Triumphrat

Bonnie06Tangerine · 10-13-2009, 06:51 AM

http://www.patriotguard.org/

I was flipping through you tube the other night and came across this site and was pretty floored. I am active duty military serving overseas for the past fifteen years but I want to be a part of this organization when I return to America. Are there any RAT members that are members or know about it? I would like to get some more information or if you are willing to share your experiences with it...thank you.

Voldemort88 · 10-13-2009, 07:04 AM

PGR is a good thing. I know a lot of guys in the US who are Patriot Guard Riders.

I live in the UK, so the best we can do is ride to Wooton Basset to pay tribute to our boys flown home in a flag draped box or form a rider escort for Remembrance Day parades.

Good for you man. It's a good way to say thank you to fellow comrades, fellow countrymen and fellow patriots.

Bonnie06Tangerine · 10-13-2009, 07:19 AM

Thanks Voldemort. Is there a website or a place you know of I could get information for something going on in the UK for something like this? I am an American service member here in the UK but I would certainly volunteer my time to support this kind of function for the British service members. I was reading that the PGR have now incorporated their service to all veterans and not just the ones coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan. I think this is a great thing and would love to fire up my Bonnie to support something of this nature for the members of my host country.

Voldemort88 · 10-13-2009, 07:57 AM

There are regular Help For Heroes rideouts all over the country. There is one happening in Sussex on the 25th of October.

Wherever you're based, check out the local biker cafés for posters and check if there are any local bike club forums. They will always post up information on Help For Heroes events.

The British armed forces also have motorcycling clubs with forums. Check with some of your British colleagues.

If you have a group of people you ride with regularly and are near enough to Wooton Basset, why not organise a rideout the next time a repatriation flight is due in or contact the local British Legion Club to offer to ride a motorcycle guard of honour for Remembrance Sunday in November?

McQueen · 10-13-2009, 03:04 PM

I'd join the Patriot Guard if for no other reason than to kick the sh1t out of Fred Phelps and his band of inbred Westboro Baptist Church religious idiots.

Skull Crusher · 10-13-2009, 04:40 PM

Bonnie,

I'm a member and ride with the PGR's. I don't know of any affiliations in the UK but I can ask.

Cheers

Jeff

Bonnie06Tangerine · 10-13-2009, 05:39 PM

Thanks Jeff. I heard that the PGR started up because of the Fred Phelps crap but since then it has evolved into something more such as covering funeral services for the vets of all the wars and welcome greets (or whatever the proper term is) at the airport. Is that true? This seems like a pretty great thing and if it is true they are branching out that much then they most likely will be around for some time to come which is a good thing for me because I still have a few more years before I come back to the states. What has been the "bike" attitude with the group in your opinion? I would imagine that a mission would consist of 99% Harleys and 1% every other bike. To be honest, that wouldn't be such a bad thing as I enjoy being the odd duckling

Also...do the missions remain A-political? In other words, the riders just show up to give support, not any kind of posturing or anything like that right? Hold the flag and show respect with dignity is what I am reading from it. Thanks again for the help.

Skull Crusher · 10-13-2009, 06:40 PM

I wouldn't say that we are mainly comprised of Harley Davidsons. There are many different types of bikes but It's not about the bikes we ride, our focus is on the serviceman. Each state has a group. They are kept informed by the State Captain through their respective regional CO. Depending where the funneral or event that is held, we will show up in unison at the prescribed time and place togather as a unit. Purpose;

Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors.

We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.

We welcome home returning troops, stand at weddings of Service Members, lay wreaths at Arlington and so much more.

If your interested in talking with the National Leadership in an effort to start up a unit email Bill "Whirlwind" Richart/ whr2nd@patriotguard.org
Donnie "Reaps" Snyder/ reaps57@earthlink.net
Pete"dynagc" Waddell/ dynagc@aol.com

Cheers

Jeff