SS members what do you think ?

Scarecrow1 · Jul 1, 2012

Hi guys and gals. I have been a member here for a few years and have had the pleasure of meeting many fine people on here . So your opinion is very important to me . I have also been a member of the Patriot Guard Riders for a little under a year . For those of you who don't know this group it is a great bunch of Bikers mainly but, cars and trucks often make up some of these great patriots. We make sure no veteran active or non active leave this world without an escort of flag carrying patriots standing for them. Often we will escort the funeral from the veterans home to the funeral home to the grave side.all the time Flags flying . So my question to you is do you think it would be a great way to show these soldiers last escort by adding a MV to the mix? We always have a truck to bring extra flags and water or sodas for the riders so why not an MV. And also if anyone in the cities and towns that have a local PGR may be willing to do so . This is a non profit organization so it would be voluntary and at ones own expense . Just thought it would be a very cool way to show respect for these veterans. So what do you think?????

soldierman79 · Jul 1, 2012

That sounds like a great idea! Possibly a MV trail vehicle led by the Patriot Guard Riders. Functional and patriotic!

doghead · Jul 1, 2012

I think the most important thing to consider is, does the family want your participation(should you solicit them in the first place)? You need to make it 100% clear, what you are offering.

Personally, I think many "groups" show support, for themselves, not the fallen.

I personally honor and respect many organizations. Do I want any of them to attend my funeral? NO.

RangerBob · Jul 1, 2012

Unless I'm mistaken, one of the main goals of the PGR is to provide interference, or a wall of protection between the military family and a certain 'religious' group.

Ah, I see someone was a second or more faster than me and mentioned the group. :mrgreen:

Oops, now that post is gone. I must have been correct in not mentioning them by name.

RedbeardTheZombieHunter · Jul 1, 2012

Sounds like a tailor-made job for a deuce-and-a-half! Sure you could get away with using an M1008, as long as the PGR contingent isn't terribly massive, but in my honest opinion, a restored deuce would be a bit more majestic in the sense that you can't go too big when honoring a fallen hero.
:driver:

RedbeardTheZombieHunter · Jul 1, 2012

RangerBob said:
Unless I'm mistaken, one of the main goals of the PGR is to provide interference, or a wall of protection between the military family and a certain 'religious' group.

Ah, I see someone was a second or more faster than me and mentioned the group.

Oops, now that post is gone. I must have been correct in not mentioning them by name.

G.M.T.A. Bob! :mrgreen:

I'm also enclined to point out that the American tradition of motorcycling represents freedom, plain and simple. I honestly feel there's no more fitting way to commemorate the fallen hero than to have a large number of motorcyclists, veterans or otherwise, to escort the departed to his/her final resting place while representing the freedom that fallen hero fought to protect and maintain. It's my belief that any and all who took that oath and donned a uniform deserve at least that, weather they died in combat, or of old age.

gungearz · Jul 1, 2012

That's a great idea.... If there's any help I can do in the northwestern part of indiana or basically in the chicagoland area. PM me and ill try to assist.

RangerBob · Jul 1, 2012

I'm all for the representing freedom bit, but I think the interference and ensuring respect mission is more important. A deuce would make a pretty good wall of silence.

A year or two ago I was on my way to a job site in the midwest in the company truck. A funeral and PGR procession was heading in the other direction. I thought about turning around and following, but chose to continue to the job instead. I won't make that mistake again. In the future I will be looking for PGRs wherever I am, and will 'fall in' no matter what I'm driving.

Scarecrow1 · Jul 1, 2012

Just to set the record straight . The family has to request The PGR .We aren't ambulance chasers and the family is never solicited in any way and never charged a dime or ask for donations either. Yes this group was started to ensure that KIA's and their families were given the respect they deserved . If it was to form a wall to shield the soldiers family from certain groups we were there telling the world that God loves dead soldiers and so many more insults that were never should have had to heard by the families of the fallen . But it evolved into a group of vets and non vets to simply show those who have served in any branch of our armed services the proper respects on their last days with us . It's not about the PGR but the ones we honor ........

wreckerman893 · Jul 1, 2012

I concur with the above in that if the family is on board with it then you are doing a good thing to help them give their loved one a final tribute.

Several of our members that have passed have been carried to their final resting place in a military vehicle.

Since I have pre-planned my arrangements I have specified what I want in the way of military honors. If I have an MV when the time comes or if a fellow collector wants to provide one then there will be one in the procession.

One thing that will not be in the procession is an armored car full of money. :mrgreen:

papabear · Jul 1, 2012

doghead said:
I think the most important thing to consider is, does the family want your participation(should you solicit them in the first place)? You need to make it 100% clear, what you are offering.

Personally, I think many "groups" show support, for themselves, not the fallen.
I personally honor and respect many organizations. Do I want any of them to attend my funeral? NO.

I certainly hope you do not include the PGR or groups like CAMO in that category because I personally know many members of both (and other groups).

We have been asked to participate in several "Last Rides" and I can assure not one member thought anything about themselves. That includes the PGR.

I guess you just had to be there.

RangerBob · Jul 1, 2012

Bob H · Jul 1, 2012

I don't have a good dependable bike.
I have taken the M880, It will be in the rear.
I don't often get the chance to go on many honor missions, yet the truck has been well received. I do find it quite depressing that I cannot do more.
Again, it is about honoring the fallen, when it is over we disperse quietly.

I will however take this oppoutunity to ask for donations Donations | Michigan Patriot Guard
Not one dime goes to the Patriot Guard, it all goes to help the Heros / family of the Heros.

picture taken at Great Lakes National Cemetary

RodUSMC1962 · Jul 1, 2012

We had a local nam vet returned last year after being lost over 40 years ago. We took a duece and a mighty mite and followed behind the Patriot Guard as the procesession was outside of town.We were were well recieved and thanked by many folks and the family. we would do it again any chance we got.This had special meaning for me , as this young man worked for me when he was in high school. Semper Fi.

N1265 · Jul 1, 2012

I have been a PGR member for many years now, I use the bike in good weather and the M880 in the winter , or with HOTH missions. I have 3 magnetic signs that I put on the truck when using it as an escort.

The best advice I can give is to check in with the RC as soon as possable and follow his instructions. some times I have been asked to fall in behind the bikes as a "chase vehicle" and others I have been asked to set the truck up as a static display to mark the enterance of the Cemetary. When I do that, I usually stand a "one man flag line" next to the truck and salute the family and hearse as it enters the cemetary. Different states have different marching orders on how to salute while bearing a flag, so be sure you are on the same page with RC before hand on this issue also.

jeffhuey1n · Jul 2, 2012

I'm in the PGR when I can get out. I did particiapate in one ride. I took one of the Deuces. Since I was a slow poke, I got tail end charlie but it all worked out real good. Hope to get to more rides once i get my latest arm/wrist repair job finalized. The ugly dude on the left is me and the Deuce in the back is one of my '72s which has now turned into an AF Rescue "That Others May Live" tribute truck.

sandcobra164 · Jul 7, 2012

I've participated with the PGR in 1 Funeral Procession for a young LCPL from my hometown of Leesburg, GA. These guys were from what I could tell all about supporting the family and ensuring the event went off without any outside interference. If you look around their website, they provide details of many upcoming rides, often with very short notice. The members don't charge a thing, they provide hundreds of flags and coordinate the event in a most appropriate manner.

MyothersanM1 · Jul 10, 2012

So far, I have attended one funeral, two Memorial Day Ceremonies ('11 and '12) with truck and one Welcome Home (not a funeral) at LAX (no truck). All invited by family. I wish I had time for more, day job interferes. No, I do not own a bike and, yes, I am a registered member of the Patriot Guard Riders. I encourage all SS members to become involved with this fine group of patriots.

AND, YES, The PGR is welcome at my funeral! Keep'em rollin'...Charlie-Mike....

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