6:45 AM I arrive at the Boozefighters CH 69 clubhouse. I’m running behind for the scheduled 6:30 AM event. The street was packed with parked cars up and down each side and the inter parking lot was full of motorcycles. There’s something wrong with this picture I concluded.

As I walk into the grounds I’m advised by a couple of different members that the Chaplain was looking for me. They said he’d stated that I’d never missed this program in all the years we’ve been putting it on.

Finally I see him inside where the TERRY CARGILL & SONS OF THUNDER BAND was already playing some really hot rock’n - roll gospel music. He says, JQ I was afraid you weren’t going to make it this year. You know you’re our main picture taker for the Nat’l website! I replied,…”Irish Ed do you realize the sun won’t come up for about 45 more minutes? Yeah I’ll explain all that to everyone later, he said with a grin. (Boy this is goin’a be good I thought)

Inside the wonderful Boozettes were serving delicious assortments of breakfast dishes, to include pig in blankets, egg & potato casserole, sweet roles, fruit, and my favorite chipped beef in gravy (known as SOS to you military vets). Thanks ladies…that really hit the spot.

Several minutes before the sun was to rise (in which would be 7:28) we all gathered outside.

There were quite a few folks with various Christian biker clubs and independent riders present too. Chaplain got upon a table and greeted everyone and thanked them for getting up so early to attend. He explained that 9 years ago Big John (President) and his wife Connie had asked him if he could put on a little Easter deal? He said…you mean like an Easter egg hunt or something? No, Big John replied, we mean like some kind’a sunrise service. It wouldn’t do us no harm to have some sing’n, pray’n & preach’n at least once per year and one thaaang or another. (Check our Nat’l website {bfmcnatl.com} and click on “Motorcycle Minister rolled back into the fold).

Irish Ed then says…a lot of you folks wondered why I scheduled this event one hour before the sun comes up. Well the truth is that when I calculated the sunrise for Easter I forgot to factor in DAYLIGHT SAVINGS time. But hay…it’s a typical Boozefighters thing.

It did give us a lot of additional time to enjoy the band and eat that big spread of a breakfast the Boozettes surprised us with. So ya see, every thing works out if you let it! (Okay Chaplain I’m buy’n that. But I ain’t never goin’a let you live it down – Ha).

Back inside we heard more good music, to include ‘Harpoon’ joining in with some good harmonica playing, and gospel singing. We had a prayer then Irish Ed delivered a powerful message about how Jesus died on the cross so everyone would have their sins forgiven and get their life on a straight path to heaven. The service was appreciated by all.

From there the band and a bunch of us caravanned over to “THE SLAB” in which is a place that administers to the needy and homeless. The band cranked up with some hand clapping type music and singing.

The Boozettes set up some tables and started serving breakfast again.

Street people started flock’n into that open-air facility by the dozens and dozens. Many expressed their appreciation and thanked us for coming to share Easter with them. They were dancing around clapping their raised hands and chow’n down on the grub. That turned out being a whole new rewarding experience that most of us had never seen. And all of us and them that attended were grateful and felt blessed.

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One guy named “Whiskers” came up to ‘Chaplain’ Irish Ed and asked if he’d pray for his hearing. Ed stuck a finger in the guy’s right ear and placed a hand on his head and called out “HEAL!” Then he stuck a finger in Ole Whiskers left ear while putting a hand on his head and again called out “HEAL!”

(I don't think anybody saw that!)

Then the Chaplain asked…”How’s your hearing now?” Old Whiskers thought a minute and replied…”I don’t know preacher, it’s not scheduled until 9 o’clock next Wednesday.” (Okay Chaplain that was a cheap shot joke on you. But we’re still into this thing for having fun aren’t we?)

JQ