For the past three decades, “Lompico” Lyle Fleming has ridden his motorcycle from Felton to Watsonville to take part in the city’s annual Veterans Day parade.
The 82-year-old, whose service included time in the Gulf of Tonkin, says wants to honor his brothers and sisters who have served in the military.
“I’m a veteran, because I want to honor veterans,” he said. “I just feel duty-bound to be here.”
Fleming was among the veterans who gathered Tuesday for the annual parade, which brings together former service members, their families and supporters to recognize those who have served in the U.S. military.
Hundreds of people packed the Henry J. Mello Center for the ceremony.
For Fleming, the annual ride is also a reminder of how much attitudes toward veterans have changed since he returned from military service during the Vietnam War.
He recalled facing hostility from people who opposed the war, some of whom blamed him for atrocities committed by American troops.
“I started catching flack for what the Army guys did,” he said. “I got called names and stuff for that, even though I was on a ship out in the ocean.”
Eventually, Fleming said, he stopped telling people about his military service.
“Because I served during that time period, I was a bad guy,” he said. “So I shut up about it for a while.”
But as the years passed, Fleming found a renewed sense of connection with fellow veterans and a desire to support them.
“Now I just feel a part of all the veterans, and I do what I can to support them,” he said.
That includes making the annual motorcycle trip to Watsonville, a tradition he has maintained for more than 30 years.
And while the reason behind his participation is serious, Fleming says the ride itself is something he enjoys.
“It’s pleasurable. It’s not a hard thing,” he said. “This is an easy thing to do. We get a little ride out of it.”
