Rebuilding Brotherhood on Three Wheels: Honoring Kevin “Lil Rollie” Ropson
Some people join the military to find a purpose. Others find it by accident, through a friend, a conversation, or a dare that turns into destiny.
For Kevin “Lil Rollie” Ropson, the journey began in high school when his best friend said, “Let’s do this.” They did. And that decision sent Kevin across the world, through different branches, on different missions, and into a life of service that continues today with the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association®.
We’re proud to honor Lil Rollie as our May Member of the Month — a Marine, a soldier, a husband, a rider, and a man who continues to serve his fellow veterans long after his time in uniform ended.
From the Corps to the Road: A Life of Service
Kevin served in both the United States Marine Corps and the Army Reserves, working as a 3043 Supply Specialist and later as an 88M Diesel Mechanic and Truck Driver. His journey took him from Camp Pendleton to Japan, from Camp Lejeune to the battlefields of Iraq.
Ask Kevin what he remembers most, and he doesn’t hesitate:
“Traveling around the world, living in other countries, and having lifetime friends just because of the military.”
The friendships he made — the kind that form when lives depend on each other — became the standard by which all other connections would be measured.
The military shaped Kevin into who he is today:
“It taught me respect, discipline, courage, camaraderie.”
But when his time in uniform came to an end, the transition was anything but easy.
“The hardest part was not being surrounded by military people. It felt like I lost all my friends — the ones who understood me and the ones I understood.”
Filling the Void: Enter the CVMA®
After the military, Kevin searched for that feeling again — that sense of brotherhood, shared language, and purpose.
He found it in the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association®, where the mission is simple: veterans helping veterans.
“Riding with other veterans, spending time with them, and raising funds for those who need it — that’s what inspired me to join.”
Through CVMA®, Kevin found a new kind of family — not a replacement for the one he left behind, but an extension of it. A group of people who understood the highs and lows of military service and life after.
“CVMA® extended my family. It brought military families back together. It gave me what was missing in my life.”
One of Kevin’s favorite memories? Working security for the Budweiser Clydesdales during the Pearly Gates Veterans Benefit last year.
It wasn’t just about guarding horses — it was about being surrounded by his people again, making memories with his brothers and sisters in arms.
Life on Three Wheels: The Trike That Changed Everything
Kevin doesn’t ride just any bike — he rides a 2014 Harley-Davidson Tri Glide, and it carries more than just horsepower.
It carries meaning.
Three years ago, Kevin was gifted the bike through Hogs for Heroes — a moment he describes with quiet gratitude. Since then, it’s become not just a mode of transportation, but a tool for healing.
“I’m able to leave anything that’s bothering me behind when I’m riding,” Kevin says.
“It’s time with my beautiful wife. It’s freedom.”
Together, they’ve explored cities and restaurants all over Wisconsin and the surrounding states, turning every ride into a shared adventure.
And if you ask where he’d ride if he could go anywhere in the world?
“Canada — my wife has had a penpal there since grade school.”
That’s Kevin: tough as a Marine, loyal as a soldier — and still soft-hearted enough to spend hours slow-cooking his family’s spaghetti sauce recipe, which takes eight hours to perfect and can.
A Message for Those Who Served
To the veterans thinking about joining CVMA®? Kevin has a simple message:
“This is the best group of veterans I’ve been with since I retired. It’s helped me find what was missing in my family’s life.”
And to those still in uniform?
“Stay in for 20 years. Get your retirement.”
Final Thoughts
Kevin “Lil Rollie” Ropson may no longer wear a uniform, but his mission is far from over. Whether he’s volunteering at a ride, working security at a benefit, or exploring backroads with his wife on a trike gifted out of gratitude, Kevin shows us what it means to serve with heart — even after the battlefield.
He reminds us that the road doesn’t end after the military. Sometimes, it just gets better with three wheels, a full tank, and a new family waiting around the next bend.
Congratulations, Lil Rollie, and thank you for continuing to ride with purpose.
