Dailey’s ‘Old Glory’ a patriotic labor of love

Though his workshop walls are dotted with more than a dozen trophies and plaques earned long ago, it’s what sits in the center of Terry Dailey’s building that draws the eye. His 2005 Harley Davidson Road King, fittingly named “Old Glory,” pays patriotic homage to all the men and women who have served or are currently serving in the military.

Dailey, who’s been retired about five years, restores and rebuilds motorcycles as a hobby, and the idea for Old Glory came to him early last year.

“I decided I wanted to build something different -— something patriotic,” he said. “I wanted to do this just as my way of saying thanks to the men and women who have served in the military, past or present. In the planning, I decided I also wanted to pay tribute to those who paid the ultimate price.”

What started out as a stock factory cruiser now features a vivid American flag across the back saddlebags. Across the front fairing, the symbol of a fallen soldier is front and center with helmet, dog tags, rifle and combat boots. Behind this symbol is a traditional military cemetery with crosses displaying names of Dailey’s noteworthy places: Normandy, where his father served in World War II; Baghdad and Iraq, where his brother-in-law served; and Vietnam, where Dailey served during his three years in the Army. Staring out from each side of the fairing is the bald eagle.

Dailey had a vision, and local painter John Hoover of Hoover Airbrush, who Dailey found on the Internet, created a sketch. The bike became a perfect canvas for airbrushing, and Hoover far exceeded his expectations, Dailey said. 

Most of Old Glory is new, including a custom seat that accommodates his wife, Jill, when needed, an altered suspension system, the fairing, and a larger front wheel. Overall, it took about $15,000 and six months to transform it before it started speeding down the highway last October, when the Daileys drove it to Florida.

But this story is not just about the bike itself, Dailey said; it’s more about the camaraderie that it creates.

“When I take the bike out, I have people blowing their horn, waving, and giving thumbs up,” he said. “If I am stopped somewhere it never fails that someone will come up and comment on the bike. However, the conversation will change from the beauty of the bike to some forgotten memory. I might hear a story of someone’s dad, brother or sister’s experience in the military, or perhaps someone will share their own military experience. These total strangers are reminded of something in their past, and for a brief moment, they wish to share it. Because of the bike, I am the fortunate person they choose to share it with.”

Sometimes the stories are happy and sometimes they are sad, Dailey said. Either way, it creates a bond and puts him in touch with entire families across the globe.

“I’ll stand there and talk as long as anyone wants to talk,” he said. “It’s those tidbits that I can relate to so well.”

Dailey was the typical American kid raised on John Wayne westerns turned typical rebellious teenager who defied his parents’ wishes by joining the Army at 17. He also had a deep streak of patriotism in his bloodline: Both his father and grandfather had served in the military.

“My dad was wounded in World War II and we didn’t talk about it,” Dailey said. “It wasn’t until I returned from Vietnam that we shared stories.”

His thoughts often drift back to the post Vietnam War era, when anti-military and anti-war movements were common. Instilling a love of country in our youth today is something he believes is important, and something that citizens should think about daily and teach their children. 

“Saying that daily allegiance to the American flag is important,” he said. “There should be more patriotic acts on a daily basis.”

To help the effort, he joined the Patriot Guard Riders in 2005 — a volunteer group formed to protect the family of deceased veterans. Patriot Guards, at the request of family members, attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes and they also work to minimize any interruptions by protesters through nonviolent means.

Dailey has spent much of his life on the road. After three years in the Army, he then went to college on the G.I. Bill and graduated from Jefferson State Community College in traffic and transportation management. He worked 34 years in the trucking industry.

Dailey started rebuilding motorcycles around the age of 12, under his dad’s supervision, and it’s a hobby he has honed over time. He’s rebuilt about 12, usually smaller ones that date back to the 1960s and `70s, and built his own first racing motorcycle. A former Little League baseball coach and umpire, Dailey was inducted into the St. Clair County Sports Hall of Fame in January for his motocross racing accomplishments, including winning consecutive national titles in 2011 and 2012.

He still remembers taking the corners of most dirt tracks in the area, and a time when one could race go-karts at 100 miles per hour on what is now Talladega Superspeedway. His shop’s walls are decorated with photos of many of these tracks.

“I’ve always been a bit of a gearhead,” Dailey said. “I just got too old to race. But I try to stay active.”

Aside from his hobby, Dailey also transforms into “Socks” the professional clown one day a week at Children’s Hospital — something he’s been doing almost two years now.

“I wanted to give back a little bit,” he said. “My motto is ‘one smile, one child, one moment.’ 

“I find it the most rewarding of everything I do.”