Patriot Guard Riders
I first became aware of the Patriot Guard Riders when my son joined the Army and I joined the Blue Star Mothers. A Blue Star Mother has a son(s) and/or daughter(s) in the military and one of the bittersweet duties of a Blue Star Mother is to attend the funerals of fallen military and present the mother/family with a Gold Star service flag, if the family has given permission, inform them about our organization and offer help and support.
Every funeral I had attended, the Patriot Guard Riders were there, always and only, at the invitation of the family. The PGR does nothing unless by invitation of the family.
I remember a time when the PGR stood at attention as the flag bearers along
the funeral procession line. The family, with bereavement heavy on their minds, forgot to tell the PGR that they could come in during the shared meal, have something to eat and drink and rest. At the funeral they won't ask. It is all directed ahead of time. They stayed outside in the sun and heat in their line, at attention, guarding the family and attendees from anything that may disrupt the proceedings. One guy almost passed out due to the heat and someone noticed this poor guy having a hard time. He refused to enter the interior of the building because he didn't have the families' permission and felt duty and honor bound to stay where he was. Someone went to ask if he could rest. All were then invited in for food and drink and shade, with great thanks for their mission.
One of the members, at another funeral, knew that the man who was killed in Iraq was the same age as he. He wrote a very touching poem, dedicated to the fallen hero who was the same age as the poet, and yet the poet had never met this fallen hero. He had permission to read the poem at graveside. All was silent as he read his heart rendering poem, and shed the tears of someone who knew the hero's heart and mind. Someone who has been in battle, survived, and is ever mindful of his fortune and others' loss.
Patriot Guard Riders Mission Statement
The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join us.
We don’t care what you ride or if you ride, what your political views are, or whether you’re a hawk or a dove. It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It doesn't matter where you’re from or what your income is; you don’t even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.
Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives:
- Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
- Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors.
We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.
To those of you who are currently serving and fighting for the freedoms of others, at home and abroad, please know that we are backing you. We honor and support you with every mission we carry out, and we are praying for a safe return home for all.
A Tribute to the Patriot Guard Riders
The song was done by a Canadian. His name is Terry Kelly, the situation that inspired his song follows; On November 11, 1999 (the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month; WWI) Terry Kelly was in a Shoppers Drug Mart store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Canada . At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the store's PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.
Terry was impressed with the store's leadership role in adopting the Legion's "two minutes of silence" initiative. He felt that the store's contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.
When eleven o'clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the "two minutes of silence" to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.
Terry's anger towards the father for trying to engage the store's clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was later channelled into a beautiful piece of work called, "A Pittance of Time". Terry later recorded "A Pittance of Time" and included it on his full-length music CD, "The Power of the Dream".
The Patriot Guard Riders shield families from unwelcome guest while also showing respect for those who protect us all.
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1. The demeaning of American Hero Max Cleland, when the supporters of the man who would not take a urine test to defend Alabama from the Viet Cong said Senator Clelands' war wounds did not meet their standards.
2. The magnificent moment when our war president dressed up in a flight suit, with full regalia, on a battleship resting a few feet from the California coast, with a camera angle that made our hero look like a warrior at sea having won the Battle of Midway.
3. Our courageous leader attacking opponents for not supporting the troops, while wounded troops a few feet from his attack endured from his mismanagement, rats, mice, lice, urine, feces, broken ceilings, creaky floors, and punishment for asking their wounds be treated with dignity.
4. America's most infamous Ivy Lead graduate who ran our government like a CEO, and was responsible for $10 billion of American money for Iraq reconstruction being lost, stolen, and corrupted.
5. And losing more than $12 billion and 365 tons of Iraqi cash that was also lost, stolen and corrupted.
6. And giving a presidential medal of freedom to our Best Dressed Proconsul, who presided over this fiasco in the image of our Decider.
7. Who can forget the Bush passion for Iraqi Democracy, with his drive to install as Iraq's head of state a London Based exile in lizard shoes, rolex watches and Saville Row suits bought especially for neoconservative dinner parties in our Capital?
8. A fond memory of Ann Coulter accusing the widows of 9-11 of being harpies who were pleased that their husbands were dead, and the gallant, chivalrous memory of our war president coming to their defense!
9. A special reminiscence to the greatest vacationing President in history, planning for the Katrina Hurricane from a fortified bunker in his summer retreat, taking time from his cutting of brush and bicycle rides to give Brownie his marching orders before the hurricane arrived!
10. Memories of the day that the president inspired such fear in our capital that the home of our government saw a mad rush to buy duct tape, bottled water, and bullet proof vests while our heroic vice president absconded to undisclosed locations.
11. Who cannot fondly recall the Republican National Convention where our leader and his henchmen brought little toys to make fun of the Purple Heart, to demean a recipient of bronze and silver stars for valor?
Your party have a really rotten day.
My son belongs to Bikers Against Child Abuse, a service group also. These are worthwhile organizations and raise the consciousness of all about motorcyclists in general. Thanks for posting this.
We should all take a few minutes EVERYDAY to ask GOD, THE UNIVERSE, ANGELS or whom ever you pray to, to keep our men and women safe, & honored. To remember when you in the shower, they are without that pleasure, when we sit down with our families to eat or enjoy their company, they are without theirs, when we are mad that the car infront of us is going to slow & were in a hurry to get to our destination, our troops are dodging bullets and may never get to their destination, These MEN & WOMEN are why we get to do what we want and enjoy what we want........HONOR, HONOR HONOR.....Thanks also to Ray Trosper who does just that and more and who introduced me to this site.
I hope you are a member of my group: Michael Yon Dispatches. Michael Yon is now in Afghanistan also and is sending dispatches out. I'd love for you to read my mission statement for the group and would welcome you and/or your husband to contribute to the group.