Blue Knights History
Blue Knights International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club's members are law enforcement officers, including regular police officers, correctional officers, county and provincial officers, and other law enforcement personnel.
The club was started in April 1974 when Ed Gallant, a police officer with the Bangor, Maine Police Department, had a great idea and gathered seven or eight other police officers to work with him to see the idea become a reality. It was their intention to change the poor image people had of motorcyclists and motorcycle clubs; an image formed by the public's exposure to "outlaw" motorcycle gangs and "bikers", which has plagued ordinary motorcyclists for many years.
The club has continued to grow over the years. We are a fraternal organization operating under an International Constitution and by-laws. The Blue Knights® now boasts nearly 16,000 members worldwide in the United States, Canada, Australia, France, England, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway and Mexico.
One of the purposes of the club is to acquaint the general public and the motorcycling community with the Blue Knights® ideals.
The Name
At the club's 2nd meeting in 1974, the name Blue Knights® was adopted. At the time "The Blue Knight" was the name of a popular TV show about the daily life of a police officer.
The Logo
An emblem depicting a mounted knight and winged wheel was designed by a police artist, which is still proudly used today. The shield-shaped border was taken from an interstate sign.
The Motto
The motto was developed by the first International President, Chuck Shuman, who was leading a group of new Blue Knights® on a ride to Calais, Maine when he noticed how tall everyone seemed to be sitting, and he thought how proud he was to be leading such a group. He later began saying of Blue Knights®, he was overwhelmed, but remembered how proud, everyone was on that first ride, and he started signing "RIDE WITH PRIDE" Blue Knights®. Thus the motto was born.
Official Blue Knights Tartan:
