History of The CVMA®
The Very Beginning - A SCAM?
In the year 1999, the Combat Vets Motorcycle Club was introduced to the internet. Up until the first part of 2001 many of us were led to believe it was a true and established motorcycle organization. Through many turns of events, it was found out that CVMC was an internet scam to milk money from Combat Veterans. In the early months of 2001, many of the members found this scam out & alerted one another. Since we were all interested in the issues of Veterans, 45 members decided to form a Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. After this was decided, the birth of CVMA appeared as a non-profit Association in May 2001 and would be able to continue with our main objective of helping Veterans. The two main things that brought us together were motorcycle riding & being Veterans from Combat zones or theaters.
A special patch was designed and is only worn by the “Original 45” members that started the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association which now numbers in the thousands. So if you see one make sure to say “Thank YOU”.
The newly formed CVMA adopted the CVMA/VFW patch. This was done with the VFW's ok as all CVMA members were or became VFW members and were entitled to wear the VFW patch. Over the next year and a half the CVMA was well accepted at Post and Division levels with the VFW. Many meetings, conversations and letters over this period with the VFW National always sounded positive but with no results of developing a relationship.
In December 2002 the CVMA membership voted to move on towards the Association it wanted to be. Along with this, VFW membership was no longer required, opening the CVMA up to all Combat Veterans who ride a motorcycle. On December 15, 2002 it was voted the CVMA would wear a combination of the Combat Vets Association background and the old skull logo as a one piece patch. Membership requirements were a new member had to be a Combat Veteran and ride a motorcycle as a hobby. This patch is worn by Full Combat Members only. The Auxiliary patch is worn by spouses. The Supporter patch is worn by those who are veterans but have not served in combat, but still want to support the mission of the CVMA.