Several months ago, the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) was planning to attend and disrupt a service member’s funeral here in Michigan. This group has taken it upon themselves stretch of permissions granted by the First Amendment to mean that insulting others beliefs is not only permissible but their life's work. Whereas I don't agree with that position, I do think that if they are allowed to do that I am allowed speak against the WBC. That was when I found out about the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR). The PGR was planning on forming a wall between the WBC and the funeral to prevent the WBC from disrupting it. I considered that worthwhile.
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 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 American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives:
- Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
- Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors.
We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.
To those of you who are currently serving and fighting for the freedoms of others, at home and abroad, please know that we are backing you. We honor and support you with every mission we carry out, and we are praying for a safe return home for all.
I became a member of the PGR and started to receive e-mail regarding their missions. Many of these missions were funerals for service members, but they also greeted returnees from Iraq and Afghanistan and also where there is say goodbye service members deploying. The problem for me was that many of these events were either short notice or during the week when I found difficult to take a day off to attend. Then I got the notice earlier this week about a dedication ceremony for a Blue Star Memorial in Union City. Not only was it on a Saturday, it was only about 18 miles away. I found my first PGR mission.
Our role was simple, we were an honor guard and we stood there. However, we were also serving as a living example of the veterans who were being honored by the Blue Star Memorial that was being dedicated on the day. Almost every speaker of the dais thanked the PGR at some point. My purpose there was to honor other veterans and I was finding myself being honored.
The history of the Blue Star Memorial and how a small Garden Club in New Jersey started this 67 years ago is worth reading. A very simple idea to honor the veterans of World War II that has now gained new traction. At some point, take a moment and check it out for yourself here.
The service itself was not very long and in the closing prayer, the minister mentioned that she hoped at some point that the Memorial would serve not as a reminder of men who served in a war but of men who had brought about peace. After it was over, we found ourselves called back for photos in front of the Memorial that had just been dedicated.
I remarked to one of the fellow PGRs that I had served in Gulf I and was a Cold War Veteran (by the way, we won) but that I had never been thanked as much during that entire period as I was during the few hours we were there. That is very true. I guess there's something to be said for the patriotism that can be found in a small-town.
I consider myself a Patriot not because of my willingness to put on a uniform to defend the ideals that I believe in -- but also a willingness to assume a new role of giving of my time to ensure that other patriots feel properly honored. I am proud to say that I am a member of the Patriot Guard Riders and that the PGR is there to ensure that those who serve are recognized, honored, and thanked. They are true patriots.