Patriot Guard

[theperfessor]

One of our local service members came home this weekend for leave. He and his family were met at the airport and were accompanied to his family's home by an honor guard of motorcyclist's known as the Patriot Guard. To the best of my knowledge these folks have done this for every returning service member in this area, living and dead, for as long as I can remember.

A few years ago when one of our local guys came home after joining the ranks of the honored fallen some idiots from a jerkwater splinter sect church let it be known that they were going to protest at the funeral over some tangential issue that had nothing to do with anything.

At the funeral the Guard formed a human barrier to isolate the family and the mourners from this group of flakes.

The members of this group range from folks in their early twenties, many of them veterans, to grandfathers and grandmothers. They support our service people and their families in ways both visible and invisible.

I don't know if this group is national but if not they ought to be.

To see them in action and hear the rumble of their bikes is awe inspiring. When I saw them I was glad I had to stop for them to get through because I couldn't see well enough to drive safely. My hat is off to them and all our service people during this difficult time. They are one example of what is RIGHT with America.

Mods, feel free to move this. I just wanted to share my thoughts.

[NSP64]

I had seen them in the St. Louis area for Escourt service to the cemetary. Also the idiots in the protest group.

[NVcurmudgeon]

I attended the funeral of a Nevadan killed in Afghanistan two or three years ago. Patriot Guard (it is national) was there. Lots of Nam vets on bikes. Others in the crowd were wearing their war story ball caps. Three or four of the Topeka anti- homosexual wackos showed up for as long as it took to get out of the car, almost get mobbed by the P.G. and various veterans, getting back in the car, and departing at flank speed. Haven't heard of the Topeka bunch trying to disrupt any GI funerals in Nevada since. Apparently it's just one congregation in Kansas that sends these ghouls out.

[DIRT Farmer]

It's the Westboro Bapists church or so they claim. From what I know they sue when their 1st admemendt rights are violated for a living.
Perfessor, I was "ask" not to go to Evansville that day. The Patriot Guard is inpressive.

(don't know why my speling is so bad today)

[redneckdan]

I've attended a couple of their missions up here. They said it was weird having a mud splattered KLR among the ranks of chromed out cruisers but they welcomed me none the less. Was definitely an awe inspiring event.

[44fanatic]

All over the country. Have met and talked with a few of them at a funeral here in TN for a family friend who had retired several years back. Motorcycle is not a requirement, patriotism is...great group of people.

[BarryinIN]

I know a couple of PGRs. If it isn't a national organization, it's awful close to it. One of those guys I know is some sort of coordinator and he is sometimes busy with two or three funerals in a week or so. He is always emotionally drained after one of those weeks.

Now and then I've seen a PGR riding alone and it makes me fight back years. They will have the yellow PGR sticker across the windshield and have a furled flag ticked away, so I know they must be on the way to or from a funeral.

[exile]

Good for them. As a Christian and a Kansan the Westboro Baptist bunch make me puke. The media love them though since they can point to them and say "Look at those bigoted Christians."

The Patriot Guard should be supported in any way possible.

exile

[DLCTEX]

They were in Wheeler when one of our young men, Lt. Ben Britt, was laid to rest. They helped keep the Topeka loonies away from the family and confined to a small area. Any time the Topeka nuts tried to voice their babblings via bullhorn the bikers raced their engines and drowned them out. A number of our locals ride with them at every opportunity now. They truly are patriots.

[dragonrider]

My brother is a member of the Patriot Guards in Alabama. And I believe they are here in Ma also.

[1Shirt]

I have twice seen the PG in action here in Omaha. We are not that far from the wacos from Topeka, and I watched the PG do a great job of backing these yoyo's off.
1Shirt!:coffee:

[EMC45]

The PG rode through our base 2 weeks ago and accompanied a young Marine to his final resting place. KIA by roadside bomb. God Bless the PG!

[MtGun44]

They escorted my nephew in Richmond Hill last August. Fine people.

Bill

[cheese1566]

Patriots in western South Dakota. Great group of guys and gals.

Plus we have laws against protests at funerals: :Fire:

22-13-17. Picketing of funeral services prohibited--Violation as misdemeanor. No person may engage in any act of picketing at any funeral service during the period from one hour before the scheduled commencement of the funeral services until one hour after the actual completion of the funeral services.
Any violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Each day on which a person violates this section constitutes a separate offense.

22-13-18. Injunction, damages award, or other relief for repeated violations. Notwithstanding the criminal penalties provided in § 22-13-17, the circuit court may enjoin conduct proscribed by § 22-13-17 and may in any such proceeding award damages, including attorney fees, or other appropriate relief against any person who is repeatedly found guilty under §§ 22-13-17 to 22-13-20, inclusive.

22-13-19. Picketing defined. For the purpose of §§ 22-13-17 to 22-13-20, inclusive, the term, picketing, means protest activities engaged in by any person stationed within one thousand feet of a funeral service within one hour prior to, during, and one hour following the commencement of any funeral service.

22-13-20. Funeral services defined. For the purposes of §§ 22-13-17 to 22-13-20, inclusive, funeral services are any ceremony, procession, or memorial held in connection with the burial or cremation of a deceased person.

[Rockydog]

My wifes sister is the very liberal antiwar type. But she and her husband always support the troops once a committment has been made to fight. They both ride in the PG in Colorado. Both find the experience very humbling and rewarding but also exhausting and emotion filled. RD

[DCP]

Thank GOD for David Hall and men and women like these.

I cant watch this with out a tears coming to my eyes

http://mliberalguy.blogspot.com/2009/11/proclaim-liberty-ring-liberty-bell.html


Thank GOD for the fallen and those that honor them

May they
Vaya con Dios

[Houndog]

One of our local service members came home this weekend for leave. He and his family were met at the airport and were accompanied to his family's home by an honor guard of motorcyclist's known as the Patriot Guard. To the best of my knowledge these folks have done this for every returning service member in this area, living and dead, for as long as I can remember.

A few years ago when one of our local guys came home after joining the ranks of the honored fallen some idiots from a jerkwater splinter sect church let it be known that they were going to protest at the funeral over some tangential issue that had nothing to do with anything.

At the funeral the Guard formed a human barrier to isolate the family and the mourners from this group of flakes.

The members of this group range from folks in their early twenties, many of them veterans, to grandfathers and grandmothers. They support our service people and their families in ways both visible and invisible.

I don't know if this group is national but if not they ought to be.

To see them in action and hear the rumble of their bikes is awe inspiring. When I saw them I was glad I had to stop for them to get through because I couldn't see well enough to drive safely. My hat is off to them and all our service people during this difficult time. They are one example of what is RIGHT with America.

Mods, feel free to move this. I just wanted to share my thoughts.

Perfessor,
The PG is a national orginization, and I'm proud to be a member. Honoring our fallen heros by what we do is not only an obligation in my mind, but a personal honor to be able to do so. Our heros in uniform deserve no less!

[troy_mclure]

ive riden with them twice when i lived in tacoma(just got out of the army).

but theres not too much of them around here.

[WallyM3]

There was none of that in my time.

It makes me want to get a bike myself...and a bell.

At least part of this country is whole.

Bless them for what they do.

[kennisondan]

I would join in a minute..
dk