Monday, November 13, 2006

Patriot Guard Riders

I was watching the news with my dad the other day and they had a bit on there about the Patriot Guard Riders.

I'm not sure how many other people recall hearing last year about the group of motorcycle riders that stood as guards between protestors and the friends and family of fallen soldiers, but I remember something about it on the news.

On Veteran's Day the news channels had more information on the group, now known as the Patriot Guard Riders. I visited their website today and found out even more about them. Their mission statement is brief and says a lot about them:

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, 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.

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.


If you would like to find out more about the Patriot Guard Riders you can visit their website http://patriotguard.org/

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