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 THE PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS on the move in Kansas |
Protecting military funerals
from civil disruptions
of TheColumnists.com
If you haven’t yet heard of the Patriot Guard Riders there isn’t much doubt that you will at some point in the future. The group’s history is short, but growing quickly.
It began in August of 2005 in Kansas with the American Legion Riders. One of the wives learned that war protestors had disrupted a soldier’s funeral. When they heard that a protest was planned for the funeral of another young sergeant they began to think of ways they might somehow ease at least a small part of the burden the family had to endure.
Their goal was to become a successful buffer between mourners and protestors at public funerals, striving always to remain within the law. It required a great deal of planning and organization as well as many meetings with the deceased’s loved ones. They also vowed to always ride a mission only at the request of the family.
The cry went out across the states for riders, and the response was phenomenal. As of today the riders number well over 160,000. Their mission statement, which is available to read online, includes, among other points, permission from Law Enforcement and an invitation from the family.
Guard members may be male or female. Participants can ride motorcycles or just walk.
A mission may mean covering many miles in all kinds of weather and all kinds of situations before members reach the actual funeral service.
Countless families of the fallen soldiers have shown their thanks for the bit of comfort the Patriot Guard brings to such a heart-wrenching ordeal.
Of the thousands of Guard members a great number are those who have only been home from the Middle East a short time. They have seen their close buddies fall and look on their participation in a “mission” for someone they may not have known as a show of sympathy and support for the mourners.
I find this rather difficult to write, as my brother, who is in his 60s, is a regular rider in the Patriot Guard. He travels many hundreds of miles a year, a pacemaker in his chest and various medical restrictions, which I pray he is keeping. He will not be happy about me bringing attention to his membership in the Guard…only because he wants all of the public attention to go to the young men who have given their all for everyone of us, as well as their families.
Many, many letters thanking the Guard for the comfort they gave during a difficult time can be found on the Internet by bringing up The Patriot Guard.
©2009 by Audrey Yeager-Moore. The caricature of Audrey Yeager-Moore is ©2001 by Jim Hummel. The photo is courtesy of The Patriot Guard Riders. This column first posted June 29, 2009.
TO ACCESS AUDREY YEAGER-MOORE'S ARCHIVE OF COLUMNS ON THIS SITE, CLICK HERE: YEAGER ARCHIVE
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