The Patriot Guard Riders
A few hours of your time can make such a huge difference to a grieving family.
In our “People To See” section we usually feature a club within our publishing area. I have recently joined an organization that I am extremely proud to be a member of. That organization is the “Patriot Guard Riders”.
The Patriot Guard Riders was formed by an American Legion Riders Group in Kansas City to counter the actions of the Westborough Baptist Church. For those of you who have not heard of this extreme organization, please allow me to enlighten you. This church (and I use the term church grudgingly here) was formed by a self proclaimed pastor named Fred Phelps and is based in Topeka, Kansas. They call themselves Christian but they are anything but Christian. The congregation consists of approximately 100 members most of whom belong to the Phelps family. Fred Phelps ( I will not call him Pastor nor will I refer to him as Mister) is a homophobic of the utmost order. It is his belief and thus that of his followers that the United States is engaged in a war in the Middle East and that are soldiers are being killed because God is punishing this country for harboring citizens who are homosexual. Based on this belief they feel that it is their duty to picket the funerals of service members who were killed in the line of duty. The signs they display and the slogans that they chant are the most vile and despicable things that could be done at such a solemn moment.
The Patriot Guard Riders were formed to counter these demonstrations and any demonstrations that occur at these most solemn services. The Patriot Guard Riders are a non-confrontational group. They shield the family of the fallen from the misguided by turning their backs to the misguided and raising their American Flags to create a visual barrier between the family of the fallen and the protestors. If required they will sing patriotic songs to drown out the chants of the protestors.
Since the inception of the Patriot Guard Riders, the Westborough Baptist Church has become less visible on the landscape of the Americas. It seems if the WBC knows that the PGR is going to be present, they do not even bother to show up.
As time progressed the mission of the PGR has changed. They are still ready to provide the isolation that the grieving family needs if required but the mission these days is mostly to honor the deceased and above all to demonstrate the respect that the deceased deserves and has earned. Not only does the PGR perform these duties for those killed in action but it performs these duties for any veteran of any conflict. It should be noted that the PGR performs these duties only at the bequest of the family of the deceased.
To be a member of the Patriot Guard Riders you need only one requirement, the willingness to devote some of your time to demonstrate the respect that our veterans deserve. Even though a large percentage of the membership rides bikes, that is not a requirement to join the PGR. The only requirement is RESPECT.
If you would like to join the Patriot Guard Riders and assist in performing this vital mission you need to go to www.patriotguard.org and join. Once you have joined with the National organization then you need to visit http://web.mac.com/siegnazinga/iWeb/PatriotGuard/Patriot_Guard/PGRNY_Home.html and register with the Patriot Guards NY organization. Whenever there is a mission, you will receive an e-mail mission statement with the details that you will need to attend the mission.
I wish to draw attention to the fact that this article was not reviewed by nor approved by either the National Patriot Guard Riders or the New York Patriot Guard Riders and the opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and may or may not reflect the attitudes and opinions to these two fine organizations.
Video courtesy of ALL41Wolf - http://www.youtube.com/user/ALL41Wolf
Comments(2):
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Patriot Guard Riders
Monday, August 02, 2010 Hairy
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Patriot Guard Riders
Tuesday, August 03, 2010 Jim