Patriot Guard Riders Phone Scam
by Steve
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Apparently someone out there is using the name, "Patriot Guard Riders" as part of a phone scam.
The solicitor targets veterans, and asks them to join the Patriot Guard Riders, along with submitting a membership fee. But in reality, the PGR doesn't collect membership fees.
Maria Dahlquist, webmaster for the Patriot Guard Riders, is asking anyone who has information about this, or has been contacted by the scammer, to contact her at (316) 522-2000. She's compiling for information for local authorities and the Better Business Bureau.
Labels: Patriot Guard Riders
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Indiana Patriot Guard Riders Fundraiser
by Steve
Thursday, May 03, 2007
There's a fundraising event coordinated by the Indiana Patriot Guard Riders taking place on June 2, 2007 (Saturday), in Indianapolis, IN...
The money will be used to provide care packages to deployed military personnel, as well as donated to veterans charities.
The location will be at the Ramada Indianapolis, at 5:00pm, on the intersection of I-465 and Pendleton Pike. Cost will be $15.00 per person.
Here's some info from the Richard Wilbur, state captain of the Indiana PGR...THIS WILL BE THE BIGGEST BADDEST FUNDRAISER PARTY THIS YEAR! RIDE YOUR MOTORCYCLE OR DRIVE YOUR CAR, JUST GET TO THE PARTY AND ENJOY FREE HOT DOGS , DJ, LIVE MUSIC BY THE WILD HEART BAND, BEER, DOOR PRIZES, ALL STARTING AT 5 O'CLOCK WITH THE WFMS FRIENDS AND FAMILY VAN. GO AHEAD, MARK YOUR CALENDERS FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 2ND AS BENNIGAN'S EAST HONORS OUR SOLDIERS AND HOST A FUNDRASER FOR THE INDIANA PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS.
Contact Richard Wilbur for more info at (897-4000). Sorry, he didn't give me an area-code! Or visit their website: http://indianapatriotguardriders.org
Labels: Indiana, Indiana Motorcycle Rallies, Patriot Guard Riders
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My First Patriot Guard Mission
by Steve
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Yesterday (Oct 27) I attended my first mission of the Patriot Guard Riders. Here's how it went.
The PGR is a group of people who provide the families of fallen soliders some peace and protection from protestors during the funeral process. It started because of a religious group called "Westboro Baptist Church" who sought to heckle these military funerals for the sake of gaining national attention and increasing their membership and finances. CNN has an article that goes in depth on this.
The PGR doesn't invite themselves to these funerals. Rather, they get permission from the families. They watch for reports of fallen soldiers, and get in touch with military personnel to verify that a death occured. They ask an officer to offer their services to the surviving family. If the family accepts, the PGR springs into action. If the family refuses, the PGR stands down.
Yesterday was a mission for fallen soldier PFC Jose Roberto Perez killed in action in Iraq.
We all staged at a shopping center parking lot in Ontario, CA. Folks came riding in on bikes decorated in US and PGR flags. Most of them were veterans, a few were non-veterans. A couple of them didn't own motorcycles, but offered their cars and trucks as "PGR Support Vehicles" that carried water, chairs, extra flags, etc.
At the start of each mission you are given a ride pin. Some of these guys have collected 30-40 pins. You also contribute a $1.00 to the mission and you get a dog tag containing the name of the fallen solider.
Prior to the ride, they went over the details of the mission. A guy named "Winger" lead this mission. He said that he visited some of the web-forums where "the uglies" do their planning and learned that they planned to be at this funeral to protest. He gave instructions on how to create a human barrier against "the uglies", guys would stand side-by-side with arms locking with one another, in a non-violent stance.
He said it was absolutely important not to retaliate against "the uglies" because they would be brandishing camera equipment in hopes of catching members of the PGR in the act of fighting.
We put our kickstands up at 10:00am and headed out to St. George Catholic Church in Ontario, CA. We lined up in front of the church entrance and stood with our flags while the casket was carried in. Once the procession entered the church, the PGR fell back and returned to their bikes.
Then we waited for the service to finish. Most of the guys stood and chatted with each other, and with the Ontario police. About an hour-and-15-minutes later, we lined back up in front of the church for the casket to be carried out.
Then we followed the hearse and limousine to Bellevue Memorial Park in Ontario. The bikes rolled by the interment area and parked at a fair distance away. We carried our flags and line ourselves up around the burial location to provide a wall that would shield the service.
As it would turn out, "the uglies" didn't show up.
But we remained there anyways to complete the mission. Leaders of this PGR mission offered a gift to the grieving family, and then the PGR fell out and returned to their bikes.
Here are some photos. Vist my Flickr photo set for more photos.
Me, at the staging area. And no, that's not my purple bike behind me.
Lined up in front of St. George Catholic Church
A PGR support vehicle
PGR bikes parked at Bellevue Memorial CemeteryVisit the PGR website at:
http://patriotguard.orgLabels: Patriot Guard Riders, Ride Reports
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SCRC and the Patriot Guard Riders
by Steve
Thursday, May 18, 2006
I was browsing the Road Star Riders forum when I came across a message from someone who quit the Southern Cruisers Riding Club (SCRC):Well, I just resigned myself from SCRC and when I get home tonight, I will be removing my SCRC backpatch and burning it. This spineless organization has asked it's membership that "choose" to participate in Patriot Guard Riders missions to NOT wear their patches. Am finished with them, and am VERY glad i didn't waste the money joining Star Touring.......they are no better.
This person is referring to a rule established by the national leaders of the SCRC that its members cannot wear SCRC patches at a Patriot Guard Riders event...We do ask that no representations of the SCRC logo or the name Southern Cruisers be displayed by SCRC members while participating in this or any other similar organization. We do not want the Southern Cruisers name to be involved in case something unforeseen does happen.
Who are the SCRC? It's a big riding club, with chapters all over the United States. Anyone can join, even if you don't have a motorcycle. All you have to do is fill out their online form, and boom! You're in. You don't have to pay any money to join either. But, you do have to pay money to get the back patch, pins, shirts, hats, etc.
Who are the Patriot Guard Riders? They're a volunteer group of bikers who provide a "rolling thunder" of riders accompanying funerals for fallen soldiers. It started up because of a religious group heckling families at veteran burial ceremonies.
The religious group started their heckling when a gay soldier was laid to rest. They protested and shouted to disrupt the service, and made the entire service ugly for the grieving family. Since then, this group goes around the country heckling as many veterans burial ceremonies it can, even if the solider is not gay. They're claim is that these soldiers died to keep America gay.
So, the Patriot Guard Riders formed to help provide protection during these burial ceremonies. Members come from all over the biker world, including riding clubs, motorcycle clubs, and independent riders too. In fact, you don't have to be a rider to become a member.
CNN published an article that reports on this religious group and why the Patriot Guard Riders formed.
The reason why the SCRC asked its members not to wear the SCRC patch at a Patriot Guard event, is because it doesn't want its name associated with any trouble that may arise.
You gotta figure if anyone from this religious group starts throwing stuff at a rider, that rider may take exception and retaliate. If there is retaliation, certainly someone with a video camera is going to tape it, and it's going to make the evening news. Even if wasn't an SCRC member that retaliated, he or she might still get on camera.
Worse, there could be a lawsuit.
And that's what the SCRC is worried about. The SCRC claims that it doesn't have any money to defend itself. I'm not sure what they do with the money they make selling patches, pins, and what not. But anyways, that's the issue.
Personally speaking, I don't think the SCRC as an organization would be held responsible if one of its members retaliated in such a way. Mainly because it's not a SCRC event. But that won't stop this group of fanatics from trying to sue them, and if that happens, the SCRC would have to spend money just to get the case thrown out.
Bottom line is this. If you're going to join a club and wear its patch, then you have to protect the good name of that club. If you're putting yourself into a dangerous situation, it's wise to keep the patch off.
Certainly participation in the Patriot Guard Riders is a noble act, in my opinion. I'm not trying to say it's not. It's too bad that you can't participate in these funerals under nicer circumstances. But if you think you can participate and still protect your club's reputation, then more power to you.
It's just that the SCRC has so many members, and they accept anyone and everyone into their ranks, even the most stupidest and arrogant of people, that they have a tough time protecting their reputation.
Labels: Patriot Guard Riders
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