Welcome

[puckmedic]

This is the place where I will update you all on PGR events and Missions. Missions are ridden in response to a family request. I don't have a lot of time right now, but if you go to http://www.patriotguard.org

you will see the website. I will be in here later today to expalin how we get our information, how we started and why we ride.

Point #1 we are not a protest group and many of us are actually active duty folks, nearly 75 % are veterans and nearly 75% of our veterans in PGR have seen combat.

I have been on six missions and I have become good friends with a guy who was a "over paidpassenger" in an A 6 Marine Intruder in Vietnam. His call sign is his PGR tag "Merlin". Merlin and I have been on every mission together that I have been on.

Point 2 - YOU DO NOT NEED TO RIDE a motorcycle, many of opur members drive cars and trucks. In CT a retired Marine rode a horse in full ceremonial dress and then walked the horse at the funeral ahead of the hearse with the back wards boots just like the old calvary would do back in the day. One of my favorite pictures.

Point #3 We do not ever acknowledge or give any attention to any one protesting any funeral. We refer to any protest group as UG's (Uninvited Guests). PGR is always invited or we do not attend. The UGs simply show up sometimes with permits sometimes not.

We have very strict guidlines when dealing with them. Talking ot the press we never mention them. I had a reporter ask me about the protestors at one mission and I told him I was unaware of any, even though they were in the area and I knew it.

If we acknowledge them, they win media time. If we get into physical altercations, they have a camera and they get it in film then they sue and usually settle out for a fraction of the cost. This is how they buy tickets and rental cars and support their protest trips. I'll be damned if I'm going to help them do that .

We are 50,000 or so strong. We gropw every day. We need folks who can be there for the families, if you read our website and feel you can folow the simple rules, join us.

It is something you will never forget, that first mission.

Mine was in honor of CWO3 William Flanigan TN Army Air National Guard right here in my very own back yard over in Jackson TN.

[Da-Chief]

Just a FYI, "Da-Chief" is now a part of the PGR..

;-)
Later

Meet my brother Darrell and My other brother Darrell..

[puckmedic]

OK little history of the Patriot Guard Riders:

About a year ago, a group of motorcyclists decided to form a group out in Kansas to act as counter balance to a group who had been protesting funerals. This group I believe was originally very small. As word spread, the group grew.

Yesterday we added 227 members, and today alone already at 0900 eastern we have had 162 new members!

we stand right now this very minute as I write this 53, 986 strong.

PGR has two primary missions: I am going to take this right from the website




Patriot Guard Riders Mission Statement


The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverseamalgamation 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 Americanheroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives.

1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.

2.Shield the mourning family and friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors.

We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.



Now folks let me stress NON Violent here. Should we need to resort to point 2 as above, we simply turn our backs to the uninvited guests, raise our flags and present a barrier so the family does not have to read the signs these people wave. We have been very successful, and many of the old timePGR have seen the UG's pack up and leave simply by noticing us roll in. I have been on one mission where they were at the school (funeral service) and we were at the cemetary. That's as close as I got.

There has been two othe rmissions where they had permits, one they decided to skip and the other I watched them pack up and leave as soon as they saw over 150 bikes slide in to the area near the funeral home. It was a beautiful sight watching them get in the rental van and leave. It saddened me to see a small child give us the finger(and this is a supposedly strict bible interpertation church)

Should you join us, we ask that #1 be your primary thought pattern on all mission rides.

#2 will keep you from being sued(and they will sue, it's their SOP) and financing their activities. They usually get you on film and they are very good at egging you on, self control has to be better than the Royal Palace Guards in London.

[puckmedic]

How IT all works in PGR

PGR recieves DOD Notification of deaths after the family has been notified. The leadership in PGR then sends the info to the STATE RIDE CAPTAIN. He contacts a LOCAL RIDE CATAIN close to the area of the deceased's home. In the event no Ride captain can be available, some one else is designated as a ride captain.

Ride Captain at that point makes contact with the family via Casualty assistance Officer (CACO) . He or she informs the CACO of our desire to mount up in support of the family and in honor of their family member. The Ride Captain asks the family view our web site and get back to us ASAP so we can begin coordinating the mission.

When green lighted and we are indeed invited, the RC, then coordinates with funeral home, CACO, local, county and state law enforcement and local EMS.

many times RC has to educate local officials as to exactly what our mission is and that we are not protesters required to stay 500 ft away, that we are indeed invited guests and we will be riding in the funeral procession.

The RC and local PD establish a route that will be safe and will have the least impact on disrupting the local flow of traffic.

RC speaks to local EMS, and informs them if they have any medics EMTs, nurses doctors or former/ret military DOCs riding with them. Always a good idea for these types to pony up and let RC be aware they are coming.

RC and funeral director and local PD review cemetary and funeral home parking and determine where the PGR will park.

RC has to locate a large parking area to pre stage an hour to two hours from the KSU time to go to the funeral . KSU is "KICK STANDS UP" and means the bike is about to be moving. Usually the local Motorcylce store or a WAL MART allows us to stage.

RC has waiver forms for all to sign, He also is overnighted a plaque from PGR with the deceased's name engraved.

RC also handles putting out the word on changes in plans, reminds folks to bring sun screen and water or arranges cases to be donated.

RC has to be able to multi task, flow with the rolls of the whims of the family, work well with local authorities, cover lots of topics and just keep the family wishes first and formost. In the event of misunderstandings, the CACO talks to the family and lets both parties (usually happens with local PD) what the family wants.

RC could not do his job with out folks helping out and there is always some one willing to help. I help every chance I can and somebody recently tossed my name in for RC, YIKES!!!!

RC also attends the visitation the night before and actually meets the family then. He also is the presenter of the plaque.

The ultimate authority on all PGR missions is the designated RC. Even if the state ride captain is there, the mission belongs to the RC he designated.

There is no self absorbing pride, just unlimited team work and all of us ride with respect. I am deeply moved by my involvemnet with this group.