.JPG)
Earlier today I was looking at the new members on the SC Patriot Guard Forums with the intent of sending something to welcome and tell them what to expect from a personal perspective. I deleted it before finishing as I realized there was just too much to tell in a forum, so I decided to come here and try to tell everyone, not just new members, what this organization has meant to me.
New members: Welcome. My first, and probably best, piece of advice to you is get a good pair of sunglasses. Not as much for protection from the sun but to hide the tears that will inevitably well up in your eyes at each and every mission. You can't help it, and it will happen. Chances are you didn't know the person you will be standing the flag line for, but you do know that sometime during their life they were willing to pick up a gun and tell you, "Sleep well tonight, I'm watching over you and I'll see that no harm comes to you or your family." Chances are that person didn't know you either but was willing to die to see that you lived in peace and this country continued on. This goes not only for the military but for those in law enforcement. I can remember being told over 30 years ago at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, "Your primary responsibility is to protect those who can't protect themselves." Our firefighters and emergency medical personnel are in the trenches also and you need to make sure you know they are watching over you and if you need them they will be there. How many times does the general public even give a second thought to those on the front lines unless they need them. I know every man and woman in this country thought about them on 9/11 and the days shortly thereafter, but how soon life returns to normal and people forget and don't ever even say a simple "Thank You."
This will never happen with the PGR. They remember every day. I have never been involved with a greater group of men, women, and even children than with the PGR. In the dictionary under Patriot there should be a photo of the Patriot Guard Riders. These guys and gals are the embodiment of true patriotism. I belong to many great and charitable organizations, such as American Legion, American Legion Riders, Harley Owners Group, my church and a several others. I did eight years as a US Navy Corpsman and twenty-three years as a Police Officer, most of that time as a detective/investigator. I feel I have done a lot over my fifty-eight years on this earth but never have I done anything that makes my heart swell with pride as much as each time I stand the flag line, look over and see the complete and sincere honor, respect, and reverence on the faces of every person in that line as they proudly hold the American flag. To know that each and every one of them took time from their day, their work, their families and their many other obligations to be there. When the call came they were needed, everything was dropped and they started making plans working around anything else they might have had planned for that day. Not one person is wondering what else he, or she, could be doing. They are there because they want to be. They feel in their hearts and souls that they need to be. Frequently I'll pass, or be passed by, several bikes or a car or pickup with Patriot Guard stickers and I sit up taller in the seat knowing they are headed to or from a mission and that I'm not there but I am still very much a part of that. Each time I see them I wish I could turn this rig around and follow them and stand the line with them no matter where I am. We are one, there are no borders.
When I first joined the Patriot Guard I knew I would only be able to attend occasionally as I am an owner/driver of a small one truck company so I'm usually away from home and on the road somewhere when a mission is happening. Every mission I do make then makes me want to be at them all. If you can make every mission that is great with them. If you make every other one, that too is great. If you can only make one out of fifty they will never question it. They are glad to have you any time you can make it and will always welcome you with open arms, literally. There will be hand shakes and hugs from everyone. You will make many new friends and with any one of them you would be glad to share a foxhole if the need ever arose. When you ask a member, "Why do you do this?" there are as many responses as people. But the one thing you hear from each of them is, "To show my respect for what they did for us." It's never "me" but always "what they did for us." There are retired vets, Vietnam Vets, Veterans such as myself who never saw a day of war and non-veterans. There are blue collar workers, professionals, clergy, small business owners, unemployed and underemployed workers and everyone of them are there to show their honor for these fine men and women who stood for them. It's the one place you can see a retired cop and an outlaw biker standing side by side with one purpose in mind and that is to remember and honor.
The members of the family and friends are so proud you are there in their time of need. Just look at the letters of appreciation on the PGR website. You might want to wear those sunglasses as you read these. I remember at one funeral the 81 year old father of an EMT walked the entire flag line thanking each and every member for being there. It was our honor to be there but here he was thanking us. The PGR is not there for accolades, but out of sincere respect, honor, and patriotism.
The PGR is not just about funerals. It is family. Each member is treated with utmost respect no matter what walk of life you come from or what you do for a living. Politics are also left at home. The PGR does "Happy Missions" as they like to call them. They escort military personnel as they are leaving for deployments and happy missions when a unit is returning to the States. They will be met at the airports and escorted in. These are some of the happiest moments you'll have and once again don't forget the sunglasses. It gets especially sunny inside an airport terminal at three in the morning and you're watching a family member welcoming their loved one home. If you were on the escort that took them to the airport to be deployed, you will feel absolutely wonderful to escort them, alive and well, back home. There are also meet and greets where the members can just spend time getting to know each other. If a mission comes up at the same time a meet and greet is supposed to happen the mission comes first as it should be and usually will be rescheduled.
As you probably have already read if you've visited their website, you don't have to be a veteran to be a member, and there are many who are not, and you don't have to ride a bike, you only have to respect and honor those who have served or are currently serving. The "cagers" as they are known are a much needed part of the mission as they are the ones to transport the flags and water. Our missions are not limited to military, but to all those who stand for, and protect us, including Law Enforcement, Firefighters and Emergency Medical Personnel.
If you are a new member you will be assigned a "mentor" who will walk you through each and every step. There is absolutely nothing hard about anything we do and you will be well taken care of by the mentors and ride captains. A primary concern of the PGR is safety and if you ride a bike make sure your mentor or the ride captain knows if you've never ridden in groups as that is a tremendous safety aspect. You will under no circumstances be turned away, they will only make sure that you are given instruction and placed with an experienced group rider to show you the safest ways to do things.
There are several very good items on youtube that will help the uninitiated to understand better what the PGR is all about and it you haven't seen them I have listed two of my favorites here:
I know I've gone on and on but I can't say enough about this wonderful group. If I can be of any help please feel free to email me at tdtaylor83@aol.com and include PGR in the subject line. I don't have all the answers but I bet I know the people that do and can put you in contact with them.
I will close up shop for tonight with one last thought for my brothers and sisters:
LISTEN FOR THE RUMBLE!
THE SOUTH CAROLINA PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS ARE IN TOWN!
