BAKERSFIELD, CA. - The Patriot Guard Riders are big supporters of our local veterans, but their last ride saw them honoring one of their own.
Ernie Dorsey, or better known simply as The Godfather, is quickly slipping away, but his friends are not ready to let him go without letting him know how he has impacted their lives.
No one is really sure why they call him The Godfather. It could be he has been part of nearly every ride for as long as anyone can remember, so everyone took notice when didn't show up.
His friends started one of the few rides without him, but this time it was for him.
"He's just one of the fixtures. he's one of the anchor points for the motorcycle groups in this town," said Don Oldaker, Toy Run Organizer.
"the Godfather has always been godfather. You know, you ask anybody, I would say three quarters of everybody don't even know his name."
For decades, Dorsey has helped organize the annual toy run and given rumbling respect to our veterans riding with the patriot guard.
Now, that honor is rolling his way as grateful friends celebrate The Godfather's countless days of service.
They all want him to know what it means to them now that his days are numbered.
"That's the only thing he's been talking about since he's been home, hasn't been able to get on his motorcycle. He just looks at the window at it," said Derek Dorsey, the Godfather's son.
h this is really something special that i wasn't expecting. (16:03:39)well you never know where your friends are at until something happens to you," said The Godfather Ernie Dorsey.
"This is the best right here because they are all here with him right now," said Derek Dorsey. "this is what he really wanted."