April 20, 2006.  Patriot Riders funeral escort in Jasper, GA.

Today I rode for the first time with the Patriot Guard Riders. This organizations' purpose is to escort the casket of all soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.  They also escort veterans who die of natural causes. They do this to protect the family from seeing that wacho religious group that goes around protesting at veterans funerals.

I met up with neighbor Mike Chance and Toyo and we headed up to Jasper, Georgia to participate in the escort of a young soldier killed in Iraq.

It's a total range of emotions. Sadness for the family, pride in our country and our soldiers, and hatred for the animals that would do this to our men and women.

20 bikes were out in front of the family and all the attendee's leaving the funeral home, and then our group of about 40 bikes brought up the rear. The whole town was there lining the downtown streets and all along the highway out into the country to the cemetery. And almost every one of them had either their hand on their heart or were saluting until the very last vehicle passed. Many were crying. Flags were flying. In this small town I am sure a lot of them knew this fallen hero.

The family will never know who we were, or where we came from to be there, but I will always remember them, their son, and their sacrifice. I only hope our presence helped eliminate the worry for them of seeing those insane protesters. Fortunately none showed up.

If you have the chance to participate in one - I highly urge you to do so. It's a small way of showing that they are not forgotten and that their sacrifice is known and appreciated by many. I guarantee you will not regret doing it.

Looking down on the funeral home and the 20 bikes that led the procession.

Mike

Me

The view toward downtown.  You can see people starting to line up even out here on the outskirts of town.

View from Mike's bike of me on our way out of town.  He slowed down a bit to take this and then got back to side by side with me.