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The history of the Blue Knights began in the Spring of 1974, when Bangor, Main (USA) law enforcement officers Joel Rudom, Bill Robinson, Doug Miner, Ed Gallant, Mike Hall, Chuck Gesner, Wayne Labree, and Chuck Shuman, met and decided to form a small, local motorcycle club. Being protectors of the community and wearing blue uniforms, it seemed only right to call themselves the “Blue Knights.”
Soon word of the Blue Knight Motorcycle Club spread throughout the United States, and pretty soon Blue Knight Chapters were being formed in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and beyond, and with the addition of Canada, and later Australia, the Blue Knights became an international organization.
As of January 1, 2008, there are 586 chapters and almost 20,000 members in 28 countries.
North Carolina Chapter XIV was established in October 2002 in Gastonia N.C. Membership includes law enforcement officers from surrounding municipalities and counties within a 50 mile radius.
According to the Blue Knight By-Laws, our purposes and goals are to:
- Provide for the mutual assistance, enjoyment, entertainment, education, physical, mental and social benefit of its members and the general public.
- To promote and advance the sport of motorcycling and the safety of motorcycling.
- To serve the interests of motorcycle owners and users.
- To promote by example and any other acceptable means, safe use, operation and enjoyment of motorcycles.
- To develop a fraternal spirit between law enforcement personnel and the general public.
Many Blue Knights through their chapter events work long and hard to raise money for various charities. Especially near and dear to our hearts is the helping children. Some of the charities we support include the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Toys for Tots, D.A.R.E., and Concerns of Police Survivors.
As of April 1, 2008, The Blue Knights have donated $3,576,620.00 in volunteer man hours (178,831 man hours @ $20 per hour), goods with an estimated value of $592,935.49, and cash in the amount of $5,865,257.07, for a combined total of $10,034,812.56 (USD).
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