Free Republic

Remember that student who was told to take the American flag off of his bike because tolerance or racism or George Bush or whatever? Yeah. Try telling that to all of these folks, California. For those without video, 13 year old Cody Alicea was escorted to Denair Middle School by veterans and bikers, all proudly flying the American flag on their bikes

If you're able, please support his young man and his family. Staging at the funeral home in Canton, Georgia on 2/23 at 7:45 a.m. The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Pfc. Jason H. Estopinal, 21, of Dallas, Ga., died Feb. 15 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the II Marine Expeditionary Force public affairs office at...

On Nov. 11, we observe Veterans Day to honor those who have served our country in the military and protected our way of life. Kansans can be proud that our state has a long history of supporting our country's veterans in gratitude for their service. These stories have and will continue to inspire people of our state, and nation, to do great things for those who sacrifice on our behalf. The Veterans Day holiday was founded by one of Kansas' own. Alvin King, of Emporia, proposed that Armistice Day be changed to recognize and honor veterans from all wars and...

There should be U.S. flags as far as the eye can see at Minnesota's Camp Ripley on Sunday. The Minnesota Patriot Guard says it's aiming for the longest known flag line in honor of military veterans during the base's open house. Flag lines are formed by people holding flags on poles a set distance apart. They are sometimes seen at soldier funerals to provide a buffer between those grieving and protesters. Patriot Guard members, many of whom ride motorcycles, are hoping for at least 2,000 participants.

Sergeant Charles “Leo” Wilson returns home to Ava, Missouri tonight. He has been escorted by the Patriot Guard Riders. (Thank you!) Ken just heard about this on the way home from work today. Ava is our home town. Upon checking the Funeral Home web page, we discovered that his niece was in our graduating class and Ken worked with his nephew. The funeral will be Saturday and God willing, we will be there. Thanks, once again, to all our veterans and their families. We don't have words to adequately tell how we appreciate your sacrifice. Link below gives more information...

GULFPORT — The Patriot Guard Riders are preparing to honor Army Staff. Sgt. Johnny Roosevelt Polk as a hero when he is returned to Gulfport for burial. The Department of Defense Monday said Polk, 39, who grew up in North Gulfport, died July 25 at a German hospital from wounds he suffered when his vehicle was struck by an anti-tank grenade on July 23 in Kirkuk, Iraq. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, at Fort Hood, Texas, and died supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Funeral arrangements are incomplete....

Mods, please move this thread if it doesn't belong in news. Georgia has been hit hard with the loss of 3 heroes in Afghanistan. All missions are in and around the Atlanta area. Rome, Peachtree City and Gainsville. This means the Guard will be stretched rather thin for all these missions. If any of you can attend, all the PGR mission threads containing details are located in the Georgia Forum. The link is: http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/profiles?location=58 You need not ride a motorcycle nor do you have to be a member of PGR to participate in honoring these heroes. I'll be going to...

I know tomorrow is a week day, but if any N. Ga. Freepers are able to attend, it would be greatly appreciated. You need not ride a motorcycle to participate, you can arrive in car or truck: DoD Identifies Army Casualties The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died June 4 near Kapisa, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 108th Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard,...

In conjuntion with www.freerepublic.com, The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Patriot Guard (AR), and Alerts Secure Arkansas is planning a huge rally to support our military. It will be held on Thursday, June 4th, at 4 p.m., in front of the Army-Navy Recruiting Station at Ashley Square, corner of Reservoir Road and Rodney Parham in Little Rock (. This is an emergency rally to show respect for our troops and let them know we mourn the loss of soldier William Long and the wounding of soldier Quinton Ezeagwula. Please bring your Flags, yellow ribbons, and signs. For more...

On Tuesday, May 12, we will be escorting Spec. Ryan C. King from the funeral home in Dallas, Georgia to the National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia. Spec. King was killed in action in Afghanistan on May 1. If any FReepers would like to join us for this mission, you are more than welcome. You need not be a PGR member to ride with us, and you need not ride a motorcycle. Staging information for this mission is as follows: TUESDAY May 12 Staging at Ingles Supermarket (270 Merchants Sq. Dallas, GA 30132) at 0900. Kickstands up at 0945 We will...

Midland, Texas - It was a big night at Midland International Airport where marine helicopter units and a local soldier were welcomed home.

On motorcycles and in a pickup, the Patriot Guard Riders on Monday escorted Spc. Frank Cheatham and more than 100 other soldiers from a Dyersburg armory along their first step to deployment in Iraq. Cheatham, of Hornbeak, Tenn., celebrated his 35th birthday with final hugs to his wife, two daughters, son, mother and sister in the chill morning air. The farewells came early and too quickly for Cheatham and his family. He returned from the Middle East fewer than six months ago, said his wife, Miki, 35. "He left on our anniversary last time," she said. One daughter, Madison, 13,...

Several people have been coming regularly to counter the vigil by Code Pink leftists in Orange County California. Some of them are part of the Patriot Guard organization. The Code Pinks come on Wednesdays at 5:30 PM. The vigil is at the Orange Circle, Chapman and Glassell, in the city of Orange California.

A glimpse inside the heart of scary-motorcycle-rider guy I am in the frozen food section of a grocery store, dazed in that Technicolor way that settles when we're faced with 14 kinds of margarine to choose from. I'm staring at the boxes when I catch sight of a man in a jacket. It is superb, covered with patches and insignias, drab and worn in all the right places. It is so perfectly aged, it looks like a something from the wardrobe department of a Hollywood movie. The man wearing it could also have stepped from a movie set -- he's...

Bicyle Rage Boy spews hate-America whines to Patriot Guard Rider Ted, who patiently attempts to educate him.photo by Mrs Trooprally WASHINGTON, DC, February 8, 2008— This week's FReep featured a welcome visit by two Patriot Guard Riders who had been in the Walter Reed hospital delivering hand-fashioned eagle-head canes to recovering wounded troops. As well, a youngish leftie who claimed to be a former Marine shouted hate-America slogans as he cycled by the FReep, but was directly engaged by one of the Patriot Guard and several FReepers, who patiently took the time to listen to his rant and tried to...

This is the final Itinerary for the Patriot Guard Mission to honor SPC Keisha M. Morgan, USA, 25, Washington, DC, who gave all on February 22, 2008. It is a go, all contacts have been made. This is a two-part mission. Your ride captain is Kevin Rock, who can be reached at (410) 867-8882. Part I - Sunday, March 2, 2008: 1345 hrs Staging at the Centre at Forestville in front of JC Penny’s on the corner of MD-Rte-4 and Donnell Drive just inside the beltway. From the beltway I-95 take exit-11, MD-Rte-4-North/Washington. Take your second right - Donnell Drive....

The Patriot Guard Riders as a group will not be at Berkeley, The “PGR” is not a protest organization. I have a need to clarify the numerous incorrect references to The “PGR”. The “PGR” 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 friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors. We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means. The...

Thousands waited outside the Flour Bluff entrance to Naval Air Station-Corpus Christie, expecting a confrontation with the members of the Westboro Baptist Church members, but they never came. The crowd instead showed support for U. S. Soldiers.

Homophobic Church Group to Picket Navy Air Station Members of a radical Kansas church who say God punished three Navy officers killed in the recent helicopter crash are planning to picket outside Naval Air Station-Corpus Christi. Members of the infamous Westboro Baptist Church believe God punished the officers because of the sins of the nation. Picketing is set to start at noon Saturday at the main gate at SPID and NAS Drive in Flour Bluff. Church members are expected to carry signs that read "God Hates the Nation," and to thank God for the Jan. 16 helicopter crash that claimed...

The inbreds in the ACLU buddy, hate cult have decided to picket outside Camp LeJeune in order to spread their message of hating homosexuals. Of course this is predictable of them now, yet still no less disgusting. They are protesting at the funeral of the recently murdered Marine. Yes, the pregnant one that the media has been talking about so much. What this murdered Marine's death has to do with gays, nobody knows, but somehow in this cult's attention seeking, twisted minds I'm sure they think it does somehow. What do these freaks think of her death? They think it...

Playing taps for Sheila Clarkson Patriot Guard, Army Reservists honor local resident The engines from dozens of Harley-Davidsons slice through the howl of the strong south wind Saturday afternoon at Mt. Calvary Cemetery long before the Patriot Riders slip into view. Riding two abreast, the Patriots are clad in their signature black leather vests, each adorned with patches reflecting their service to country.

Jim Doyle held a wooden frame displaying the numerous medals showing his service in World War II. Many would call him a hero, but that does not change his own perception. The Pearl Harbor survivor — who will join other survivors at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 7, on the footsteps of the Capitol Building to honor those who lost their lives more than 66 years ago — talked about the true heroes. "I don't think doing my duty makes me a hero," Doyle said. "I think the real heroes are the kids who got killed and never came back." Doyle...

Albert Snyder of York, Pa., the father of a Westminster Marine who was killed in Iraq, today won his case in a Baltimore federal court against members of Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church who protested at his son's funeral last year. The jury of five women and four men awarded Snyder $2.9 million in compensatory damages. The amount of punitive damages to be awarded has not yet been decided. The jury deliberated for about two hours yesterday and much of today.

About 80 people gathered in Poncha Springs Sunday for a war rally supporting the U.S. military and to help propel them toward victory in Iraq. Sponsored by mayors of Buena Vista, Poncha Springs and Salida, the rally began about noon in Chipeta Park. Supporters moved inside to the second floor of the town hall at about 12:30 p.m. when snow flurries began. Rally participants, including about 12 war veterans, arrived from Chaffee, Fremont, and Saguache counties and Colorado Springs. Buena Vista Mayor Cara Russell spoke to the crowd before the rally moved inside. She recited a quote by 18th Century...

A victory rally supporting U.S. military personnel will be held in Chipeta Park on Burnett Street in Poncha Springs from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 21. The rally will be cosponsored by mayors Cara Russell of Buena Vista, Mark Thonhoff of Poncha Springs and Danny Knight of Salida. To demonstrate support, rally participants will have an opportunity to sign holiday cards for troops and donate items to be sent to active military personnel. In addition, attendees can learn about such military support organizations such as Soldiers' Angels, Patriot Guard and Homes for Our Troops.

12 Heroes supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Jan. 20, 2007 when "Easy 40", the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter they were in, crashed. These Heroes have been honored in their home towns, and they are now to be honored as a group with a common burial in the hallowed ground of Arlington National Cemetery, with calling hours from 1800-2000 hours on 11 October at Murphy's Funeral Home in Arlington, VA and burial services from the Old Chapel at Ft. Meyer on 12 October at approximately 0900 hours. PGR will stand tall and honor these Heroes Who Stood...

A Virginia man was killed Wednesday night in a motorcycle crash that forced the southbound lanes of U.S. 501 outside of Conway closed for hours, Horry County officials said. Brad Duane Winchester, 55, of Alexandria, Va., was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, said Horry County Deputy Coroner Tony Hendrick. Another victim, a woman also from Virginia, was seriously injured in the same incident, Hendrick said.

The Cindy Sheehan-inspired dingbats descending on the city this weekend are infinitely more outraged by a pair of panties being placed on the head of a virgin-seeking terrorist than by a virgin-seeking terrorist placing a steak knife to the neck of an infidel, while chanting, "Praise be to Allah." This passes as a thoughtful position on the part of the losers, nut jobs, socialists, communists and revolutionaries aligned with ANSWER, Code Pink and the loony left of Hollywood. All they are saying is give a suicide bomber a chance. These wackos live with a conundrum. As much as they hate...

So it's Monday, 9:30, and I'm heading from the building I work in to a staff meeting in another building a couple miles away. I'm eastbound on College Boulevard in south Overland Park, Kansas, coming up on Metcalf. And right there at the corner what to wondering eyes should appear but group of maybe 5 or 6 people with brightly colored placards, all talking about how God hates fags and God hates America. Fred Phelp’s crew, out in ‘force’. They were a motley looking crew, sweating in the humid weather, waving their cards around. A couple of Overland Parks’ finest...

LOCUST FORK, Ala. (AP) - A Patriot Guard rider was killed this morning in a motorcycle crash while on his way to honor a Locust Fork soldier killed in Iraq. State Trooper Curtis Summerville says 57-year-old Paul S. Robbins of Prattville died at the scene when the motorcycle and truck collided. The driver of the truck was transported to the hospital with injuries. The 10:07 a.m. collision happened on Blount County 13 between Alabama 160 and Alabama 79, a few miles north of Locust Fork. Robbins was among other Patriot Guard riders on their way to a medal ceremony for...

A small group of protesters failed to disrupt funeral services in Clayton yesterday for a soldier who was killed in Iraq this month. Veterans, Boy Scouts and area residents, many waving American flags, lined the street outside St. Catherine of Siena Church, where the funeral service was held for Pfc. David J. Bentz 3d.

CLAYTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- A small group of protesters failed to disrupt funeral services held Friday for a South Jersey soldier who was killed in Iraq earlier this month. Veterans, Boy Scouts and area residents, many waving American flags, lined the street outside St. Catherine of Siena Church, where the funeral service was held for Pfc. David J. Bentz III. Bentz, 20, a 2004 graduate of Clayton High School, was killed June 20 when his Army vehicle was struck by enemy fire in Baghdad. Before Bentz was laid to rest in Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery, military officials posthumously...

Post pics,news,speeches on the Gathering of Eagles - These Colors Don't Run, Pro Troop Rally

2 Hour special show on ABC tonight.

if you can, please try and attend this mission..You don't need to ride a bike, simply roll in your cage (car, truck, etc..) God Bless this young man..

It has been eight days since Robert Jordan sat at the funeral of his son Alex, a 31-year-old Army soldier killed in Iraq. The funeral was held amid much media attention because of the presence of religious extremists who have achieved a strange notoriety by choosing military funerals to make their point, regardless of the cruelty inflicted on grieving families. Robert Jordan hardly mentions them when speaking of all the people who have entered his life since the death of his son, their decency reducing thoughtless cruelty to insignificance. They stretch across generations, connected by threads of war and service,...

The family of an Aberdeen Maryland serviceman killed in Iraq is asking for help against protesters trying to disrupt his funeral this Saturday. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class David Roddy of Aberdeen, was killed while disarming improvised explosive devices in Al Anbar Province in Iraq. He was a sailor, a son, a husband, and a father to 3 young children. He had told his kids he would be home for Christmas. Westboro Baptist Church, an extremist group whose web site speaks for itself (WARNING-EXTREME MATERIAL) http://www.godhatesfags.com/main/index.html will picket the funeral of Petty Officer 2nd Class David S. Roddy - at...

Quick and intense. That's how Emily J.T. Perez performed on the track, one coach said - and the same could be said for the rest of her short life. She was a star student and talented athlete. She was a captain of her high school track team and a leader at her alma mater, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. She helped start an AIDS ministry at her church. A 23-year-old soldier from Fort Washington in Prince George's County, 2nd Lt. Emily J.T. Perez was killed while on duty in Al Kifl, Iraq, on Sept. 12. A Medical Service...

Just got a call from Race Bannon. He was at the wake for Marine Lance Corporal Philip Johnson. The funeral is tomorrow. He was told by law enforcement that the Fred Phelps group God Hates Fags has a permit to protest the funeral tomorrow.A peaceful, patriotic, supportive presence for the family would surely be appreciated. Local article with street closings: Click here.

The funeral for LCpl Golla is going to be held on Saturday, September 16th 2006. Are there any FReepers in the NC area who plan on riding with the Patriot Guard Riders to show their respect for LCp. Golla? Lance Cpl. Cliff K. Golla, 21, of Charlotte, N.C., died Sept. 1 from wounds received while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. I am writing to tell all FReepers to keep the family of this young man, who made the...

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - A Marine from New Jersey has been killed during combat operations in Iraq, the Defense Department said. Pfc. Vincent M. Frassetto, 21, of Toms River, N.J., was killed in Al Anbar province Thursday, according to a news release. Frassetto graduated from Toms River High School North in 2003 and joined the Marines a little more than a year later. For his service in Iraq, he received the Global War on Terror service medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, out...

What a minister called "literally thousands of people" lined the streets of four towns in St. Francois and Washington counties for a funeral procession Sunday afternoon for a Desloge soldier killed by a grenade blast last month in Iraq. The four-mile procession snaked through Farmington, Frankclay and Desloge to a cemetery in Irondale, where Army Staff Sgt. Michael Deason was buried. Deason, 28, was killed Aug. 31 in Ad-Dwar, Iraq, when a grenade hit his Humvee and ripped through his body armor, military officials said. Deason, a member of the 101st Airborne Division, died just a week before wrapping up...

Members of the Westboro Baptist Church found themselves outnumbered Sunday when they arrived to protest the funeral of U.S. Army Spc. Chris Sitton. A phalanx of flags held by more than 100 Patriot Guard Riders and volunteers stood between them and the grounds of Montrose High School, as people chanted the Pledge of Allegiance and more than 20 police officers monitored the scene. But Sara Phelps said she didn't care what others thought. "These people hold patriotic pep rallies for these dead soldiers and this is the time to tell them, 1. Don't worship the dead. And, 2., Don't worship...

At the memorial service Saturday for Navy SEAL Marc Lee in Hood River, people commiserated with tears and smiles, mourning the loss of another young man taken from his family by the war in Iraq. But the memorial service also generated an unusual, heart-lifting moment: a long minute of applause for a group of leather-wearing men and women who rode to the service on motorcycles. These are the Patriot Guard Riders, a collection of volunteers who attend funerals and memorial services for people killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Anybody can join, but the core of the group...

St. Stephens, S.C. Family and friends came to say goodbye to a fallen Marine, laid to rest Saturday in St. Stephens. But for Sergeant John Phillips, his final day had the support of people he never could have expected. The sound of silence is usual at funerals . The sound of motorcycles is not. But this was not a usual funeral. Phillips had finally lost a 5-month battle against burns he suffered while fighting in Iraq. While clinging to life in a Texas hospital, Phillips was befriended by Michael Crowley, a member of a relatively new organization called the Patriot...

Attention Riders Mission Date: Thursday , August 24 Location: Mt. Moriah Freeman Funeral Home 105th & Holmes Rd - KC, MO Time: 11:00 AM Staging will be at: Red Bridge Shopping Center (behind Phillips 66) Red Bridge Rd & Holmes – KC, MO Staging will open at: 0800 hrs Mission Briefing at: 0900 hrs Depart for Funeral at: 0920 hrs Soldiers Angels will be present with water and possibly doughnuts. The Red Bridge Shopping Center has all facilities needed for Restrooms, Coffee, Gas, etc. Due to possible traffic congestion and direction for out of town riders (and locals as well)...

For those of you who hadn't heard about this, it's beyond words..I'm enclosing additional links for you.. http://patriotguard.org/Forums/tabid/61/forumid/18/postid/173924/view/topic/Default.aspx http://www.wtvm.com/Global/story.asp?S=5243277 http://www.sltrib.com/ci_4139760 http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/politics/15207586.htm

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,...

Body of Lubbock Soldier Returns Home The body of fallen soldier Andrew Velez has returned to Lubbock. The military transport plane carrying Velez` body arrived in Lubbock just after 4 p.m. Wednesday. Family members were there to meet the plane, while a hearse transported the body to Resthaven. Meanwhile, members of a radical religious group from Kansas plan to picket Thursday night`s memorial service for Velez. But another group has been invited to help silence the protesters` anti-war message. The Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas claims the soldiers are dying because God is punishing America for tolerating homosexuality. As...

Eagle Washington Bureau WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate late Thursday passed a resolution commending the Patroit Guard riders for shielding mourning military families from protesters, for preserving the memory of fallen service members and for preserving the dignity of their funerals. The Patriot Guard motorcycle group started in Kansas shield military families from protests led by the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka at military funerals. Sens. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Kent Conrad, D-N.D., introduced the resolution which passed with no objection under Senate "unanimous consent" rules. "I am pleased the Senate acted quickly to recognize the volunteers of the Patriot...