Patriot Guard - Doing it for those who served
Posted by Ben Baker on Sep 22nd 2016
| It may not be the biggest motorcycle club in the United States, but it’s the most inclusive. |
| The Patriot Guard Riders don’t care what you ride or what your MC affiliation may be. All they care about is your willingness to stand for those who once stiff for you and cannot stand any longer. The Patriot Guard has allied with motorcycle rights groups and MC, including some One Percenters. |
| It’s not surprising to see the Patriot Guard ally with many military veterans MCs. |
| As the website says, “We don’t care what you ride or if you ride, what your political views are, or whether you’re a hawk or a dove. It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It doesn't matter where you’re from or what your income is; you don’t even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.” |
| The Patriot Guard provides honor and security escorts for fallen military heroes, first responders, honorably discharged veterans and others who may need their presence. Membership in the group is free. The main purpose is for heroes, but the riders have branched out past this when a need was strong enough. |
| The key part is being invited. The Patriot Guard must have an invitation to show up. Family members, close friends and funeral homes may make the request. In some cases, the person making the request doesn’t have to be that closely connected. If a funeral for a fallen hero is expected to draw protests, the Patriot Guard might be called in. |
| When Westboro Baptist Church announces plans to protest, the Patriot Guard gives at least a look. If a security request is made and the riders are likely to show up. |
| A funeral for Nicolas McCabe, a 9-year-old killed in a tornado in Oklahoma in 2013 drew the hate group’s attention and they posted a threat to protest. Oklahoma Biker issues a call on Facebook for the riders to show. They did. |
| More recently the Patriot Guard joined forces with the America Legion to salute first responders in Colorado. |
| Here’s the list of state captains. Several state chapters also have websites. |
| The Patriot Guard is the subject of at least one documentary. |
| The Patriot Guard has chapters around the nation. As a member myself, I get regular emails from the Patriot Guard telling me of honor and security escorts in my region. |