The Band of Brothers 393

[char393]

Read this the other day and it brought to mind something that was told to me by one of the members here. We were discussing the GMBIII and how powerful it was. The subject of MrsTwister and myself and the friendship, or rather, bond we share was brought up. This person told me the reason we're so close is because we "traded hearts". And he was right. I was talking to Robbie about this today...and as many of you know, we call each other, Sister Sledge. It came from something my sisters and I used to call each other. Not only that, you've seen on here many times how we refer to each other as family, which brought to mind a song, by the band, Sister Sledge - We are family. How funny is that? Anyway, I wanted to share the words with you guys...as they are so fitting. Sisters, brothers...we're family.

Lyrics We Are Family - Sister Sledge


CHORUS
We are family
I've got all my sisters with me
We are family
Get up everybody and sing!
We are family
I've got all my sisters with me
We are family
Get up everybody and sing!

Everyone can see we're together
as we walk on by.
And we fly just like birds of a feather
and we'll tell no lie.
All of the people around us they say
can they be that close.
Just let me state for the record
we're giving lovin a family dose

CHORUS
We are family
I've got all my sisters with me
We are family
Get up everybody and sing!
We are family
I've got all my sisters with me
We are family
Get up everybody and sing!


Living life is fun and we've just begun to get our share
of this world's delights
High hopes we had for the future
and our goals in sight
No we don't get depressed here's what we call our golden rules
have faith in you and the things you do
you won't go wrong oh no
this is our family view

[MrsTwister393]

[Gwyn Hobby]

Son - you make me proud.

[Dirtbikindad393]

Nice!!!!!!!

I believe that Charlene besides who couldn't like Robby......Her husband is another story though.

[char393]

Originally posted by Gwyn Hobby
Son - you make me proud.

Ah-hah! She speaks.

Gwyn...you have every reason in the world to be proud. Your son embodies the very spirit of this site...everything that it stands for.

[Keetoman393]

Originally posted by kdxchar393
Ah-hah! She speaks.

Gwyn...you have every reason in the world to be proud. Your son embodies the very spirit of this site...everything that it stands for.

oh, the things i could tell her!! LOL J/K!

[Vintage Dave393]

Welcome back, Bro!

[OlSchoolFool393]

Just want to welcome All our FAMILY into 2005 and Hope to Have a Excellent
and safe Year with You ALL and Hopefully WE Ride again Soon!
Don W.

[Motodad393]

Macho,
I read your story once again and I remember it as if it was yesterday. I still cannot read it without crying. I will never forget receiving the Trophy you send us. Remember, you drew the number 393 on the number plate of the trophy! I cried as I read your letter - I still have it today. In fact, I took the liberty of typing it below to give you all a 'glimpse' at the heart of Machoman393. Mark, I hope you do not mind me doing this. Perhaps it will touch others as it touched my family.

"" Michael & Mrs. Berg & Shannon,
Sunday, October 13, 2002

Just to let you know, about a week or two ago I decided to dedicate my next race in honor of your son & brother Garrett. I'm not an MX'er but I do Harescrambles. You might not know what a Harescramble is, it is a race that last for 2 hours that is nothing but woods that is set up on a closed course that is about 6 miles long. The man who does the most laps in 2 hours wins. It will wear you out (I'm 39 yrs old and holding).

During this season I've not did any better than 4th. I decided to give it my all, in honor of your family. Well guess what! With the will of knowing I was not riding for myself I placed second. I give you this trophy to let you know I didn't do it alone. This was the first race that I had my Motoman 393 stickers on my bike! So I didn't actually race alone. Everytime I started to fade I would remember that this was for Garrett. I would say to myself Motoman!!! And I would pick up my speed.

Please accept this trophy and remember that your son & brother still makes a difference in others lives and think of the great times you had.

Sincerely,

Mark Alan Golleher ""

Imagine receiving this trophy without ever having spoken to the man whom sent it. Each time I called his home - I got the answering machine and I left a message. I finally got to speak with Mark after three calls. I was then and I am still amazed at how people could be so deeply impacted at the 'hearts' AND yet had never met.

From the "darkest days" imaginable a 'special grouping of men' began to form before any of us had met face to face. I believe it is fair to say that none of us realized what was happening. The voices began to form "the bond" - looking into each others eyes, the tears followed by a hand shake that turned into a hug - formed an unbreakable bonding of the hearts, now known as the "Band of Brothers 393!" Thanks for sharing Mark.

[Macho393]

Mike as I read through this post again it brought back many of memories and tears. I somewhat understand why I'm drawn to you and your family. I truely have a love in my heart for your family. Its like Ive known them my whole life. What we have shared is something special between the Band of Brothers. Men who have cried then and cry now, not turning away from our brothers tears but looking back with hurt of our own for them. Garrett to me is what I call unconditional love. Its pure. Often a young man or parent never knows the love I see in your........in our family. Yes Mike I consider you family. I have told you things no one else will ever know, as only brothers can truely share. I still remember watching the 1st film Zoot made. I had never seen it before and watched it with Abbie(means God within)my middle daughter. It broke my heart as her little eyes swelled with tears and she said is that Garretts daddy? She, a little girl knew what I felt as we both cried watching the movie. I often thought our group could not grow. I didn't think others could grasp what we felt that 1st year.Yes we share a special bond. But it grows as others see the strenght of brotherly love. So I do think the band of brothers (and sisters) grow.
Thank you for the kind words, but I thank you for teaching only as you Mike Berg can, on how to be a better Dad.

[crfjedi393]

Yes, it has touched other men's hearts. Mine for sure. It is something that forces us to look deep within ourselves and reach for the positive...... Strive to be the best we can be..... Make a difference in our family. There is no prerequisite demanding that we be a corporate controller, CEO, or President of a nation in order to make a difference. Making a difference within your family is a very big deal. Set a good example and lead the way through life. Mr. Berg obviously did this for Garrett and it has resulted in an "extended family" of which I am honored to be a part. The Berg family continues to set an example for all of us and I was honored to share a hug with each of them earlier this month. They are making a difference in a very large "family".
I would like to add that a cause such as ATM draws good people because good people always recognize the opportunity to better themselves. I am a better man because of this family. I hold myself to higher standards. I challenge each of you to do the same. And I offer humble thanks to the Berg family.

[Macho393]

Jedi just to let you know.............when you see a kid running around with a big smile on their face ALL THE TIME. You are doing it right. Thats all I seen Clint do! Man Its unreal to me to see that in a kid. I call you OBIE WAN CAN NOBODY in jest. Dave your doing an awesome thing with your boy. You my friend got a heart for others. I consider you a man amongst men, you have my full respect. Yes your part of the group that is still growing ,the Band of Brothers. I seen it last year in Boyd. I seen it in you this year. There is alot of others that feel the same way, Brent,Char,Dane,Zoot etc that I know are also part of the special group called Band of Brothers. There might be an orginal group, but like many groups it only gets stronger and better as time goes bye.I wish there was not a group.....................but as an honor to one fine young man we can make a difference in others lifes.

[Dirtbikindad393]

Mark,

Well said indeed. I am not sure about being a member of the Band Of Brothers but I feel I have certainly grown from meeting the Berg family and sharing tears with the likes of the ATM crowd that shows up each year.

I certainly have held myself and my wonderful sons to a higher standard. I feel like Debbie and I as parents have made a difference. I have always believed it starts at home. I know it's not always apparent around home but I receive complements all the time about DBK when he is in the the presence of other adults. For that I am very happy and extremely proud. I feel lucky to have a 17 year old boy who is focused on his future and has let nothing stand in his way. I know he will be a great parent and adult as his life progresses.

Garrett has struck many in a positive way and Mike & Suzette Berg are the reason for that. I love the fact that Mike carries that on and teaches us all to look inside and learn from him and ourselves. How could any father not feel a bond with Mike. I certainly do and was quite happy to see him ask for a word with DBK before he moves to Phoenix to attend MMI.

Mike, Suzette and Shannon thank you for sharing your pain and hearts with all of us each year. We are better people because you are top notch parents.

Dane Evans

[Dirtbikindad393]

Originally Posted by Macho393

The Band of Brothers 393
Hello Atm ,
I 'm writing you this letter to let you know what and who the Band of Brothers 393 is about.

I had been visiting Thumber Talk for about 6 months. I was getting use to replieing to threads and becoming close to certain people on the 250 side. I came home from a Harescramble race one Sunday night and started to read the days post.In big letters was a post" Motoman 393 past away today"!. I click it and started to read. I read it every hour, everyday, I would log on to it at work . The replys from all over the country, the world ,was truely amazing. I began to cry everytime I read these post. People being touch by one young man. I thought to my self there is hope for this world. I then started to read Garrets post and his web site. He was so blessed at a young age. A truely gifted and talented young man. Then one day I logged on and read his Dad's letter to him. I BROKE DOWN IN TEARS, uncontrollable tears. This man was hurting so bad. I was truely heart broken for Mike and his family. I read it many many times and each time my heart broke for Garret and his family.I thought to myself that Garrett has did more for people in 17 years than I have done in 38 years. This is the type of son I want my boy to be like. What can I do for Mike to show him how much I care. I knew I had a Harescramble race coming up. I decided to race it in honor of Garrett Berg family. You might think so. Just to let you guys know I'm a mid pack rider, nothing special. The best I had did all year long was a 4th place finish in my class.That day of the race I prayed that Garrett would ride with me in spirit. Everytime I started to fall back I would hollar out loud Motoman! I would get a second wind and pick up my pace. That day I rode for Garrett and raced harder than I did in my life. The lord provided me with a second place finish. I did it with Garrett's help. I sent the Trophy to Mike Berg and wrote him a letter about how I raced in Honor of his son and family and decated this race to them. I was also at this time Talking with John (Ego) on line. I really don't know how we started e-mailing each other. But I think it was the time he was going through family problems and some people on TT was ragging him and he took a leave of absence from TT. That concern me and I told him what I did at my race. I told him he is one of the reasons I did it because of his true concerns and love he has for the Bergs..This started a bond between John and I. Next thing I knew there was going to be a mx race in honor of Garrett. I could feel the Lord telling me to go. But I didn't want too. I don't like to go to strange places and meet people. It's not who I am. Mike Berg called me one evening and from the time I heard his voice, he felt like family( I was bonded to him through tears and didn't know it yet). He thanked me for the trophy and remembering his son. I thanked him for his letter to his son. It changed my life. He asked me to come to the Garrett Berg Memorial Race and said I could stay at his house. I was truely shocked. This man was wanting to meet me. I fought the discission of going to the race. I e-mail Mike and said I would be there and thanks for letting me come to his house. Well by this time, Ego (John) and I were becoming close through prayer about his family and talks about life. The race was on Dec 1st. I got to Mike's house on Friday before the race. I had not told anybody this but one of my main concerns was for Shannon Berg. This is Mike daughter. I have a hugh soft spot for girls. Shannon was the only one at home when I got there. So I got to spend time just talking to her. The only bad part was I thought her dogs where going to eat me. But thats another story. Well Suzette got home next(yes I said home). We visited awhile and Bill Barnard and his family showed up. Bill reminded me of one of my drill sergants in the army. Yes he scared me abit. About a hour late Mike , John and Matt showed up. It was like a big family gathering. That night Tyler showed up. As I sat on the couch watching a video of Garrett and Matt riding bikes I thought to myself" I feel at home". We stayed up until 2 in the morning. The next day we all went to SPLENDORA Garrett's favorite track. I was truely scared when I saw the track. I have never at that point rode a mx track. Mike took us pretty much one to two at a time to the tree that Garrett hit and told us what happened. We cried, we prayed we bonded. We then got to go out on the track and ride. We rode and rode that day sheding tears in our helments and smiling at the same time. My elbow was hurting me from arm wrestling during Thanksgiving. I took 3 BC's and it still hurt. Bill gave me half of one of his pain pills and the pain went away. I could tell that Bill knew my arm was really hurting. He took care of me. Thanks Bill.
We left that evening and went back to Mike's house and started to lie to each other as men will do. Jay bird showed up that night and we all just sat around and got to know each other. So the band of brothers grows-Bill, Mike, John, Matt, Tyler, Lil John and Jaybird. The next day we got up at 5 am and started loading bikes for the race.I helped Lil John(Bill's son) load their bikes.As we were tightening them down I pulled to hard and felt my elbow pop. Man it was hurting how. But I was not going to tell. I took another BC and the other half of one of Bills pain pills. We got to the race and Bill gave me another pain pill. That did the trick. Before the race Mike did a lap of honor on Garret's bike. Everybody at the race track was lined up around the finish jump. I looked at my some of my new brothers and could see the tears in their eyes. I too couldn't hold back. I felt so much pride for Mike and so much pain. During the day I watched my new band of brothers cry on and off at different times. I met Big Maico(Howard) at the race that day. He was the one who put all this together. I felt a brotherhood on the spot without a word. We had a race class called the Thumper class. It was mostly the band of brothers. The last lap we all pulled off to the side of the track , Mike and Garrett's spirit took the checkered flag. This was Ego's idea. Before the moto started. Ego has a good heart. I have not felt that type of emotion between men ever. I have never been more proud of any group of men. This bonded me to them for life.Later that day Tyler collected some money so we could send the Bergs out on the town for dinner one evening on us. This was to show them a little thanks for letting us be apart of their life and family.This was one of the most special moments. I got to hug Suzette Berg. I'm talking about a true loving hug that released so much emotions from my heart. She was now my family in my heart. It felt so good to release my love for this family and I got to do it in the arms of Motoman's mom. After the races were over ,we all said our