How do you become a Patriot Guard ?

[Panzer]

I've ridden on a few rides where some of the riders have arm bands stating "Patriot Guard".
Especially the "911" ride that I've been on.
How does one become a Patriot Guard?
I'm sure it would be an honor to be a guard.
And I'm sure some HTT members are.
A tip-O-the hat to those who are.

Panzer

[Slammers]

I joined by going to their website www.patriotguard.org

[HV]

Its easy ...you go to the Guard site http://www.patriotguard.org/ register and read the info...I'm actually one of the few members up here in Canada

[jaxhog]

Thanks HV you are a hell of a guy, thanks again for belonging!  damn someone needs to find a smiley with a patriotic flag.                      jack

[hrdtail78]

Go on a mission.

[Coyote]

Going on a PGR mission is a very humbling experience. Everyone should try to make time. I still remember my first one.

[hotham]

You don't have to be a veteran to appreciate the PGR.  If you are, however, you will really get an appreciation and good feeling in your heart.  Great group of people.

[truck]

You don't sign up to belong to a club. You just get on the e-mail list so they can make you aware of any missions in your area.
Just show up at the assembly point with a three foot by five foot flag and a six foot pole. If you don't have a flag most likely someone there will have an extra one that they will loan you.
Just show up and explain your situation and they will make you fit right in.
Take a hankie.

[Tazman1964]

            Check your local American Legion post. I am a member of the Sons of American Legion as well as the American Legion Riders at post 320 in Spotsylvania, Va. We Escort troops when they come home, Funeral services for all of our heroes who give their lives for us, and boy's state and girl's state events. Joining the Legion (which started the Patriot Riders)  is a great way to get involved.     Ron

[RDKing07]

All you need to do is show up, no membership required, no military background required.  The guard lost a good friend yesterday, HE was one of the cofounders that started the guard which started in Kansas. This was on the Kansas PGR website.
   
Our Brother Greg "Ebay" Hansen

It is with great sorrow that we report the passing of one of the Founding Fathers of the Patriot Guard, Greg "Ebay" Hansen.  Greg passed away today, Monday 22 December 2008, after an extended illness.  December 22 is Greg's 56th birthday.  Greg was one of the American Legion Riders who co-founded the Patriot Guard and served as a Patriot Guard Co-Captain in Kansas.

Greg was very active in the American Legion and American Legion Rider organizations, serving for the past few years as an American Legion Rider Area Director for Kansas, and as past Director of ALR 406 Chapter Andover, and held other offices within his ALR Chapter.  He was a past member of ALR 136 Mulvane, and left to start the new ALR 406 Chapter in Andover.  Greg was a SGT in the US Army 26th Airborne Pathfinder platoon.

Funeral services are pending.  No details are available at this time.
The family requested the American Legion Riders to handle the funeral mission.

God bless Greg "Ebay" Hansen and his family.

Ride Captains are:
Terry "Darkhorse" Houck, ALR 136
Bruce "Bruno" Dolecek, ALR 406
Cregg "Bronco 6" Hansen, ALR 408

Respectfully,

Terry "Darkhorse" Houck

________________________________________________

"For Alex", Seven Part Series from the Wichita Eagle about SGT Alex Funcheon and his family.
________________________________________________

[Dennis The Menace]

Panzer, nothing required to be one of us...just coem out and show respect to our fallen.  But, in many states, PGR does missions to help others as well.  We have a monthly mission to pay respects to all those buried in the past month at Fort Logan, visit the VA hospital once a month and dish up ice cream/cookies/pie.  We also attend the sendoff and homecoming ceremonies for AF and Army units here in Colorado.  We do a lot of other things to help out veteran families and participate in a lot of veteran functions (parades, etc).  Its not all just memorials and funerals.

I encourage everyone to come out, whenever you have time.  We dont ask you to make every missions...its all up to you in how much tiime you can spend.  It only matters that you come out and show your respects to our fellow Americans and their family.  You give so little in time, but you will get way more in return....I guarantee it.

2+ years proud PGR service

menace

[RK101]

Panzer they gave you some great info on how to become a member. Like I told my friend Moose who is not a Vet and felt funny about going on missions. You do not have to be a Vet to serve your country and just because you didn't serve then doesn't mean you can't serve now by being a PGR member. Being a Vet myself when it was not popular to be one I'm sure gives it a different meaning for me than it does for some others but it really doesn't matter. We're not there for us anyway,we're there for the Vets and there families. There are no dues, and you are not required to do anything your not comfortable doing, or can't do on a certain day. The one thing I can say is after you've do one of these missions, weather it be a welcome home and everybodies all smiles and hugs, or a funeral that will take every nerve and emotion you have and rattle it clear down to your soul. When it 's all over and you ride off,you will feel like a better man than the one that woke up that morning.  

[Panzer]

Thanks guys, many thanks

[jaxhog]

Wow makes my heart happy to see this kind of honor for our vets, I too was a vetran when it wasn't very popular.
As its been said before on here "Go, you will get more out of a PGR ride than you put into it"!     jack

[Dennis The Menace]

Amen to all that RK101 said.  You dont have to be a vet....just need to be an American with a heart!  We are all in this together.  America Rocks!

And, to RK101 and all other vets out there, thank you for your service, brothers and sisters...and to all Americans who love our great country.  I grew up with John Wayne and am not ashamed to show my love of my country.  I hope you all would do the same.

menace

[RK101]

"Go, you will get more out of a PGR ride than you put into it"!     jack

Amen to that Jack. 

[48pan]

All that is required to join the Patriot Guard is "respect".

[Panzer]

I have plenty of that !!!!

[Buckwheat]

By all means guys go on just one mission and you will be hooked.
I'm a vietnam vet and have been on many missions and It still
chokes me up at funerals and proud as a peacock on returnees.
You'll never regret it......

[Flat Dog]

Just wanted to say thank you to all of the people who have served their countrymen, and contunue to do so. Much respect...

-John