A Push for Patriot Guard participation

[bobhamlin]

With casualties in Afghanistan mounting and cold weather approaching, I just want to encourage participation in Patriot Guard Rider events.

If you need any persuasion, go to the PGR site and read the letters of appreciation from the families.

You do NOT have to be a member to help.

http://www.patriotguard.org/

[mercianbike]

A good reminder, Bob. It's tough reading some of the letters because they are so sad, especially when a young soldier leaves behind a wife and small children. It's also tough when a family member comes up and shakes your hand or gives you a hug to thank you for being there to honor their lost one.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

I just registered to become a member. It is the least I could do for my fellow servicemembers. I would expect the same. Thanks for posting this thread Bob.

[Kawhead]

Thanks Bob. I've been meaning to sign up for a while. Neal Boortz had his producer to read a very touching letter that a mother wrote who had lost her son in Afghanistan. The letter was about how reverent one of the Airlines was they flew the family and her sons body in the cargo hold.
At the time I was laid up with a busted ankle from a deer/motorcycle wreck and my Nomad was totaled and wasn't sure when I was going to find another one.

That letter was so touching describing the reverence of the passengers, the courtesy of the airline and the military escort that it brought me to tears. I choked back tears at my mama's funeral but I couldn't help this.

Again thanks for the boot to the backside. I registered before this post.

[Yellow Jacket]

I signed up today.

Thanks for the reminder.

[NyhtRyder]

I've been a member for over 2 years now. It's an awesome organization. Thanks for the post Bob.

[Jared]

I too have been a member for a while. It's a great way to give back!

[unwind2]

Member here also. Lots of folks don't realize how it works-thanks for the post.

[Cajunrider]

Bob, I get an email from PGR nearly every day for missions. I haven't been able to make one yet but I will begin making it a priority. Thanks.

[wompus]

I'm a Viet Nam vet and I've been a Patriot Guard member for years.
Those are some hard missions to be on at times but also very rewarding.
Never again.... our motto.... never again will a solder be treated like we were in coming home. Not spit on or bad mouthed but welcomed home with honor! :)

Makes you proud to be an American!

,

[unwind2]

Originally Posted by WOMPUS

I'm a Viet Nam vet and I've been a Patriot Guard member for years.
Those are some hard missions to be on at times but also very rewarding.
Never again.... our motto.... never again will a solder be treated like we were in coming home. Not spit on or bad mouthed but welcomed home with honor! :)

Makes you proud to be an American!

,

God Bless you. My brother is also a Vietnam vet.

I never will forget something that happened years ago. A guy that we worked with that was a Vietnam vet sometimes would talk about things he had experienced and seen over there. All of us at work were always interested to listen and you could see the pain at times in his eyes. He told us it helped to talk about it.

One time some of us were in his home for dinner. During dinner he started to share something and his wife abruptly cut him off saying 'God that's all you talk about Vietnam, Vietnam, we don't want to hear about it'. We all looked at her like we were throwing daggers at her. This was a very self-centered woman. They eventually divorced and he met someone else and lived happily ever after. He is one of the nicest guys you'd ever meet. We were so glad he left her.

[mercianbike]

This is a summary of a Patriot Guard mission I participated in last Friday, October 9th. No two missions are alike and on-the-spot modifications are often made as happened on this one when six PGR members were selected to be honor guards.

It was pretty low key as far as funerals go. The deceased was a Vietnam Veteran. Joined when he was 17 by forging his folks signatures since his father was in Vietnam and he wanted to go there too. He did and was a gunner on a helicopter. After his discharge, his life went to hell. He was homeless and had other problems and he didn’t see his family for over 20 years. When he did make contact a few years go, he had cancer and died of that last week at age 58.

He was cremated and the urn was at his father’s home. The deceased brother was in the PGR and encouraged the family to let the PGR participate. As we pulled up and parked at the father’s house in a residential area, the father came out and shook hands with each person thanking them for being there. The brother came out later and talked to our group and said he was concerned that nobody would be able to show up being a weekday, etc. There were 27 bikes there and he was so overwhelmed he could hardly keep his composure.

Before departure, they moved the father’s car out into the street and we formed a flag line from the front door along the driveway and out into the street. The father carried the urn and the rest of the family followed. There were only 10-12 family members so we outnumbered the family. They positioned eight motorcycles in front of the family cars and the rest of us followed behind. There was no police escort so if a traffic light was red, we stopped. But then a few of the bikes would position themselves as road guards so if the light turned red again before we all got through, they kept side traffic from starting up. Probably not legal but I don’t think anyone would holler. We were only about six blocks from I-95 so we got out in the middle lane of the interstate and rode about 10 miles south to the Quantico Marine National Cemetery.

There was an outdoor but covered area with a table for the urn to sit on and chairs for the family. There were no military personnel there for a gun salute or to play taps. I don’t know why because he was entitled to that. Six of us Vietnam Vets were selected to act as Honor Guard to accompany the PGR leader who carried the urn from the vehicle and placed it on the table. The rest were lined up along the sidewalk with flags leading to where the family was seated. A minister then offered prayers for the deceased. After it was over, we lined the roadway in a final salute as the family departed. It was a good but sad day.