John Welgos, president of the Patriot Brothers Chapter of the Nam Knights Motorcycle Club, along with club historian Joe Guchek, looked a little out of place in their boots, motorcycle vests, military patches and colors as they shared a cup of coffee and chatted with the seniors at the Edison Senior Center.
Both Welgos and Guchek are members of a group of Harley-riding combat vets of the Viet Nam War, who were also police officers, who banded together in 1989 to form the Nam Knights.
Since its inception, the Nam Knights of America Motorcycle Club has grown to 67 chapters in 15 states, Washington, D.C. and two Canadian provinces, with hundreds of members made up of veterans of all eras, as well as law enforcement personnel and a few special and dedicated patriots.
Following the club’s mission to honor the memory of American Veterans and police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty, to assist veterans and police officers in their time of need and to promote community awareness through sponsorship and participation in various fundraising events, the Patriot Brothers Chapter held a fund-raiser in October of 2015 to benefit the Edison Senior Center and the Robert Wood Johnson Children’s Hospital.
As a result of their fundraising efforts, Welgos presented a $1,000 check to Jay Elliot, Edison director of Health and Human Services and Judi Gillingham, the assistant director for aging, to be used toward senior services in Edison Township.
An additional check for $1,000 will also be presented to the Robert Wood Johnson Children’s Hospital.
