Photo By Julie Mitchell | Retired Air Force Maj. Shawn “Goose” Gander receives the keys to his brand-new...... read more read more
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Though he’d never ridden a motorcycle before, retired Air Force Maj. Shawn “Goose” Gander took a chance and entered a sweepstakes this summer to win a Harley from the Army & Air Force Exchange Service and Dr Pepper.
The gamble paid off. Gander, who served for 20 years in the Air Force and retired in 2014 at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., took home the grand prize in the worldwide Refresh-Ride-Win contest—a Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight worth $11,900.
“I’ve never won anything like this before,” said Gander, a Bossier City, La., resident who now works at Barksdale in a civilian role. “I’m extremely excited.”
Exchange Deputy Director Mike Immler handed Gander the keys to his new ride during a presentation Sept. 25 at the Barksdale Exchange. Air Force Col. Brandon Parker, 2nd Bomb Wing Vice Commander; Lo Walker, Bossier City Mayor; and Jeff Seesing, Dr Pepper/Snapple National Account Executive, were on hand for the presentation as well.
“It’s such an honor to present this Harley to this fine Airman,” Immler said. “We appreciate you, and we thank you for your service.”
After he learned he had won, Gander said, he took classes to gain his motorcycle operator’s license. Many of his friends ride, and Gander is looking forward to joining them on short trips throughout Louisiana and Arkansas as he gets more comfortable on his bike.
But his first adventure on the Harley didn’t take much planning.
“It’s about a 20-minute ride home,” he said, laughing.
| Date Taken: | 09.28.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 09.28.2015 16:34 |
| Story ID: | 177426 |
| Location: | BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, LA, US |
| Web Views: | 44 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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