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Posted on 12/25/2005 6:54:01 AM PST by paltz
Several people have asked how the Patriot Guard Riders got started. Here’s what we’ve been able to piece together. If anyone can give us more details, it would be greatly appreciated.
It all started back in early August of 2005 with the American Legion Riders chapter 136 from Kansas. They were appalled to hear that a fallen hero’s memory was being tarnished by misguided religious zealots who were protesting at funerals. They decided to do something about it. At the ALR 136 August meeting, Director : Chuck " Pappy " Barshney appointed members, Terry “Darkhorse” Houck, Cregg “Bronco 6” Hansen, Steve “McDaddy” McDonald, and Bill ”Wild Bill” Logan to form a committee to strategize and form a battle plan to combat Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church.
When they heard that the WBC was going to protest at the Funeral of Sgt. John Doles in Chelsea, Oklahoma, they established a Mission Statement, which included getting the families permission and contacting Law Enforcement and other Motorcycle Groups in Oklahoma. They agreed that their ultimate goal was to get veterans and motorcycle organizations involved in every state so that each state could handle the situation internally and not rely on other states to do the job. They were very successful in mustering riders to honor Sgt. Doles and limiting the intrusion by the WBC.
After the Chelsea Mission the Kansas American Legion Riders wanted all Motorcycle Groups/ Organizations to be recongnized . On the 18th of Oct. 2005 the Patriot Guard name was established and was announced on the 27th of Oct. ,2005 to the 100 + motorcyclists present at the Tonganoxie Mission to Honor Spc Lucas Frantz .
Following the missions in South Haven, KS and a later ride in Edmond, OK, Jeff “Twister” Brown, from Broken Arrow, OK, decided to do more than just ride. He saw a need to get a strong nation-wide communications and recruiting program in place. He contacted the original AL riders in Kansas and told them of his plans. They openly shared their experiences, suggestions, and encouragement. Within a matter of days, Brown had formed the Patriot Guard Riders and began a nation-wide campaign to garner support.
Similarly, after a mission ride in Greeley, CO, Hugh Knaus and Jason “Waldo” Wallin answered the call of the newly formed Patriot Guard Riders, becoming the national webmaster and communications director, respectively. Within a matter of days, a mission statement was refined and a website was built, rebuilt, and launched. A call immediately went out to individual riders and groups across the nation to join and ride with the PGR. State Captains were recruited to work more closely with the members in their area.
The growth has been phenomenal. Within a week their membership included many riders from associations like the VFW, American Legion, Rolling Thunder, ABATE, Combat Vets Motorcycle Association, Intruder Alert, Leathernecks Motorcycle Club, and almost five hundred individual riders. To the credit of Hugh and “Waldo”, the PGR website had received almost 566,000 hits in the first two weeks! Patriots from all over America and several foreign countries responded. Emails were pouring in from people wanting to support and join the newly formed PGR.
So, that’s a pretty concise picture of where we came from and where we are today. A great deal of credit goes to that small group of Kansas American Legion Riders, but none of this could have ever been accomplished without the patriot member who takes time out of their life to honor a fallen soldier and their family.
Outstanding!
Varoooom!
I wonder if they let Beemer riders participate? If they do, count me in.
I wonder if they let Beemer riders participate? If they do, count me in.
'Course you can! But, you have to use the playing cards/spokes routine, so you can make sounds like the big boyz.
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I belong the the Legion Riders , but I ride a Yamaha.
My Harley got tired and I couldnt afford $22,000 for a new one. After buying the used Cruiser Yamaha for 7 Grand I wondered what took so long. I still like the Harley better but damn: Those Japs make some great motorcycles. Two years later I just change the oil and put new tires on it.
-LOUD PIPES CLOSE ROADS-
I seriously they doubt they'd exclude you.
My Softail's an '87. Got it about 5 years ago. It's a lot like me, stubborn at times; been around, and down, at times; old; many parts worn out; but still fun at a fever pitch on good days.
I'll just close my eyes and pretend that I'm riding a HOG instead of a Honda scoot ;o)
Now I'm going to confess an ugly secret. Let's just keep this within FR. When I really want to get a quick thrill, I keep an old 2-stroke Yamaha riceburner in the garage. It sounds like Satan's weed eater and belches blue smoke, but it sure will put a silly smile on your face, real quick. There's nothing like pouring excessive quantities of gas, oil and air into a peaky 2-stroke to make you realize how small life's problems really are. Life is good. I gotta get some more synthetic oil in case a warm day comes along.
Do the shirt thing and they'll let you join. :)
That's why I can never own a hog, got no nickname.
my classic has drag pipes with no baffels
Well you can put any pipes on there you want, but here in North GA, lots of the best riding roads and even neighborhoods are being zoned 'no motorcycles allowed' or being heavily policed due to loud pipes. The non riders don't want the thunder. I got no thunder, but still I get lumped in with them.
You just uncovered the secret of ridin'. It can get to be pretty close to heaven, under the right circumstances. But, it is truly h*ll, if things go wrong. Just like life, only compacted into the time on the seat.
If the legislators really discover this true joy, it will probably be made illegal. Or maybe they'll discover what freedom is all about.
At 50 I still ride sport bikes, but I do have a callsign/nickname and lots of black motorcycle t-shirts. I think I qualify.
Is the American Motorcycle Association stepping in on this? Its fairly hard to close public roads just for noise. That said, I am seeing more sentiment in the riding community for the phrase "Loud pipes Lose Rights"
As to private communities, Neal Boortz recently said many Atlanta neighborhoods with covenants have been going motorcycle free lately due to noise complaints.
It's not only noise, it's also stupid riders. On GA hwy 180, the twistiest road I know, every weekend has several young street racers going off the side of a hill or trying to meld their molecules with a minivan. I can appreciate the thrill of racing, but ya just can't do it on public roads in most cases. Eventually the odds are gonna get ya.
Riders need to be sure they are not making too many enemies out there. I don't really blame the rural residents for complaining because they moved out there for the peace and quiet, and they don't want to get in a wreck with some street racer. When I ride in the country, I try to respect the locals and my own mortality.
Good Guys ~ Bump!
I'm a Life Member of HOG and I ride a Suzuki, now. ;)
I'm a member of HOG and I can fit a weeks worth of groceries in my tour-pak!
Merry Christmas! :-)
You've got to be kidding me? There are neighborhoods in Georgia where it's illegal to ride a motorcycle?
Speaking of cast and laced wheels, I can remember when cast wheels were an option you payed for. I personally can't stand the things, and I was floored in '03 when I found out that cast wheels were STOCK on my Harley and I had to pay extra for laced wheels. How that got turned around is beyond me.
They are mostly neighborhoods where you wouldn't want to live anyway. Places where you can't paint your house or put in a tree without permission.
God bless these guys. Joined their website last Thursday.
I think they turned this around when they started using tubeless tires and had a hard time stopping the spoke holes from leaking air.
I think they'd lose their train of thought for a moment or two . . .
Wow. It looks like you have a ton of work into that Vespa! Do you have a (matching color-coordinated) riding suit for that?
I got a pink bicycle horn for Christmas. I also have a spare tire carrier and spare tire and wheel that I have painted pink.
After that, I'll probably ride it a while before I make further changes. I've got lots of other projects to work on. Like this one:
I love showing off.
Patriot Guard Ride – Sgt. Evan Parker, South Haven, Kansas - November 02, 2005
I knew it was going to be a long day. I pulled out of my drive at 8:00 and headed north to Caney, Kansas. In Caney, I was hooking up with Craig Winkler, a Rolling Thunder rider from Coffeyville, Kansas. From there, we planned to ride together to South Haven, Kansas to join a group called the Patriot Guard Riders. At the request of the Parker family, our goal was two-fold. We would ride to the South Haven high school; site of the funeral service for Sgt. Evan Parker, to pay our respects to a fallen soldier killed in Iraq and to prevent a small group of demonstrators from Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church from disrupting the service and adding further pain to Sgt. Parker’s family and friends. The early morning ride was cold and windy, but it would warm up nicely later in the day. As we pulled into the staging area, a truck stop a little outside of South Haven, there were only a couple of dozen bikes already there. By the time we hit the head, gassed up the bikes, and mingled a little, they started rumbling in. They came from all over the area, representing VFW and American Legion groups as well as many non-affiliated riders. By the time it was time to roll out, I’d guess there was between 150 and 200 bikes. With flags flying, we pulled into sleepy little South Haven, population 428, as law enforcement officers provided escort.
We pulled in and parked, forming a line, sometimes three to four bikes deep, along the front fence of the high school. Across the gravel street directly behind us, the group of WBC protesters were already established, holding their signs, chanting their tripe, and taunting us as we dismounted. They were small in number, only 7 or 8, ranging in age from what appeared to be about 10 to one elderly lady who looked to be in her 80’s. It was immediately obvious that they were very experienced in what they were doing. They were hoping to enrage us to the point that we would physically attack or threaten them. They want grounds for a lawsuit as well as thriving on the publicity.
That was not going to happen. For one thing, we knew their tactics, and for another, it seemed like half the law enforcement officers in the state of Kansas were there to protect their civil rights. Now, having said that, the presence of so many officers may have also had something to do with the fact that Sgt. Parker’s father was a law enforcement officer, and Sgt. Parker had hoped to follow in his father footsteps. I think it’s called respect. It was also very gratifying that, to the man and woman, every officer made it a point to walk the line of bikers, shaking our hands and thanking us for showing up.
Before anyone arrived for the funeral service, we formed a blockade, three to four bikers deep, completely obscuring the protesters from view of the high school and the mourners. We held American flags high to block their signs and whenever they would begin their chanting, we would drown them out with our own chants of “USA” and the revving of our engines. They didn’t stand a chance. After a couple of hours, they loaded into their van and were escorted out of town.
The family had asked that those of us, who could, attend the graveside service and join them for food at the Methodist church afterward. It seemed main street was the only paved road, so while the service was going on, Craig and I headed to main street to get away from the dust. We parked at the side of the road, found a shady piece of grass, and lay back and relaxed. I was amazed at how many people drove by, pulled over, and thanked us for coming. One older gentleman, a vet wearing a WWII ball cap, even got out of his car and tried to give me five dollars for dinner. I’m still not sure if that was an act of gratitude or the fact that I was covered in dust and bug guts and looked like I could use a good meal and couldn’t afford one.
When the funeral service let out, we stood beside our bikes at attention as the hearse and family cars drove past. We mounted up and pulled away from the curb, joining the group of riders heading to the cemetery. The protesters did not show up at the interment and the service was as moving as was to be expected.
After the service, riders began splitting off, heading for their respective homes. Craig and I said goodbye as he was going to try to get home before dark and I had already lost that option. Since I had had nothing to eat but a breakfast bar all day, I decided to run by the church before the family arrived and grab something before I headed back. I had just finished a wonderful bowl of homemade chicken and noodle soup and was walking toward the door when Sgt. Parker’s mother walked in, clutching the triangle flag to her breast. I stopped and dropped my head. Without hesitation, she came straight to me, wrapped her arms around my neck, and with tears streaming down her cheeks, said “Thank you, thank you for being here”. That’s all I could stand. With tears welling up, I stammered my condolences and walked from the building. I had almost three hours of riding ahead of me and it was now starting to get dark. It was a hard to ride home, but was softened by the knowledge that we had made a difference. Rest in peace Sgt. Parker, job well done.
Today's News from MSNBC - MSNBC.com
Submitted by: Jeff Brown "Twister"
Bring it on Sender! Of course we let Beemers in. Harley's are not required. Heck, I ride a Yamaha Venture Royale XVZ1300 and I know folks don't mind -- probably 'cus it carries a 3'x5' American flag so well :-)
Paltz -- thanks for the mention. FreeRepublic is a great site!
We live in Oklahoma and I am a retired police officer, I was so glad when the riders began to come to our frequently victimized state and make a showing against that nut "Phred" Phelps. I was VERY near committing an act of violence on them and especially that fat kid who always walks on the flag while he is there.
This is one "church" with a screw loose.
I just read an article about the Patriot Riders on CNN.com and being someone of religion and typically conservative, Im truly APPALLED by the way these religious nuts are acting! There is a time and a place for religion, there is a time and a place for activism, and regardless to opinions of the war, it is NOT at someones funeral! I'm extremely impressed with what you guys do and if I had a bike, I'd be there with ya!
I'm not much of motorcycle rider, but i wish all of you the best when dealing with Phelps. I don't agree a lot with the war, but these are out brothers and sisters dieing, and can't understand how anyone could be doing the things that Phelp's church is doing.
I have attended several funerals for our fallen, have not yet run into the Riders, but have run into the Phelps groups. When I do, if you will let me stand with you without a MC, I will do so proudly.
Thank you
Hey guys, I just read the CNN article too... keep up the good work...I don't have a motor cycle, my "lawn mower" is a Mini Cooper, but I am sure that I can find a CD of harley noise and run around the back, put a sidecar on too for those who can't make it home...
Speaking as a gay guy, this war isn't about how's gay or not, or about whose god is better than some other guy's god...this is no way to treat the families or the victims. felps needs to leave his issues at his own pulpit.
I don't have a motorcycle. We sold ours many years ago and my husband can't go on missions with me since he drives a tractor-trailer anyway. I'm a "cage-rider." Yep, I can take the car or the truck - not a bad thing in case a bike rider should happen to break down or something anyway.
If anyone can help me find the local chapter for my area (south central FL around Sebring), I will be there, rain, shine, snow, hurricanes, whatever. In a freaking SUV for right now. Once the inheritance clears the courts, THEN on a bike. I will not allow a vet's passing to marred by these, uhm, well, unprintable here, people.
If/when my grandfather (rtd WWII vet) passes, and these protesters show up, may the Gods have mercy on what is left of their souls because their asses will belong to me.
Contact info here: http://www.patriotguard.org/
Can someone tell me how to join a DC chapter of Patriot Guard Riders? My email is cj@soldiersperspective.us
You can join online at the PGR website. *Click here*
I have attended several funerals for our fallen, have not yet run into the Riders, but have run into the Phelps groups. When I do, if you will let me stand with you without a MC, I will do so proudly.
Thank you
I'd be right proud to have you stand alongside me, whether you have a bike or not. It's not about us....
Oh, TELL ME that you're running an old Slash-2 Bimmer! But if not, you can still run alongside my straight-piper....
Now my only Beemer is a K75C in perfect stock condition that I commute on. I also have a Yamaha RZ350 2-stroke street bike that I am having my midlife crisis on. Maybe if/when I ever retire and have more time I will think about an old Beemer again. I've been to quite a few rallies and drooled on the /2 restorations.
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