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Page 34 April 2016 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
Our Neighborhood Veterans Photo by Tom Joy
by Jim Houck, Jr.
Kenneth L. Jones
Private U.S. Army
Kenny was born in Washington, and his friend asked him if he was
D.C. on December 11, 1962, to willing to lay his life down for this
James and Phyllis Jones. Right after country; Kenny answered, “If I’m
he was born, his family moved not, who is?” He stated that this is AMVET Riders Chapter 7
to Bowie, Maryland, and then to our country, and he will fight for it;
Laurel, Maryland, where Kenny unfortunately, a Lieutenant Colonel and told Kenny about the AMVET for dinner, that you, “don’t go to the
lived until he was twenty-one years decided Kenny’s fate for him and Riders. Jim told Kenny if he would AMVETS for dinner, you go there
old. Kenny has one brother (James sent him home. like to start one at Post 7, he would for clothing.” He had only heard of
Jones, Jr.) who lives in Florida. Kenny said his wife brought help in any way he could. Kenny sat the AMVETS Thrift Store, not the
As a kid, Kenny was taught to him to AMVETS Post 7 for dinner. on the idea and didn’t do anything AMVETS Veterans Organization.
respect the military; growing up, he After meeting some of the members about it. One day, he and Jim were The newly formed AMVETS
could see what was happening with and seeing how friendly they were sitting at the bar watching television, Riders Post 7 branch met a few times
our military as they were fighting toward him and how well the Post and Jim tapped him on the leg and and fumbled their way through the
in the Vietnam War. He knew it family worked together, he said asked him, “Hey, how’s that Riders meetings. Kenny said the Veteran
wasn’t right how our soldiers were he could feel his passion growing; chapter coming?” Kenny told him Members, The Sons of AMVETS,
being treated at home, and he was he decided then that he wanted to he didn’t think he could do it, but he and the Ladies Auxiliary were very
disgusted and wished he was old become a part of this wonderful mentioned it to the Commander—at supportive. He expressed that he just
enough to join in the fight. Kenny organization. Shortly after the that time—Tom Joy; Tom was very can’t get over how our Post 7 family
said that all soldiers who have taken dinner date with his wife, Candace, supportive. Kenny mentioned it to made them feel so welcomed, and it
the oath to lay down their life for Kenny filled out the membership two other AMVET members: Pete amazes him at what a great Post it
our country were heroes in his book. application and was voted in as a Twentey and Bob O’Neal, who he is. It never dawned on Kenny that
Kenny finally got his chance to member, making him very happy; knew personally. Pete had started they needed money to operate the
join and was so proud when he he immediately got the feeling that the American Legion Riders at a Riders club; all three family members
took the oath, but that happiness he was now serving out the rest of Frederick Post, and they thought chipped in to donate some money
was short-lived; he had a hearing his enlistment. No one could send it was a great idea; Pete and Bob for operating expenses for the new
problem that cost him a medical him home and end his enlistment. offered their support but did not family branch. The AMVET Riders
discharge. Kenny really has a genuine love for want to be officers, because they had held some fundraisers that turned
His father was in World War II AMVETS Post 7 and its family. He already been in the official positions. out well, and they were on their way
and had a gun blow up in his arms; said, “It is just a great Post with Mike Mahoney heard about it to helping support Veterans and the
a piece of metal was lodged in his great people, and it is great to be a and pushed Kenny; Ed and Donny community. Kenny truly believes
elbow that they couldn’t remove, so part of it.” McKinnon supported the move, also. that we are our brothers’ keepers,
he was medically discharged. Now Kenny, at that time, had no With all the support, Kenny thought and our community is only as strong
history was repeating itself, because idea that the AMVETS had Rider they could actually start the club. He as we make it; all funds taken in at
Kenny was completely deaf in his left chapters, and Kenny had a passion went online and started researching. functions will be used for these ends.
ear, causing his medical discharge. for riding motorcycles. He was Kenny asked his wife, already Kenny expressed that they are
Kenny’s grandfather was in World out riding with Jim Burns one knowing Candi would support very fortunate to have twenty
War I and was a victim of mustard day; when they got off their bikes, anything he would like to try. He put quality members now that are as
gas. Kenny’s best friend found out Kenny made the remark that there out a sign-up sheet and announced dedicated as he is in doing what
that he was joining the army, and were enough riders that they could what his plans were; the next thing is good for Post 7 and its family.
he asked Kenny if he was an idiot. start some kind of club. Jim said he knew, there were twenty-some “It is not the number of people we
Kenny asked him what he meant, he thought that was a great idea names on the sheet. have, but the quality of the people,
Next, Kenny scheduled a night and I have the privilege of being a
to meet for all of those who were part of it.” Kenny sees the passion
interested. At the meeting, they took flowing at every meeting held and
a vote for Charter and all the officers the belief in what they are doing,
were voted in; they received their and he thinks it is awesome. They
Charter in December of 2014. They have grown in the past year, and he
celebrated their first-year anniversary knows their spirit will continue to
this past December 2015. Kenny said grow stronger because of our great
he wasn’t sure he had a real goal in family at AMVETS Post 7. Since
mind when he first started; he just AMVET Riders have been chartered,
knew he wanted to start something they have been able to contribute
involving motorcycles. The biggest donations to Hero Dogs three times
thing for Kenny was that he could (they specialize in training dogs
take the mission outside of Post 7; to aid vets) and to North Pointe
they have their own vests they wear Veterans Home numerous times.
and their own patches. They rode up to enjoy time with
Kenny said he remembers the Veterans being rehabilitated at
telling his wife the first time she North Pointe and to have dinner
mentioned going to the AMVETS … Continued on page 35
Our Neighborhood Veterans Photo by Tom Joy
by Jim Houck, Jr.
Kenneth L. Jones
Private U.S. Army
Kenny was born in Washington, and his friend asked him if he was
D.C. on December 11, 1962, to willing to lay his life down for this
James and Phyllis Jones. Right after country; Kenny answered, “If I’m
he was born, his family moved not, who is?” He stated that this is AMVET Riders Chapter 7
to Bowie, Maryland, and then to our country, and he will fight for it;
Laurel, Maryland, where Kenny unfortunately, a Lieutenant Colonel and told Kenny about the AMVET for dinner, that you, “don’t go to the
lived until he was twenty-one years decided Kenny’s fate for him and Riders. Jim told Kenny if he would AMVETS for dinner, you go there
old. Kenny has one brother (James sent him home. like to start one at Post 7, he would for clothing.” He had only heard of
Jones, Jr.) who lives in Florida. Kenny said his wife brought help in any way he could. Kenny sat the AMVETS Thrift Store, not the
As a kid, Kenny was taught to him to AMVETS Post 7 for dinner. on the idea and didn’t do anything AMVETS Veterans Organization.
respect the military; growing up, he After meeting some of the members about it. One day, he and Jim were The newly formed AMVETS
could see what was happening with and seeing how friendly they were sitting at the bar watching television, Riders Post 7 branch met a few times
our military as they were fighting toward him and how well the Post and Jim tapped him on the leg and and fumbled their way through the
in the Vietnam War. He knew it family worked together, he said asked him, “Hey, how’s that Riders meetings. Kenny said the Veteran
wasn’t right how our soldiers were he could feel his passion growing; chapter coming?” Kenny told him Members, The Sons of AMVETS,
being treated at home, and he was he decided then that he wanted to he didn’t think he could do it, but he and the Ladies Auxiliary were very
disgusted and wished he was old become a part of this wonderful mentioned it to the Commander—at supportive. He expressed that he just
enough to join in the fight. Kenny organization. Shortly after the that time—Tom Joy; Tom was very can’t get over how our Post 7 family
said that all soldiers who have taken dinner date with his wife, Candace, supportive. Kenny mentioned it to made them feel so welcomed, and it
the oath to lay down their life for Kenny filled out the membership two other AMVET members: Pete amazes him at what a great Post it
our country were heroes in his book. application and was voted in as a Twentey and Bob O’Neal, who he is. It never dawned on Kenny that
Kenny finally got his chance to member, making him very happy; knew personally. Pete had started they needed money to operate the
join and was so proud when he he immediately got the feeling that the American Legion Riders at a Riders club; all three family members
took the oath, but that happiness he was now serving out the rest of Frederick Post, and they thought chipped in to donate some money
was short-lived; he had a hearing his enlistment. No one could send it was a great idea; Pete and Bob for operating expenses for the new
problem that cost him a medical him home and end his enlistment. offered their support but did not family branch. The AMVET Riders
discharge. Kenny really has a genuine love for want to be officers, because they had held some fundraisers that turned
His father was in World War II AMVETS Post 7 and its family. He already been in the official positions. out well, and they were on their way
and had a gun blow up in his arms; said, “It is just a great Post with Mike Mahoney heard about it to helping support Veterans and the
a piece of metal was lodged in his great people, and it is great to be a and pushed Kenny; Ed and Donny community. Kenny truly believes
elbow that they couldn’t remove, so part of it.” McKinnon supported the move, also. that we are our brothers’ keepers,
he was medically discharged. Now Kenny, at that time, had no With all the support, Kenny thought and our community is only as strong
history was repeating itself, because idea that the AMVETS had Rider they could actually start the club. He as we make it; all funds taken in at
Kenny was completely deaf in his left chapters, and Kenny had a passion went online and started researching. functions will be used for these ends.
ear, causing his medical discharge. for riding motorcycles. He was Kenny asked his wife, already Kenny expressed that they are
Kenny’s grandfather was in World out riding with Jim Burns one knowing Candi would support very fortunate to have twenty
War I and was a victim of mustard day; when they got off their bikes, anything he would like to try. He put quality members now that are as
gas. Kenny’s best friend found out Kenny made the remark that there out a sign-up sheet and announced dedicated as he is in doing what
that he was joining the army, and were enough riders that they could what his plans were; the next thing is good for Post 7 and its family.
he asked Kenny if he was an idiot. start some kind of club. Jim said he knew, there were twenty-some “It is not the number of people we
Kenny asked him what he meant, he thought that was a great idea names on the sheet. have, but the quality of the people,
Next, Kenny scheduled a night and I have the privilege of being a
to meet for all of those who were part of it.” Kenny sees the passion
interested. At the meeting, they took flowing at every meeting held and
a vote for Charter and all the officers the belief in what they are doing,
were voted in; they received their and he thinks it is awesome. They
Charter in December of 2014. They have grown in the past year, and he
celebrated their first-year anniversary knows their spirit will continue to
this past December 2015. Kenny said grow stronger because of our great
he wasn’t sure he had a real goal in family at AMVETS Post 7. Since
mind when he first started; he just AMVET Riders have been chartered,
knew he wanted to start something they have been able to contribute
involving motorcycles. The biggest donations to Hero Dogs three times
thing for Kenny was that he could (they specialize in training dogs
take the mission outside of Post 7; to aid vets) and to North Pointe
they have their own vests they wear Veterans Home numerous times.
and their own patches. They rode up to enjoy time with
Kenny said he remembers the Veterans being rehabilitated at
telling his wife the first time she North Pointe and to have dinner
mentioned going to the AMVETS … Continued on page 35
