Original FCMA crest. This club was the Canadian precursor to the Red Knights, operating from 1977 - 1983.
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A short history lesson from 1977 to today
The Red Knights Motorcycle Club (RKMC) was formed by a small group of firefighters in Boylston, Massachusetts, USA. They were at their local motorcycle shop ("Randy's") one day in 1982, wondering why firefighters didn't have a club like the Blue Knights, (the original Law Enforcement MC). Legend has it that the owner of the shop overheard them and said "Well instead of talking about it, why don't you start one?" So they did! Word spread "quickly", (a relative term, in the pre-internet days). In 1983 word reached the Toronto chapter of the Firefighters of Canada Motorcycle Association (FCMA). This was a group formed in 1977, led by the late Dave Conrad (Toronto Fire Dept.). Dave engaged in correspondence with George Libby and Norm Beausoleil from the RKMC "National" Board to learn more about the organization. (The original letters are available in our archives.) After some very spirited discussion in Toronto, the FCMA Toronto group decided to join the Red Knights. Ontario 1 became the first international chapter of the Red Knights, accepted by the National Board on March 2, 1984. At this point, the RKMC added "International" to their name. (We do not take this honour lightly, we respect the history and traditions that got us here.) The Red Knights expanded steadily, from North America to New Zealand, Australia and on to Europe. Expansion has never ceased, and the club continues to enjoy growth around the world. There are currently over 390 chapters, and about 10,000 members. The European Region has grown to where, in 2023, the International Convention was held in Fussach, Austria! The RKMC International now owns a house adjacent to the Red Knights Memorial in Boylston. This is for the use of Red Knights who travel to pay their respects to our members who have answered their final alarm. The Memorial itself is the final resting place for a piece of World Trade Center girder, and a trip to Boylston should be on the "bucket list" of every Red Knight. Pictured opposite is our official chapter vest. We promote the original red leather vest, with either the "old school" chenille cresting (as shown) or the new embroidered look. As of 2022, we also allow black leather vests in our chapter. |
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