This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Marine Corporal Awarded Victory Motorcycle at Operation Gratitude Care Package Drive

Operation Gratitude celebrates the delivery of its 600,000th care package by giving away a motorcycle.

Hundreds of volunteers gathered at the California National Guard Armory in Van Nuys to assemble care packages for service members and to commemorate Operation Gratitude’s 600,000th care package Sunday.

The event was not only part of the peak of Operation Gratitude’s Patriot Drive, but it was also an opportunity for the organization to present to the lucky 600,000th package recipient the remainder of his bundle. Delivered in December 2010 to Afghanistan, the milestone package included a key to a Vegas 8-Ball Motorcycle donated by Victory Motorcycles, which 21-year-old Cpl. Clancy Cheek had come to collect.

Operation Gratitude is a nonprofit organization that focuses on expressing its thanks by assembling and delivering care packages to service men and women. Items like books, toiletries, games, nonperishable foods and even personalized letters of appreciation are packed into United States Postal Service boxes that are individually shipped to deployed American service members abroad.

Find out what's happening in Oceanside-Camp Pendletonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The group assembles and delivers 100,000 packages a year and has delivered over 640,000 packages so far. Sunday’s assembly totaled approximately 4,500 packages and will be delivered to the USS Ronald Reagan, USS Preble and the USS Chancellorsville.

Operation Gratitude volunteers of all ages, including veterans, got an early start loading packages half an hour before the planned 9 a.m. commencement. The California National Guard Armory warehouse was filled with people of all types who lined up to pack, seal and address boxes.  The energy was high and people seemed happy to offer their time and support.

Find out what's happening in Oceanside-Camp Pendletonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“I’m very, very honored to do this," said longtime volunteer Cheryl Zerah. "In America, there’s not enough that we can do to express our gratitude and appreciation to all the armed services and what they and their families are giving up. It’s a labor of love."

Other guests at the packaging drive included Councilman Dennis Zine, who presented honorary awards to leaders of the Dark Horse Battalion, and Michael Reagan, son of President Ronald Reagan, for their hard work and support of military services.

After three hours of frenzied yet organized packaging, Operation Gratitude volunteers quickly packed away all the goods in order to start their honor presentations. 

Carolyn Blashek, founder and president of Operation Gratitude, spoke in front of the large group of volunteers to thank them, as well as America’s current soldiers and veterans, for their service to the country. 

Blashek gave a brief description of when and how the 600,000th package was delivered. She explained that the Marine Corps Dark Horse Battalion was one of the hardest working and hardest fighting units—one which sustained many casualties. Blashek then introduced Cheek, the lucky recipient.

Cheek called the average American and Operation Gratitude volunteers heroes.

“You all are doing an amazing job and you and your work does not go unnoticed," said Cheek. "If you’re having a bad day, just know that there’s somebody on the other side of the world that will open up your package and be more than thankful to get it.”

Born and raised in Ardmore, OK, Cheek is part of the Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, also known as the Dark Horse Battalion. He returned to the states in April and has two more years of service before he plans on finishing college. Cheek lives aboard Camp Pendleton with his wife, Chelsea.

Cheek was presented with the custom cruiser by Victory Motorcycles’ External Relations manager Robert Pandya. Pandya explained that Victory (a division of Polaris Industries who supplies equipment to the military) was proud to be part of the 600,00oth care package.  He says that the motorcycle community knows this country so well by riding its highways, and the motorcycle represents the freedoms of America and of the open road.

“It’s an honor for us to be part of this," said Pandya. "Today is the day where the rubber meets the road and the corporal gets his bike.” 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?