grateful for your support. Your donation goes a long way to helping us to grow our program into something that goes beyond motorcycle donations, by enabling us to offer additional motorcycle support for more veterans by way of resources that contribute to mental health.

As always, keep the rubber side down and your face in the wind!

With our gratitude...

10th Annual Veteran Suicide Awareness Ride

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 02:16:50 GMT

Veterans Helping Veterans

We are truly honored to have been invited to take part in the 10th Annual Veteran Suicide Awareness Poker Run, organized by the Veterans MC Colorado, Denver Chapter, on August 30, 2025. Each year, Veterans MC hosts this important fundraiser to shine a light on the staggering number of veterans who succumb to the darkness of despair. Tragically, we lose 22 veterans each day to suicide—a poignant and dire statistic. Veterans MC donates the proceeds to local organizations that provide crucial support to veterans in crisis. We sincerely appreciate their unwavering dedication to this cause and are proud to be included in their mission.

The poker run kicked off at Sun Harley Davidson in Thornton, featuring stops at Shifterz Bar & Grill in Sheridan, Brooks Place Tavern in Conifer, Crossroads Pub & Grill in Pine, and concluding at Wide Open Saloon in Sedalia. This is where we were able to give away motorcycle - our favorite part of what we do!

The recipient of our 2004 Honda VTX 1300 C is Doc Richard, a member of the Mushu Heimdall MC. An Army veteran who served as a combat medic, Doc is no stranger to ML-Gratitude. In 2020, he volunteered to mentor our inaugural bike recipient, A.J. Naylor, teaching him how to ride and connecting him with a wonderful community of veterans and bikers. As life would have it, Doc eventually found himself in need of a ride. We were truly honored to present this bike to him and hope it keeps him in the wind.

At this point, our giving is usually complete, but this day was something more...

Kim met Neil McCabe a few years back though her pool league. Over that time Kim got to know Neil and learned that he is an Army veteran that served as a Squad Automatic Gunner with the 25th Infantry Division. Neil faced the darkness in his service and on most days he is reminded of it. On Memorial Day, Neil holds his own ceremony at Fort Logan National Cemetery to honor those that fell beside him. Neil is a man of honor and although he's now a veteran, he still carries his team these many years later. It is for these qualities that he was nominated to receive a motorcycle. But, the motorcycle he will receive is no ordinary bike. It may look like any other 2002 Honda VTX 1800 R, but this one is special. This bike is the bike. It's the one that started our nonprofit. After Kim's original bike was stolen, Mark Lockman stepped up and donated this bike to Kim. At the same time, her stolen bike was recovered, but badly chopped. Kim was so moved by Mark's gesture, that she and Mark Jester and several others worked together to restore her original bike so it could be given to another veteran in need. That was A. J. Naylor. Let's watch the giveaways.

Neil had no idea that he would be receiving that bike. Kim had lent it to him to ride and she contacted his wife to make sure that he rode in this event. Neil also brought his son and it happened to be his first ride ever! He later said in a post on Facebook:

"What I wasn't expecting was that I was not only the recipient of a bike, but it was THE bike that started it all. The VTX I had the privilege of riding that day.

It's not that a bike was presented to me that is special. It was that the bike that I was honored with is the only one Kim swore she would never part with. It carries so much meaning, so much purpose, and such a symbol of love and respect in our community.

The other part that was so special was that it wasn't just the usual motorcycle clubs that showed up. I had a lot of friends there to support me personally as well as a few people I really didn't think that I made that much of an impression on. I don't think of myself as special or deserving of such an honor."

Neil, this is exactly why you are the right person for that particular bike. It just fits! We hope that it can give you some peace of mind on the tough days.

It was a beautiful day for a ride and it was a day that I hope helped some to think about what our veterans go though to allow us to keep the freedom we enjoy. They take the cuts and carry the scars that keep the rest of us safe at home. They carry those wounds, both seen and unseen, for the rest of their lives. We can only hope to recognize their pain and let them know that we are here to help them carry that load, even if in some small way of giving a veteran a way to get out out their head for a little while.

To date, we have given wind therapy to 22 veterans and wa hope to keep doing it for years to come! Thank you to everyone who supports the cause of healing veterans. Special thanks to Veterans MC for your commitment to this cause. Keep the rubber on the road!

You have our Gratitude...

3rd Annual Gratitude Ride, June 14th, 2025

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 01:58:51 GMT

Navy Combat Veteran Rides Again

It was a scorcher of a day! Especially for mid-June where the city temperature threatened 100 degrees. But, it was a beautiful day for our 3rd Annual Gratitude Ride up through the eastern slope of the Rockies. This year, our ride began at Dirty Dog Saloon in Golden. Led by Ride Captain, Donovan Martinez and generously guarded by Veterans MC who volunteered their resources to block for our 100 bike gathering.

After registration, we heard Veronica Gallegos' beautiful A capella rendition of our National Anthem, followed by Ride Chaplain, Dave Stuht's warm prayer. The safety brief was then given and the ride quickly departed for it's only stop at Roy's Last Shot in Black Hawk. This year's ride included a full buffet lunch at Roy's for anyone who was interested.

After the lunch stop at Roy's, everyone made their own way back to the final stop at Bout Time Pub & Grub in Sheridan. It turned out to be a decent place, although we packed that house. We had the team there in advance to set up for the final leg where we would award a 2003 Yamaha VStar 1100 to a select combat veteran.

We held the raffles and silent action. We tried something new with the silent auction this year and that was to have it hosted online. It turned out to be impractical for the way we used it and we apologize for any difficulties you may have encountered. Lesson learned, and we will return to something a little more familiar next year.

We did have one item that was auctioned off live. Jim Rudy graciously donated a beautiful Arkansas Toothpick that he forged and live auctioned off himself.

Then it came time to give away a motorcycle to our selected Veteran. Our recipient is a combat veteran who served with the Navy SEAL Teams. He was shot in the spine while on deployment in Iraq and was left paralyzed for many months. Fortunately he slowly recovered the use of his legs and continued serving. He completed ten more combat missions before retiring.

Please help us honor Jimmy Schoeder for his boundless call to service for all of us. You have given far more than many of us and we are thankful for your commitment. We sincerely hope that this motorcycle gets you into the wind and helps you with the hard days.

With our gratitude...

I'll close this blog with a look at some of the many moments from this year's ride. The are many photos from our Photographer, Dan Devlin, our team, and our Drone Pilot, Adam Peters who took some great aerial video.

Finally, we wish to thank the following sponsors and contributors that helped make our event a success. you have our gratitude..

Tow Moto Co. - https://towmotoco.com/
Rider Justice - https://riderjustice.com
Military Broadcast Radio - https://mbradio.us/about-us/
Thornton Eagles #3226
Next Level Pros - https://nextlevelpros.net/
Kelli King Pro Permanent Makeup - https://kellikingpro.com/
High Style NXS - https://highstylenxs.org/
SoLow Cycles - https://solowcycles.com/
A Joyful Clean - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573969845922
Liberty Flagpoles - The official flagpole sponsor of Project ML-Gratitude https://www.libertyflagpoles.com
Bout Time Grub & Pub https://www.bouttimepub.com/location/sheridan-colorado/

A Day To Honor, A Day to Heal

mhenry0770@gmail.com (Matt Henry) — Wed, 28 May 2025 02:08:31 GMT

Fort Logan National Cemetery, May 26, 2025

Like many veterans and civilians, I have spent all of my post-military Memorial Day weekends at home, watching war movies and barbecuing. I felt as if I had always respected the holiday for its intent. I held my own moments of silence for our fallen and quietly felt the gratitude we should all keep for those who gave all for our liberty. I thought I was doing enough. Maybe it is the wisdom that comes with age that makes me feel that I have not given enough back in honor of those who fell.

I am a US Navy Veteran who served aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), 1991 - 1995. I made two wartime deployments to the western Pacific (WESTPAC), where we were involved in two missions in support of keeping Iraq, the seas, and airspace free of threats. As a wartime sailor in the US Navy, the threat of imminent danger is much lower than for those that are on the ground. Though life on a warship has its own dangers that are present 24/7 when underway. I only point this out because for years, I believed my service wasn't impactful. I didn't really believe that my service was important within the bigger picture. I have since learned that there is no part of honorable military service that is less important than any other. It takes everyone to turn the wheels of our military, from the men and women in the pentagon, down to the men and women who have their operational assignments, and still keep everything clean and in good repair. Sometimes, scrubbing the heads, sweeping passageways and painting bulkheads seems like meaningless work, but when your ship has a service life of 50 years, you begin to see the bigger picture.

This year I was invited to spend Memorial Day at Fort Logan National Cemetery to observe the ceremonies in a way that I never have. The skies were overcast and seemed to set a reflective mood. The morning was filled with the voices of those who shared stories that honored our fallen heroes. There were many stories of names you would have never known and how they served all of us. There were stories of our military heroes that lost their lives in ways that were a result of their wartime service and not the combat actions themselves. It was a ceremony of quiet tears and gratitude, and by the end of it my emotions remained close at hand. But, the events were not yet complete.

I met Neil for the first time at our Cornhole Tournament in February of this year. Kim had introduced us. A couple of months ago, she told me about Neil's ceremony that takes place on Memorial Day, though I didn't really understand the gravity of it at the time. My stepfather was interred at Fort Logan on his birthday last August. Kim asked if I would like him to be included in the ceremony. I agreed as I felt like it would one more way to honor someone I love and immensely respect.

An Army Infantry veteran, Neil is a little enigmatic in that I don't know much of his story. Though I barely know him, I have great respect and admiration for him. I do know that his combat scars have left him with questions about having survived while others didn't. For Neil, that pain is ever-present. It seems that there isn't a day that passes where he isn't grateful for those who fell, where he tries to live in ways that honor their memory.

Every year, Neil holds his own ceremony at Fort Logan. He spends weeks preparing for it. He first crafts his own memorial and has dog tags made for those he needs to honor. His memorial is placed near the main stage at Fort Logan before the ceremonies begin. Then at the end of the main Fort Logan ceremony, Neil moves to his memorial and, one by one, he places the dog tags of his fallen on the board. He made tags for my stepfather and allowed me to place them on the board. It was very moving and a lot of tears were shed during the ceremony. Neil said it is his way to honor those that fell, and it also helps to wash away some of the ever-present pain of a survivor until next year. It is cleansing and therapeutic. The board, with its dog tags hanging, is left behind as a way to bring them home; as a way to keep them in our hearts.

At the end of Neil's ceremony, I felt a lot like a rain cloud after a thunderstorm; a little empty with a few raindrops still threatening to fall. Thank you, Neil, for including me in your memorial. You are a man of honor, Brother, and we thank you with love and gratitude...

The Flag Covers All

mhenry0770@gmail.com (Matt Henry) — Sat, 24 May 2025 00:07:33 GMT

What Lies Beneath

Today, I prepared a sign for the flag that we will fly at our Gratitude Ride on June 14th. It is a a funeral flag that once draped the coffin of a World War I veteran that passed on in 1980. A member of The Lost Generation, the things he must've seen...

I began to think about what that flag on the coffin represents and admittedly, got a little misty. I am reminded that it is what lies beneath the flag that keeps it flying. Our flag is so revered, because of what lies beneath. Those that came and fought before us and fell for the promise of our flag and everything that lies beneath. I've had this poem kicking around in my head for a several days and I managed to get it written down. This weekend, please remember that we are celebrating the sacrifice of our fallen. Give them a moment of silence. Send them a prayer of thanks. Happy Memorial Day, Friends!

With our Gratitude..

What Lies Beneath

It is what lies beneath the flag we mourn,
The soldier stilled by duty's final call,
Not glory sought, but purpose weather-worn.

He moved through dusk where shadows rise and fall,
Through fields where silence speaks in solemn breath,
The soldier stilled by duty’s final call.

His oath was iron, forged in fire and death,
No boast in battle, only steadfast tread—
Through fields where silence speaks in solemn breath.

He bore the weight where other men had fled,
Each step a vow, though none may understand,
No boast in battle, only steadfast tread.

No monument can raise a braver stand
Than earth that cradles those who did not yield—
Each step a vow, though none may understand.

And still, his truth lies buried in the field.
It is what lies beneath the flag we mourn—
Than earth that cradles those who did not yield,
Not glory sought, but purpose weather-worn.

Hometown Hero Finalist and Veteran Gives Back

mhenry0770@gmail.com (Matt Henry) — Sat, 03 May 2025 01:05:19 GMT

Kimberli Tompkins: Finalist for Hyundai Hometown Hero Award

Kimberli Tompkins, the founder and president of Project ML-Gratitude, has been recognized as a finalist in the Fox31 Hyundai Hometown Hero contest. She stands among three finalists chosen from a pool of 250 nominations for the opportunity to win a paid three-year lease on a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe - Calligraphy Edition. The award will be presented to one of these three finalists during a live segment on Fox31 Morning News on May 19th, 2025.

I would like to tell you a little about Kim. I have had the privilege to know her for much of my life, but it wasn't until our 30's that I really came to know her. We went to all of the same schools after sixth grade. Though I think we were in the same class even back in second grade. We never really ran in the same circles and I mostly just knew her by face and the times we shared a class or two. School ended and we moved out onto our separate paths. Little did I know that Kim's path would take her to the Navy right out of high school. Mine took me to the Navy several months later.

That might seem like the end of things for a couple of classmates who were only tangentially connected. But sometime in 2005, I decided to try out a social platform called MySpace. Kim somehow spotted me as someone she knew and we became fast friends, spending many hours chatting through the screens of our computers. Phones weren't smart enough for too much texting yet. I learned a lot about Kim in that time. I listened to her stories and learned of the trials that life places in front of all of us, seemed to come at her with exceeding regularity as a single mother. We lost touch for a few years after that and I know that she walked a difficult path in those few years to come out on the other side with courage and confidence that is uncommon in most people I have known. I watched her grow and excel. I watched her grow from her beginnings where she hoped to be a MySpace influencer called Cherriedragon, to where she is now. Over that time, she raised two great kids while she simultaneously worked full time and earned a college degree. Somehow she found time in there to fall in love with riding her motorcycle, Axle, and all of the wonderful people that came to her through it.

From this point, her story becomes better known by those of use whose lives she has touched. Her connection to her father grew stronger over the years as she came to understand the great things that he always did. She began to find pride in her military service that wasn't glorified with distinction. She realized that it was necessary and worthy of being proud of. That is when her outlook moved her onto her path of service. She found the USVets RC and quickly found a home doing many great things in the community with the great people that welcomed her. Sadly, that club disbanded, but those connections and that love of community, and especially our veteran community, was deep within her thanks to the love of her riding family and the role models she found there.

Then one day, Axle was stolen and Kim evolved again...

Kim has walked a difficult road, and she shines brightly atop a mountain of trials. She never seems discouraged and always sees the silver lining in every cloud. She is my rock, and she makes me a better person. Though, she never wants the credit, and she will tell me to talk about the team around her and how none of us got to this place without working together. She might have a point. The truth is that she inspires everyone around her, and she is the glue that keeps us all together. This nomination may have come though the birth of Project ML-Gratitude, but this nomination is about so much more than the last five years. It's just one more reason that she will always be one of my heroes.

Good luck, Kim, you deserve this! You have our love and gratitude...

Click here to watch Kim's interview on Great Day Colorado

Our Gratitude Goes To The Thornton Eagles 3226

mhenry0770@gmail.com (Matt Henry) — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:40:41 GMT

The Eagles Auxiliary Goes Beyond

Project ML-Gratitude is honored and was humbled to accept a donation of $2,451.00 from the Thornton, CO Fraternal Order of Eagles 3226 Auxiliary on Saturday, April 26, 2025. The Auxiliary, led by Madam President Veronica Cordova-Coutier, fundraised over the past year by sponsoring breakfasts, Hamburger Thursday's, and by creating gift baskets and other items in order to provide this bounty to Project ML-Gratitude. This single donation is enough to put one more bike beneath a veteran.

Our gratitude goes out to the Thornton Eagles Auxiliary for their tireless work of supporting our community and a heartfelt thank you to Miss V for selecting us to be her charity.

Thank you for helping us keep our mission in the wind!

Where it all began...

mhenry0770@gmail.com (Matt Henry) — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 23:37:44 GMT

Navy Vet Launches Non-Profit, Gives Motorcycles To Vets

This is a tale of adversity transforming into something remarkable. This is the origin of Project ML-Gratitude. The story first aired on Fox31 on June 28, 2021, just a few months prior to our second ride.

See the original video here

We Could Use A Few Good Bikes

mhenry0770@gmail.com (Matt Henry) — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 20:49:38 GMT

Bike Donations Are An Invaluable Gift

It's no secret that we love giving away motorcycles. The more bikes we have, the more we can give away. It feels good to be part of a giving organization. Especially, when it is a mission that you you can feel in your bones. From the outside, it may seem that giving a motorcycle is a small gesture in how it affects the world. It is. But it also something that can change the world for someone. Big things can come from a single gesture. That's why the giving of motorcycles is only half of the equation. Sure, it feels good to give, but it's what comes after... That is where the best things begin; and that is what we are truly giving to a veteran.

We sometimes call it wind therapy. It's the feeling that comes from an open road ride. Whether you're capped or wild and free, the wind on your body, gets into your soul. It's a freedom akin to flying, or skydiving, or any number of activities that give you both an exhilarating rush, mixed with a peace and calmness that is sometimes missing in our day-to-day lives. It can cause the same endorphin release that athletes sometimes get from a strenuous workout, or a runner's high. It is some much needed headspace that some people can't find in their everyday lives. It is community in the friends they make who relate to their ride, and also to the ache in their soul. This is what we try to give to our veterans.

Each year, we hold fundraising rides and other events to raise enough money to keep our mission alive. It is challenging. While we need funds to promote our mission, we also need motorcycles. We could really use donations of motorcycles that are in good mechanical order. If you have a motorcycle, 800 engine or larger, please consider donating it to Project ML-Gratitude. Since we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit, your donation is tax deductible. Our board and staff is comprised of unpaid volunteers that share a passion for serving our veteran communities. All earned proceeds go into funding our mission. That includes the purchase of motorcycles. The donation of a motorcycle releases funds for us to make better events and merchandise.

In the end, it is you that makes our mission possible. If you have a motorcycle to give, please consider donating to Project ML-Gratitude. If you would like to make, or if you know someone who would like to make a donation, please share this blog. You can get more information about how you can help by clicking the "DONATIONS" button. We love to give away motorcycles to veterans. It's how we show our gratitude.

Keep the rubber side down~

We Attended the 47th Colorado Motorcycle Expo

mhenry0770@gmail.com (Matt Henry) — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 22:51:58 GMT

It's all about the wheel, Man!

February 1, 2025 - We had a great turnout at the Expo this year. Many of you are return visitors, but like always, we made lots of new friends! Our big attraction was the ever-sparkling Kim and Kelly... Aaaaand our prize wheel! It was a high - low guess. You guessed whether the card that the wheel landed on would be a high card or a low card. If you guessed correctly, your name was entered into a drawing for a $100 dollar gift card redeemable at any participating U.S. Harley Davidson Dealer for genuine HD products and services.

And the winner is...

T his year's winner is Mona from Lakewood! Congratulations Mona! Thank you, as always, with our Gratitude!

Project ML-Gratitude Cornhole Tournament 2025

mhenry0770@gmail.com (Matt Henry) — Sun, 02 Mar 2025 22:16:10 GMT

Throwing some bags for a good cause

February 16th, 2025 - It was a great day to toss around some cornhole bags for a great cause. The day started off cold, having received snow the night before the event. But the snow couldn't stop our mission. It turned out that the roads cleared quickly and allowed for people to come out for a fun day at Wheelz Bar and grill. We registered a field of sixteen teams for our first tournament, Emceed by or own Paula Rhoads.

We opened registration for the Tournament at 12:30 pm. Finishing earlier than expected, we began the tournament ahead of schedule. Things were off to a great start with our tournament format being 12 throws per team (6 per side) and all bags scoring without cancellations. This was chosen to keep things moving without long wait times between plays. We played a modified double elimination where any loss after the 3rd round was an elimination. After six rounds a winner was crowned.

During the tournament, we ran a side-game where you could donate $5 in return for three chances to sink a cornhole bag in the hole. The catch was that the tosses were crazy throws. If you won, you got a Project ML-Gratitude 2nd Annual Gratitude Ride shirt. We also offered a 50/50 raffle. At the end of the raffle, our winner graciously donated her award back to our cause. I'm sorry we didn't catch your name, but thank you for the donation of your prize!

Our battle for third place was between the Airmailers and One More. In the end, Airmailers pulled the victory, awarding our Third Place prize to One More. The received a $25 gift certificate to Wheelz, donated by our host, Wheelz Bar & Grill. Unfortunately, we didn't catch a picture of One More before scooting out the door, but we thank you with gratitude for your support.

Our last match for the tournament championship was between the undefeated Quintana's and the Airmailers. The Arimailers needed to win two games in a row to claim the top prize. Unfortunately for them, the Quintana's won the first of three possible games, ending their chances after the first game.

Our friend, Joel Hunt brought Military Broadcast Radio, along with his team of Vicente and Dale, to live stream our event. Thank you, MB Radio, for your continued support! You have our gratitude for giving us and other veterans a much needed voice in our community. If you aren't familiar with MBRadio, you can check them out online at https://mbradio.us/ You can also download their app on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. Thanks Joel!

It was a good day! We had fun putting on this event and hope that we will be able to put on others like it in the future. Special thanks to Paula Rhoads for her insight and planning, and an extra thanks to Jericho from CPS Distributors in Arvada, for donating her time, and for providing the Cornhole boards and bags, along with her knowledge of holding these types of events. Thank you, Jericho, with our gratitude! Lastly, Thanks to everyone for volunteering their time and resources to help us achieve our mission of providing veterans with motorcycles. Our next bike will be given to a deserving veteran at our 3rd annual Gratitude Ride on June 14th, 2025. I'll close out this blog with some pictures of the people who help keep us going.

2nd Annual Gratitude Ride September 14th, 2024

mhenry0770@gmail.com (Matt Henry) — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 21:29:27 GMT

We Gave Away Two Motorcycles To Deserving Veterans

On September 14th, 2024, Project ML-Gratitude was honored to give away two motorcycles to two very deserving veterans. Patrick Martin (near) was awarded a 2007 Kawasaki Vulcan Custom 900 that was donated by our own Tammy Vining. Curtis Ward was awarded a 2003 Harley Davidson Fat Boy 100th Anniversary Edition, donated by Kenny Miller, proprietor of Tow Moto Co. Kenny also volunteered to chase the ride in the event of any mechanical troubles.

With the award of these bikes, we have been able to give away a total of nineteen motorcycles since our inception. Partick and Curtis, we are honored to make this small gesture for the sacrifices you have made for all of us. For at the end of the day, it isn't just our land, but our people that you fought for. With our deepest gratitude, we thank you!

Giving away motorcycles isn't all we did that day. We began the Gratitude Ride at someplace new. Applewood Golf Course was gracious enough to allow us to begin our ride from their event center. It was a bit of a change, but we didn't want anyone to get bored! After a fairly smooth registration, a beautiful performance of our National Anthem by Veronica, and the Rider's Prayer by Dave Stuht, it was KSU for a long but easy 130 mile ride behind Ride Captain, Bud "MacGyver" Allen, and a team of highly skilled blockers. The ride made two more stops: The Lucky Mutt, and South 40 Bar and Grill for lunch and live music, before ending back at Wheelz Bar & Grill for the rest of the festivities.

Back at Wheelz, we were hard at work setting up for the giveaway, the raffle and the silent and live auctions. We were joined there by veterans Joel Hunt and Vicente Vitela with a live podcast of Military Broadcast Radio. They graciously live broadcasted the motorcycle giveaway. The Honor Bell was also there where they tolled the bell for John Nichlaus Bull, in his memory.

It takes everyone to bring a day like this together, to enable us to do what we do. Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate Curtis and Patrick. Ride on!

5TH Annual Veterans Memorial Ride Recap

mhenry0770@gmail.com (Matt Henry) — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 19:50:55 GMT

A Smooth Start

On Saturday, August 24, 2024, Project ML-Gratitude was proud to be a part of the 5TH Annual Veterans Memorial Ride brought to you by the infamous Mark Lockman and Wheelz Bar & Grill in Englewood. It was a great day for a ride without any real threat of weather. We set up next to The Patriot Guard in our usual spot. Our 2020 Can-Am Spyder F3 was ready to go to a new owner.

After the award for Master Chief, our National Anthem was to be played over the PA system, but there were gremlins in the microphone. In one of the many great moments from this ride, the crowd took matters into their own hands. The flag waved at that moment from the breath of our veterans.

Shots from the ride

After returning from The Well in Conifer, back at Wheelz we were gearing up to give away a 2020 Can-Am Spyder F3 to a deserving disabled veteran...

Vicente, we salute you for your service and your continued dedication and effort to helping all veterans!

Ride on, Brother!

The End!

The Road To Independence

mhenry0770@gmail.com (Matt Henry) — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 16:01:02 GMT

How many really understand what it took to bring this land together under one flag, free of foreign rule?

The war for our independence took eight years. Oftentimes, the Revolutionary War is spoken of as a short war, summarized into bullet points and key moments. That kind of recall fails to bring forth the understanding of the true struggle and hardship our forefathers, who fought there, actually endured.

The war itself took eight years. When General Washington took over the Continental Army in 1775 he mounted his horse and virtually did not get off of it until 1783 when he returned control of the army back to Congress. The time in between, was mostly desperate, and American forces were always one loss away from crushing defeat.

Imagine being deployed for eight years straight, constantly on the move, with little food, without basic clothing, basic supplies or proper weapons. Imagine marching for miles at a time without shoes, sharing weapons with the man next to you, without enough ammunition to fight. Now imagine doing it through the cold northern winters and without medical care available. Now consider that your enemy is well supplied with everything you lack and with proper doctors.

Our Army was on the run for eight years and they didn't outright beat the British as our lore leads us to believe. We beat the British with patience and by surviving. We outlasted the British and made the war too costly for them. With the help of French allies and a few key victories (at York and Saratoga) we broke the British backbone and scattered the remaining British troops. Our military forefathers would laugh at us and how we live today. They were impoverished in ways we cannot imagine, and let's not forget they volunteered to fight that fight. They were survivors.

Whether we understand their plight and real struggle, we owe our liberty and freedom to those that came before us, and those who continue to protect our borders. They endure.

We thank you today, and every day, with our Gratitude. We will endure.

(The only AI content is the photo)

A Heart Felt thank you to the Thornton Eagles.

ktompkins@ml-gratitude.org (Kim Tompkins) — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 22:23:00 GMT

Thank you!

We want to give our heartfelt thanks to the Thornton Eagles #3226 for their generous donation in support of our mission to give motorcycles to capable veterans. Without caring community like the Eagles our mission is much more difficult. With our deepest gratitude, thanks again!

Address : 8651 Huron St, Thornton, CO 80260

Hours : Open

⋅ Closes 10 PM

Updated by others 1 week ago

Phone: (303) 427-2236

Brendan gets a new bike

ktompkins@ml-gratitude.org (Kim Tompkins) — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 00:17:18 GMT

Brendan gets a new bike

Sometimes mistakes are made and even though they are unintentional, they still need to be made right. That's what happened with the bike that we gave to Brendan. We gave him a bike that turned out to be less than stellar. But Saturday we made it right by replacing that bike with this beauty. Thanks for your understanding Brendan.

project-ml--gratitude-133005

Dinner And A Bike With American Legion Riders Post 161

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Goodbye, 2025! ﻿

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3rd Annual Gratitude Ride, June 14th, 2025

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Our Gratitude Goes To The Thornton Eagles 3226

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Where it all began...

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It's all about the wheel, Man!

And the winner is...

Project ML-Gratitude Cornhole Tournament 2025

Throwing some bags for a good cause

2nd Annual Gratitude Ride September 14th, 2024

We Gave Away Two Motorcycles To Deserving Veterans

5TH Annual Veterans Memorial Ride Recap

A Smooth Start

The Road To Independence

How many really understand what it took to bring this land together under one flag, free of foreign rule?

A Heart Felt thank you to the Thornton Eagles.

Thank you!

Brendan gets a new bike

Brendan gets a new bike

Goodbye, 2025!