Who Are The Patriot Guard Riders?

The Patriot Guard Riders is a non-profit organization consisting of 100% volunteers of motorcycle enthusiasts who attend the funerals and memorial services honoring Fallen Military Heroes, First Responders and Honorably Discharged Veterans at the invitation of the deceased’s family. The Patriot Guard Riders shelter, protect and escort the family of the deceased during the funeral procession.

Most of the members are veterans even though that is not a requirement. You don’t even need to own a motorcycle to be a member. They don’t care what your political views are or who was on the right or wrong side of the issue. Their main focus is their dedication to paying the last and final respects to our fallen military heroes.

If there is a protest at a funeral, the Patriot Guard will get between the mourners and the protesters that are raising the signs. They will hold up flags to steer away the protesters from the view of the mourners.

There are roughly 255,000 members across this great nation, with chapters in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. 2,700 of the riders reside in South Carolina. But one must take note that this is not a typical club and there are no membership dues collected. Communication is typically via the internet and telephone, and they meet only when they are executing a mission.

 
HOW IT ALL BEGAN…


The Patriot Guard Riders started in August 2005, based on American Legion Riders Chapter 136 in Kansas. Their motivation was triggered by seeing fallen soldiers that didn’t have the proper tributes after religious fanatics would storm the funeral and protest. They developed a strategy to stop the activities of the Topeka, Kansas based Westboro Baptist Church that was planning to protest the funeral of Sgt. John Doles in Chelsea, Okla. The Westboro Baptist Church had around 100 members that would attend funerals as anti-gay advocates, and they claim that 9/11 was a punishment to America because it condones homosexuality (the group now has only 20 members, since the leader of the group passed away in 2014). A documentary film maker, Ellen Frick of Seattle, the Director of Patriotic Guard Rider, witnessed the incident as they held up placards and were yelling “Thank God for dead soldiers.”  The riders intervened using legal and non-violent behavior to limit the planned intrusion by the church members at John’s service. It was then, that they made a mission statement and became the Patriot Guard Riders in October of 2005.

 
Are you interested in what the group does and want to participate in making sure that there is always an honorable and peaceful tribute for our fallen soldiers?... Register for free at: https://www.patriotguard.org/content.php
 

If you would like to request The Arizona Patriot Guard Riders for a mission for your loved ones, or have any questions, please contact the leadership team at: Arizona@patriotguard.org.  This email address goes to the State Captain and all Assistant State Captains.  Any one of them that is online can begin the process.