Patriot Guard is a fine organization of vets and bikers who deserve hearty recognition and a helping hand whenever possible.
There is also one crazy religious SOB in Kansas, Rev. Phelps, who is pissing a lot of people off and has been for a very long time.
He’s the reverend behind a Church, Westboro Church from Topeka, Kansas. The church population protests at the funerals of soldiers. To sum it up, he says GOD HATES VETS, and that he wishes one million would die a day.
The Patriot Guard (Shield Mourners) were born out of the need to protect and shield veterans’ families from these protesters with flag waving and an iron shield of bikes and people. The brothers and sisters line up right along beside the military honor guard.
“We pulled in and parked, forming a line, sometimes three to four bikes deep, along the front fence of the high school,” Said a member of the Patriot Guard. “ Across the gravel street directly behind us, the group of Rev Phelps' WBC (Westboro Church, Topeka, KS) 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 80s. 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’s 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 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, 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.
1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
2. Shield the mourning family and friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors.
3. We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.
