Fifteen former Marines riding Harley-Davidsons rolled into a Lacey parking lot Saturday morning.  Members of the Marines Motorcycle Club, they wore their scarlet and gold globe and anchor patches proudly.

"Anytime we're asked to help out, we are glad to do so," commented Wayne Cook, the chapter's president, as he stood in front of the Northwest Harley-Davidson dealership. "When we're asked to lead, we are happy to do so," he added with a smile.

The club is open to all honorably discharged Marines, corpsmen attached to a combat unit and active duty Marines.  They ride only American made motorcycles. Members are dedicated to preserving the oath of honor they took when becoming Marines, looking after their brother Marines and remembering all passed Marines.

Their mission Saturday morning was to transport a folded American flag to the Westport Blues Festival, the site of an America Be Strong ceremony. On hand to present the flag was I Corps' Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Grippe. The flag he presented will later be exchanged for another American flag that was flown over the nation's capitol on Sept. 11, 2010.  Congressman Norm Dicks will make that presentation.

Wearing a blue I Corps cap and a gray Army sweatshirt, the nattily attired Grippe was visibly pleased to be in the company of veterans.

"I am honored to be here this morning with Marines, but also with Navy, Army and Air Force veterans," he said.

Grippe also thanked the veterans - whose service spanned from Vietnam to Operations Iraq and Enduring Freedom - for their service to this nation. In making a specific reference to 9-11, Grippe went on to say, "Without you, we would not be where we are, a strong and united country as it faces its current enemies."

Joining Grippe was Staff Sgt. Luke Dill, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. A quiet soldier who enjoyed talking with the older veterans surrounding him, Dill has a small claim to history.

During his speech announcing the end of combat operations in Iraq, President Obama quoted an Aug. 19 Associated Press story in which Dill said, "I know that to my brothers in arms who fought and died, this would probably mean a lot" as 4th Brigade departed Iraq.

One of the first soldiers to enter Iraq in 2003, Dill was also one of the last to leave.

"It's something I'm going to be proud of for the rest of my life - the fact that I came in on the initial push, and now I'm leaving with the last of the combat units," continued Dill in the article.

Dill also took possession of a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle he had ordered from Northwest Harley-Davidson while deployed.

Moments later, Grippe presented the neatly folded flag to Cook. The former Marines smartly saluted as Cook took the flag from Grippe.  Moments later, Cook gave the flag to Patt Leatham, wife of one of the club members.

"It is an honor to be allowed to carry this," said Leatham as over three dozen Harley-Davidson motorcycles roared to life. "We all should be proud of this country, what it stands for, and what our young men and women in uniform do for us."