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They are short, tall, ten to seventy,
students, Sunday school teachers, office workers, military,
vets, and Blue and Gold Star parents who ride Hondas and
Harleys. They are women and men of the Patriot Guard
Riders that now number over 100,000 nationwide.
Beginning in 2005 when a
group of anti-war protesters began making appearances at the
services of fallen heroes, a small group of veterans rode their
motorcycles and stood with a flag line to protect and honor the
family. Hence, the subsequent creation of the Patriot Guard
Riders national non-profit organization that covers all fifty
states, Canada, and the Pacific Protectorates such as Guam.
My husband and I first
met and shook hands with Georgia and Alabama PG riders this year
while attending the services of area fallen heroes. These are
individuals who take vacation, sick leave, or a day without pay
to participate in paying respect and showing patriotic honor to
our nation's grieving families. At services the Patriot Guard
not only stands with a flag line, but also presents a plaque to
the family.
My friend and Gold Star
mom, Jan Johnson, is a Georgia PGR member who drives her truck
as a support vehicle for ride missions. Jan also orders and
presents families with their Gold Star service flag. I've been
privileged to stand with Jan for several presentations.
Each state has an
appointed State Captain and Mission Ride Captains. After the PGR
receives the Department of Defense notification and subsequently
learns the state location of a fallen hero's funeral service,
the service member's name is listed on the PGR website.
Subsequently the State Captain makes contact with the funeral
home director to initiate the process of obtaining authorization
from the family to organize a ride mission. When authorization
is granted, the Ride Captain then coordinates with participating
riders the time to gather, formation of the flag line, position
the family wishes the riders to be in the funeral procession,
and presentations.
Although my husband and
I don't own or ride a Honda or Harley, I participated in my
first ride on Friday, July 27th in honor of PFC Harrelson and
his family. After contacting Ride Captain Shelia Smith in Phenix
City, Alabama, I was honored when she invited me to be a part of
this new mission. I would be the end vehicle behind the PGR's
bikes and also present the Gold Star service flag to PFC
Harrelson's parents at graveside
In the evening sun the
funeral procession of over a mile long flowed around road bends
and over hills from the church to the cemetery. Part of the
Patriot Guard led the hearse and family cars that were followed
by the remaining riders. With my car as the PGR caboose I led
the continued stream of processional vehicles. Driving behind
the group of sixty wearing jeans and leather vests in a dual
line of two wheeled roaring machines with our grand ole flag
waving in the wind, I was part of a united strength and pride.
Respected by law
enforcement in communities of their missions, the PGR is met by
local police to lead them to funeral homes, churches, and
cemeteries while blocking traffic if necessary. I commend the
law enforcement and citizens of Dadeville and Alexander City,
Alabama for treating us all with utmost respect.
Other than ride
missions, the PGR works together with ride events within their
local regions to help raise funds for various causes. In honor
of Sgt Michael James Stokely who served with the U.S. Army E
Troop 108th Cavalry 48th BCT Georgia Army National Guard and
who was KIA 8/16/05 in Yusufiyah, Iraq, riders are coming
together with a law enforcement lead in Peachtree City, Georgia,
on August 25th. The ride will benefit The Mike Stokely
Foundation to establish a scholarship in Mike's name at the
Georgia Military College in Milledgeville. Such events are only
a hint of PGR contributions to our country's military families.
The Patriot Guard Riders website tells much more.
Yes, these women
and men from all walks of life are salt of the earth that bless
and encourage military families across the country. Often they
stand in silent formation for hours in humid heat or freezing
cold at visitations, churches, and cemeteries. They pay for
their own fuel and hotels if the ride takes them that far from
home. When requested and from hearts as great and sincere as
any I've ever known, they appear in numbers from few to hundreds
to perform a mission as a family wishes. Then, not wanting
attention or kudos, like ghost riders, they simply disappear
until needed again.
For more information or to join the
Patriot Guard Riders go to
www.patriotguard.org.
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