Do you recognize these people who've made their name into the annals of history; Vincenzo Gambi, Anne Bonny, Henry Every, Stede Bonnet or Edward Low? It's okay if you don't because they represent an old, not so honorable way of approaching life.

 

BRMNews has been leading you to this point, taking you from the old stereotype of the image of pirates to what it means to be a Modern Day Pirate.

 

Someone to know is "Trucker" Billy Robertson. Around 2003/2004, he began to notice a lot of similarities among fellow paintball enthusiasts. They all enjoyed a variety of outdoor activities; hunting, fishing, motorcycles. A concept began developing for a group or club where everyone could come together and make a difference while having fun doing the things they liked to do already.

 

It wasn't until 2012 when Rocky Cagnoni went into Treasure Island Tattoo, where his buddy and tattoo artist showed him a pirate design. "It just fell into place," Cagnoni said, referring to having been asked what initials he wanted to include in the tattoo. Being a sea-loving, modern-day pirate, he chose the initials MDP.

 

Having seen the pirate tattoo, Trucker and then other members of the group also received their versions of the pirate. It continued to evolve, and with many members sharing the same core values, including a love of adventure, Modern Day Pirates was soon to be the name of the group formed years ago.

 

Trucker went on to create an organization around the name. Creating t-shirt designs, memberships, and goals. Two shirts, in particular, are worth noting here and are for members and non-members.

 

Geoffery (as spelled on MDP website) is the male pirate you'll see on t-shirts, badges, and other items for sale. The tattoo artist, an ex-marine named Geoffery, who gave Rocky the first pirate tattoo, died a few months later of brain cancer. It was in his honor a shirt was created featuring the pirate which they named Geoffery. From the sales of those shirts, MDP donated to brain cancer research.

 

Females have Proud Beauties while the males have MDP. The female pirate representing Proud Beauties is named Gertrude in honor of Trucker's wife Rachel and her sister Jessica's (both also founding members) grandmother. Their grandmother died of breast cancer, and from sales of shirts, MDP donates to breast cancer awareness, research, and for a cure.

 

"Our simple mission is to help everyone realize that this life is an incredible gift and to not forsake it. Helping motivate the masses to seek adventure and create memories building lasting relationships with fellow thrill-seekers/adventurers is our goal."

 

Modern Day Pirates is an adventure society with a mission to get out and experience life while sharing adventures with others. "Everybody dies, not everyone lives," Trucker said.

 

Are you a Modern Day Pirate? Just getting out of the house or away from work at lunch to experience the beauty all around you makes you a Modern Day Pirate!

 

"Adventure. I live it every day. It can be as simple as walking out your door and taking in what you see," Rob Gale, owner of the MDP Pirate Museum in Copperhill, TN told BRMNews in an earlier article.

 

Modern Day Pirates are far from the pirates whose names listed above made history for all the wrong reasons. Second to adventure is charity and third, helping communities to become a better place. Mentoring and self-improvement round out the top five and are also qualities not often associated with pirates, but for Modern Day Pirates, they are a part of life.

 

"We are best described as a mix between the best parts of say: Elks, H.O.G , Scouts & AAA (we have retailer vendors providing our Order members discounts).

 

We are in no way a militant, political, religious, Car or Motorcycle, club, gang or organization, …etc…..we strictly condemn any negative or criminal activity.

 

Now with our members' interest being so vast. You will see us at bike nights, rides and rallies. Concerts out on fishing boats at paintball fields, shooting ranges, camping, fishing, hunting, hiking, so on and so forth…

 

You will find our members to be among the friendliest individual you happen upon, always willing to offer a warm welcome and lend a hand, possibly attend, and if scheduling permits, assist in charity events and functions."

 

Take a few minutes and head to MDPcrew.com or their Facebook page. Locally you can visit the MDP Museum in Copperhill, TN. It's next to Ocoee River Cafe and was created and is managed by the owners, Rob and Laura Gale. Check out their Facebook page.

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From MDP Creed:

"...be a light, a beacon for others wherever your adventures take you so that they can know the serenity that can only be found in truly living and being in the moment."