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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.

PARIS, TX -- The body of a North Texas Marine killed in Afghanistan was returned home Thursday. Thousands of people lined the streets of Paris to honor Marine Sgt. Jay Hoskins. Josh Stevenson has more. The flag-draped coffin of Marine Sgt. Jay Hoskins was met by thousands of people Thursday. Some were waiting outside the airport. Others stood and waited along the side of the road, waving American flags, wanting to pay tribute to one of their own who died fighting for their freedom. "Nobody wants to see our troops in harm’s way, but if that's where they are, then...

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...

The family of CPT C. Joseph Rosbert has asked the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) to stand in honor for this WWII Flying Tiger Ace as he is laid to his final rest on the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) on 06 August, 2009 at approximately 1500 hours from the ANC Administration building, with services at the Columbarium. PGR will be there, standing tall silent and proud in honor of this Hero and his family, friends and comrades at arms. The mission plan follows this brief biographical sketch of our Hero. From the family: "American Volunteer Group "Flying Tigers"...

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,...

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...

Military Funeral Escort Attacked by kentucky drivers on I 75 North near Lima, Ohio. Hearse, casket and the fallen's family nearly crashed in an accident. Only by the grace of God were all spared from this nonsense and meaningless violence brought about for unknown reasons on this day. A Tri- State Military Escort Team began it's mission at 05:00 from Marshall , IL to return a fallen Afghanistan War troop to his home for final burial services. From Marshall through Indianapolis, IN through Richmond ,Indiana even through Dayton , Ohio all went very well. Thousands of Americans lined the escort...

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 2, 2009 – Members of the Patriot Guard Riders participated in homecoming ceremonies for Indiana National Guard units at Lucas Oil Stadium here Jan. 31. More than 100 volunteers and Patriot Guard Riders from the 120th Public Affairs Detachment participate in homecoming ceremonies for Air and Army National Guard units at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Jan. 31, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Darren Salzer  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. More than 100 volunteers from the group walked the perimeter of the field carrying U.S. flags before standing guard as more than 3,100 Indiana soldiers...

As the white Honda Ridgeline slowly motored up the Laiers' driveway Friday, a crowd of at least 75 people waved American flags, cheered and held posters with blunt — but heartfelt — messages, such as "Army Dudes Rock." Phil Laier sat in the back seat with a puzzled expression, cautiously waving to everyone who came out to support the 20-year-old U.S. Army specialist who was receiving a hero's welcome after having spent most of the past 15 months in Iraq and Kuwait."I really was just hoping to come and eat some chili, take a shower and go to bed, but...

At this time of year there are festive decorations throughout the land — in homes, schools, businesses, shopping malls, and government buildings. But, this Saturday, Dec. 13, just 12 days before Christmas, there will be a different kind of decorating taking place marking a much different tribute. Known as "Wreaths Across America," these decorations are for the tens of thousands who made the ultimate sacrifice so that this nation can remain "the land of the free." Wreaths will be placed on the graves of fallen military veterans in cemeteries and at monuments from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from...

A cemetery is a lonely piece of property, and another hero is coming home. A black hearse carried the body of a veteran, a day that almost didn't happen. Bruce Harris says, "The word indigent and veteran should never go together." But for three months, they did. In a flag draped coffin surrounded by military, is Edward Matheisen. A life that began Christmas day in 1924, and ended this past Halloween. He was 83-years-old when he died broke and alone. Bruce Harris, with the Pantry of Broward, told CBS4's Jim Robinson, "Anyone in that passing phase needs to be accompanied." The Pantry of...

Patriot Guard Riders Honor Troops and Country

Free Republic Exclusive Fred Phelps, leader of the "God-hates-faXs" movement, is planning on crashing the funeral of one of our War Dead on July 4th. Why? To spread his message of anti-homosexual SPAM in the most inappropriate way imaginable. There's a time and a place for everything. He's a publicity whore, as far as I'm concerned. Here are snips from an earlier FR Report: "A SF SGT E-5, James Stewart, will be buried in St. Petersburg, Florida on July 4, 2005. It's wholly appropriate that he be buried on our nation's birthday, because Sergeant Stewart gave his life for our...

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...

CINCINNATI -- A two-day schedule of memorial services for a fallen Clermont County soldier will require military precision to successfully pull off. Sgt. Matt Maupin’s remains will arrive Saturday morning around 8 a.m. at the main runway at Lunken Airport, where his family will spend some private time together on the tarmac. A procession will bear his remains along state Route 32, which has already been decorated with yellow ribbons, through Newtown.

Having heard talk of "God hates Soldiers" protesting the funeral of hero, Matt Maupin, whose remains have been recently restored to his family, I went to the devil's den at Westboro's website and found confirmation. From Phelps' own website, which I won't link to, because I don't want to give him traffic, comes this gem: Great American Ball Park 100 Main This is for the funeral of Army Staff Sgt. Keith M. Maupin. Thank God for another Dead Soldier! Whoohoo! That is some goodness right there! One item that I noticed only recently comes from Matt's family, and is information...

Bay Area Brothers Welcomed Home from Iraq Written by Melanie Morgan    Friday, 11 April 2008 This story makes my heart skip a beat. Two brothers, both Marines, serving their country in Iraq, came home safely to the San Francisco Bay Area last night. And they were greeted as heroes at the airport by the Patriot Guard Riders, EaglesUP West Coast coordinator Doug Lyvere, family and soon- to- be friends. KPIX News covered it here.250 people showed up! The Boy Scouts waited anxiously to say hello.I know that readers of this blog from the South, the Midwest and other parts...

Medals ceremony today for Hopkinton soldier killed in Vietnam An Iowa farm boy killed 41 years ago in Vietnam still speaks to those willing to listen. Cpl. Kenneth Jurgens, whose memory will be honored tonight by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, spoke to his own family on the day of his funeral, nine days after a sniper's bullet killed him, through a letter left unmailed on his bunk before his last mission. And the intact collection of all 27 letters Jurgens wrote to his parents during his 10-month Army career still provides penetrating insights into the mind-set of a duty-bound draftee...

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...

Decades ago, they came home to a country that had lost faith in them and their mission. "We didn't lose the war in the jungles," Roy Burns said. "We lost it here on our streets." Now Vietnam veterans Burns and Bill Reynolds are making sure that the troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan don't have the same experience they did when they came back to the United States. Reynolds and Burns hosted a "Support Our Troops Rally" Saturday to proclaim their support for the soldiers overseas and the mission in the Middle East. "You can't have one without the other,"...

Before you blow your top about the holiday hassle at the airport, the long lines at the grocery store, all the hours you'll spend cooking and cleaning, the uninvited guests who are crashing hubby's football party, and the endless Christmas shopping list that awaits, just stop. Stop and think of the Johnson family. Army Spec. John Austin Johnson of El Paso, Texas, is recovering from massive head wounds sustained in an attack involving an improvised explosive device. Spec. Johnson is a member of Fort Bliss' 4-1 Cavalry. He had survived five previous bombing incidents. That is not all. Earlier this...

Riders recognize troops,familiesNo soldier, Marine, sailor or airman should leave home to serve his country or return home without at least having the chance to be honored by the Patriot Guard Riders, says a local officer of the national organization. "There have been a number of people who've contacted us after the fact to say a family member in the military had come home, and they didn't know how to get a hold of us," said Newburgh resident Rick Williams, of one of Southwest Indiana's four Patriot Guard ride captains. Riding motorcycles or driving cars, the Patriot Guard Riders show...

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.

RADCLIFF — Members of gay-bashing Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., plan to picket the funeral Saturday of Pfc. Sammie Phillips. The group will protest before services begin at 2 p.m. at Stithton Baptist Church in Radcliff, according to a news release that also features biblical quotations and interpretations. The church advised Radcliff police of its plans. Organizers asked the department to designate an area for 10 church members to picket, police spokesman Bryce Shumate said. They will be restricted to an area across Dixie Boulevard and about 300 feet away from the church. The Patriot Guard Riders also will...

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...

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...

A motorcycle ride will be held this weekend to remember three Minnesota National Guard soldiers killed in Iraq and to raise money for a scholarship in their name. The second annual LTD Ride will be held Saturday. LTD stands for Jesse Lhotka of Appleton, Jason Timmerman of Tracy and David Day of St. Louis Park. The three were killed in a roadside bomb attack in Iraq on Feb. 21, 2005. Organizers hope to raise $25,000 for a scholarship fund and $5,000 to send disabled veterans on a deer hunt at Camp Ripley.

A crowd of people put their hands over their hearts, saluted and thrust flags in the air as the slow procession of Cpl. Joseph Anzack Jr.'s white, silver-trimmed, horse-drawn hearse made its way through the streets of Torrance on Friday. Many stood outside their homes to honor a man who made the ultimate sacrifice in military duty, and to mourn with his family.. Cpl. Joseph Anzack Jr. Complete ArticleProcession slideshow

Quoted from a posting I found at DC Indy Media: "It would be a real shame if the expensive custom paint on one of these bikes ended up with, say, Inca's tag keyed into the gas tank and a lot of nice chrome accessories as well as the spark plug wires missing at 3 AM. Riding while drunk and literally "getting smashed" would be an even bigger shame!" http://dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/139196/index.phpEAGLES UP!

LONG BEACH - Friends, family and fellow servicemen remembered Staff Sgt. Joshua Whitaker on Tuesday as a great American hero. "Josh wanted to be the best of the best," said long-time friend Matt Miller at Whitaker's funeral, held at Parkcrest Christian Church in Long Beach. Whitaker, a decorated Green Beret and former Millikan High School student, died from enemy small-arms fire during a firefight on May 15 near Qalat, Afghanistan, the Army said. He was 23 years old. ....."Seven days ago we were ambushed (in Afghanistan)," he said. "Josh died defending myself and the other two members (of the unit)....

LONG BEACH - More than 200 friends and family packed into Vision Misionera, a small Spanish church on Elm Avenue, for a funeral service to honor Spc. Astor Sunsin-Pi eda Saturday morning. The 20-year-old combat engineer was killed May 2 when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device in Baghdad, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Monday, March 19, 2007 Leftists Supporting the Troops Discovered by a reader at Indymedia, this was the scene yesterday in Portland, Oregon, as “anti-war” demonstrators burned not only a US flag, but a US soldier in effigy. http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=24853_Leftists_Supporting_the_Troops&only

This is an AAR from the General Discussion Forum on AR15.com with some great pics. Just click on the links and you'll see them. "I was proud to attend today's "Gathering of Eagles" (GOE) counter-protest to the large anti-war march to the Pentagon and was pleased find the attendance by many loyal veterans and Americans. Those carrying American flags and backing our men and women in uniform arrived and participated in very large numbers. I was impressed and pleased. The dingbats were also in very large numbers and behaved shamefully. They didn't do so without direct, loud and clear commentary...

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

March 17 Weekend Weather Forecast as of Sunday, March 11Friday, cloudy, in mid 50s daytime, Friday night into Saturday, upper 30s. Saturday, cloudy, low 40s daytime, Sat. night into Sunday, upper 20s. Rain is forecast Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The rain forecast movement is towards Tuesday, not towards the weekend, so just expect cooler weather. Hopefully it will get a little warmer.

            FIRST SET OF CARAVAN PICTURES ARE IN! THURSDAY, MARCH 8TH San Francisco, California Lafayette, California Vacaville, California Sacramento, California Stockton, California Fresno, California Bakersfield, California FRIDAY, MARCH 9TH Bakersfield, California Los Angeles, California Palm Springs, California Palm Desert, California SATURDAY, MARCH 10TH Blythe, California Phoenix, Arizona

Wagoner - Funeral services for an area Marine brought protests from a controversial Kansas church. It happened in Wagoner, where Lance Corporal Geoffrey Fisher was remembered by family, friends and even strangers. Law enforcement hoped for the best and prepared for the worst when they heard protestors would show up. They came, but were silenced by the sounds of hundreds of motorcyclists. It was a carefully planned farewell for Lance Corporal Geoffrey Fisher. Bikers like Terry Latta with the Patriot Guard Riders led the white hearse. "Mainly the reason we're here is to support the family and pay our respects...

The communist, pro-terrorist group International ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) seems to realize they are facing a hot LZ on March 17. ANSWER has made significant changes in their plans since their initial announcement that they would hold their ‘antiwar’ rally at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Last week they changed the location of their rally from Constitution Gardens (East side of the Vietnam Memorial) to a park one block west of Memorial on Henry Bacon Drive. Yesterday, ANSWER announced they are only going to use the Henry Bacon Drive park as a meeting point for their...

Sent: Saturday, March 03, 2007 7:08 AM Subject: Just 5 Days Until Launch of Caravan! Pro-Troop supporters... so little time remains, and so much work needs to be done, before we launch the historic "THESE COLORS DON'T RUN" national patriotic, pro-troop caravan.  We've collected over 500 American Flags so far - and the caravan hasn't even begun.  Here's a picture of just some of the flags we've already received:[Note:  These flags have been put on tables or on displayboxes and racks.  None of them are touching the ground!]We need everyone's help - every single person reading this can pitch in.We've...

Okay, so my room is booked at the Quality Inn Iwo Jima. I think this thread could serve as a way for everybody to link up at their respective hotels, and make it to where we're needed as a group, safely. I'm sure there will be plenty of first-timers going to D.C., it's also my first. Let's use this as a resource to pool everybody's knowledge together so we can travel efficiently. I don't run a ping list nor do I know how to do so, but let's try to spread something like this throughout our little coalition so everybody...

March On the Pentagon March 17, 2007 Washington, D.C. On March 17, 2007 a group of anti-war protestors are planning to march to the Pentagon from Washington, D.C. The March 17th anti-war demonstration will assemble at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Constitution Gardens) at 12 noon in Washington, D.C. and march to the Pentagon. In order to ensure that the Wall and other Memorials in the general area are not defaced, like what happened at the anti-war demonstration at the U.S. Capitol on January 27th. I am requesting that as many Rolling Thunder, Inc. chapters, members and supporters that can make...

The people of the United States want an end to the war in Iraq. The elections in November were a clear repudiation of the Bush administration's war of aggression. The new Congress, however, has no intention of ending the war. Bush and the Pentagon generals are determined to prolong the war. Tens of thousands of more troops will be sent to Iraq. We are building a massive antiwar movement on the national and local level. Only the action of the people will stop the war. We are returning to the Pentagon because the Iraq war has resulted in more than...

The purpose of this thread will be to pool our resources and ideas to counter the attempted take-over of our nation’s capital and foreign policy. It is not the place to voice your disgust with those that feel it is necessary to present a street presence to counter the dregs of society seeking to undermine and destroy our country and our leadership. If that is your purpose, please move along. On January 27, 2007, Thunder90 posted a thread to advise us of the next convergence on our nations capital by the anti-American hate-mongers. This gives us SEVEN WEEKS to organize...

The Gathering of Eagles: A public service announcement By Michelle Malkin   ·   February 28, 2007 10:19 AM Click here for video of Michelle's public service announcement From my column today: How many times have you sat in front of the TV over the last four years, watching anti-war activists march on Washington, chase the ROTC off your local college campus, vandalize war memorials, insult the troops and wreak havoc under the surrender banner? How many times have you thought to yourself: What can I do? Here is the answer: Get off the sofa and join the Gathering of Eagles on...

Decades ago, we expected total victory against the Germans and the Japanese. We demanded it, for we knew what anything less would bring to our homeland--and yes, it was our homeland, regardless of our place of birth. We were united, together in the absolute, unshakeable belief that freedom was worth blood, even our own lives. Many years later, the American Left called for the defeat and humiliation of our military, even going so far as to support the barbaric hordes of Islam in their quest to destroy America. The college-age hippies of 1969 were now parents and grandparents, with families...

WBC is going to protest the funeral of Tech. Sgt. Scott E. Duffman at 9:15 PM on Friday March 2nd at Arlington National Cemetary. They are going to display their usual hateful signs and their anti-American antics. These creeps are attacking those who gave their lives defending us all, and their families who are suffering from the loss of a loved one.

From Code Pink's calendar for March 17th: Saturday, March 17: 11:00 am - Join CODEPINK for a Women's Convergence for the March on the Pentagon Join tens of thousands of people from around the country to march from the Mall to the Pentagon in a mass demonstration to demand: U.S. Out of Iraq Now! 2007 is the 40th anniversary of the historic 1967 anti-war march to the Pentagon during the Vietnam War. Location: SW corner of 17th and Constitution NW, next to WWII Memorial and the Pond. We will join the March on the Pentagon Rally at 21st and Constitution...