Ride to glory

MAT-SU — A local motorcycle shop has teamed up with the Army National Guard to send a thank-you present to troops stationed overseas.

“They have a huge Harley-Davidson flag and a silver paint pen,” said Sgt. First Class James Corbin, a recruiter with the Army National Guard based at the recruiting post in downtown Wasilla.

Paul Ramage, who manages the Denali Harley-Davidson store on Hyer Road just off the Parks Highway, said the flag should be at the shop though the weekend. A lot of people have taken the time to sign their names and write personal greetings on it.

“It’s getting full,” Ramage said. “But that’s good. We wanted as many people to sign it as possible.”

He said he hopes it gets even more signatures as the shop does business on Black Friday weekend.

The flag has the standard Harley logo on it, along with the number of the unit it is destined for — Bravo Company 1-207th Aviation. It’s an Army National Guard unit currently deployed in Iraq, Corbin said.

Corbin said that the guard, and recruiting post in particular, tries to take every opportunity to partner with local businesses for these kinds of efforts. After this weekend, he’ll take the flag and hang it up in the recruiting office for a week or so before it’s sent overseas.

Ramage said the flag is part of the shop’s military appreciation week, which included a day featuring door prizes and discounts for veterans and active-duty servicemen.

“We had food for everybody and it was a lot of fun. We had a good time,” he said.

It’s something the Harley shop, where a lot of the regular customers spent time in the military, feels strongly about.

“We have a lot of veterans coming into the store,” Ramage said. “The owner and myself are both veterans.”

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.