Hog Heaven: Harley Davidson Gift of a Day
Rodger Butts has been a lifelong Harley enthusiast and has been the proud owner of three Harley Davidson motorcycles. For his Gift of a Day, he wanted to take a tour of the 358,000-square-foot Harley-Davidson Vehicle and Powertrain Operations in Kansas City, MO to see how these beautiful machines were built.
Little did Rodger know that it would turn out to be more than just a tour.
The Harley Davidson team, from management personnel to the line crew, went above and beyond to make Rodger’s visit a special one.
Welcoming a Harley Davidson Brother.
To start the tour, he was greeted with special gifts from management including a limited edition Harley Davidson pocket watch. Throughout the tour, he was welcomed to each department with a gift bag and handshake by all who passed by welcoming him to Harley. He also received a guardian angel bell, traditionally shared among bikers to watch over and protect them on their journeys.
Rodger received shirts and hats from different departments, usually reserved for employees only, to make Rodger an honorary member of their department. One department gave him a metal Harley Davidson sign with signatures from everyone on that line. These skilled workers have only 55 minutes to fully assemble a bike, but each took a moment to say hello to Roger.
He also received a new pair of Harley biker boots courtesy of Kleinschmidt’s in Higginsville, MO.
Rodger was overwhelmed and touched by the generosity and caring he received during his Gift of a Day visit. Some Harley team members even shared their own experiences of having loved ones receiving hospice care and wanting to give back and make Rodgers day extra special.
At the end of the day, Rodger was asked what his favorite part of the day was. He replied, “Just getting to sit on the bikes again was great, but I can’t believe how much was done for me. I will always carry the pocket watch and angel bell with me.”
Our Gift of a Day mission.
Our Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care team offers a Gift of a Day to each hospice patient. The Gift of a Day is an opportunity to have one special day to enjoy their favorite activities.
We would like to thank everyone who helped make Rodger’s Gift of a Day so special.
If you have questions about our Gift of a Day program or know someone who could use the support of hospice, please call us at 1-888-564-3405.
Recommended Reading:
Honor Flight Recognizes Terminally Ill WWII Veteran
From Hospice to Harley: A Final Motorcycle Ride Results in a Perfect Day for a St. Louis, Missouri Hospice Patient and Vietnam Vet
Tommy "Too Much" Martin's Last Ride
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