The inspiration for the Peacemaker came when Cleveland, TN Local
3748 fire fighter and Mattie admirer Dennis Carroll communicated
the history of Mattie’s bond with fire fighters to his friend,
Lynn Jones, who immediately decided to create the unique
Peacemaker bike to foster awareness for Mattie’s message and
draw support for the MDA Mattie Fund for Research and treatment
and cures for childhood neuromuscular diseases. The Peacemaker
motorcycle will be auctioned at the end of 2006.
The motorcycle, which features intricate details
reflective of Mattie’s Heartsongs poetry and his love of
writing, began its journey across the country in February at the
Heartsongs Gala in Washington, DC.
With while working with Schaitberger on the
Peacemaker, Jones decided to make a series of motorcycles for
the IAFF, called the Bravest. This custom motorcycle will be
auctioned for the benefit of the IAFF Burn Foundation and was
designed to reflect fire fighters and the fire fighter
profession.
Raffle tickets for the Bravest are for sale in
the exhibition hall, where the bike is also on display. The IAFF
will continue to sell raffle tickets at the Affiliate Leadership
Training Summit (ALTS) in Atlanta, Georgia, in November and at
the IAFF 2007 Legislative Conference in March in Washington, DC,
where the raffle winner will be drawn.
“It’s a great honor to build this bike for the
IAFF and the IAFF Burn Foundation and to build a bike for Mattie
and his legacy,” Jones told the gathered delegates. “We all have
the same mission – to do the best we can do while we’re here.”
He added, “I never realized how much you fire
fighters do – it’s amazing. Every day you put your lives on the
line, and then when you come home, you think about raising money
for other kids.”
President Schaitberger presented Jones with an
original piece of artwork depicting Mattie and his dog and then
– acting on a motion offered from the floor – bestowed Jones
with an honorary membership in the IAFF.
Lynn Jones and the Peacemaker bike will appear
on the MDA Telethon September 3-4, 2006, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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