Who are the Patriot Guard Riders?
There were zero PGR 5 year ago. As of now, there are over 190,000. This growth has not come easy, and it is not perfect. And in case anybody misunderstands, I thought I should make it clear who the PGR are to me.

The PGR is the Hell’s Angel that has held a flag for three hours in honor of a fallen solider.

The PGR is the Christian Motorcyclist Association rider that is standing next to him.

The PGR is the elderly lady with a flag draped over her walker that is standing next to him.

The PGR is the biker that will ride over 300 miles, praying to God to give him strength, so he can make it in time to have the honor of standing the flag line for the wake of a hero…Alone.

The PGR is having 250 bikes show up the next day in a town of 3500 people: Some riding hundreds of miles, staring at 0400…In the rain.

The PGR will be humbled when the color guard comes out to shake his hand for standing there alone, and tell them with confidence there will be more tomorrow.

The PGR is spending hours in a flag line in 90 degree heat, only later to find out the son of the guy standing next to you had committed suicide 6 months after returning from Iraq.

The PGR are the couple that served lunch to 286 bikers, refusing all donations. They are the grandparents of the solider that killed himself.

The PGR is “freebird57” from IL who drives around in his van, loaded with 135 flags and coolers of water and supplies for those standing the line along with him.

The PGR is the Viet Nam vet that was spit on when he returned, or the lady next to him whose brother was in the Battle of Bulge. Or it is 12 year old Taylor Batten, who had her first heart surgery at the age of 6 months. Taylor has had many surgeries in her past and will have many more in her future, which may not be that long. She is now a PFC USMC, and an honorary MI PGR Ride Captain.

The PGR is not a service group, we are not lobbyists. There are many fine organizations that do this work, and we heartily encourage your support.

The PGR is the biker that will ride over 200 miles in rain so bad he can barely see, and rides only by the taillights of those ahead of him, because the protesters will be at the funeral of PO1 Jerry Tharp in Galesburg IL. And he will not only consider it a privilege to have protesters scream in his face, shielding them from the family, but will consider it one of the proudest days of his life. And there are 329 people standing next to him feeling exactly the same way.

The PGR is the rider who could not think of any place he would rather be at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, than to stand at the grave site of a friend’s father, on the anniversary of his passing. A father who earned the Silver Star in Korea for gallantry above and beyond the call of duty: A father whose family had no idea what he had done and the awards he had won, until they went through his belongings after his death.

If you do not fit in anywhere in the above, or you have another agenda, you might reconsider whether you are in the right place. However,if you are with us, it will be my honor to stand with you anytime, anywhere.

And when the organizers of a parade ask how many PGR will be there, I will tell them there might be 100, but I will only guarantee one.

And if there is an Honor Mission for a fallen hero that same day, I will not be there either.

Being a PGR is not fun. It may well be one of the hardest things you will ever do.

You may have the mother of a fallen solider cry on your shoulder, thanking you for being there.

You may have a Marine, who has escorted his buddy from Afghanistan, stand at attention and salute you, with tears streaming down his f ace.

Being a PGR may not be fun, but you will never stand with better people. It may be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do, and without a doubt, it will change your life forever.

To all of our veterans, past, and present. you
have our thanks for paying the price of freedom.

We know that Freedom Is Not Free.

Photo Credit to EMCS(SS) Randy Herrick

Veterans Day originally began in England and France. On November 11, 1920, to commemorate the ending of World War I (11am on November 11, 1918 or the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month), England and France each held ceremonies where they buried an unknown soldier of the war in a high place of honor, Westminster Abbey in England and the Arc de Triomphe in France. This day became known as Armistice Day, “armistice” meaning “truce.”

The United States soon followed the examples of England and France. An unknown American World War I soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in 1921. It wasn’t until 1928, though, that November 11 was officially known as Armistice Day in the United States. Even then, it still wasn’t a holiday. A congressional action twelve years later in 1938 then made Armistice Day an official national holiday.

In only a few years, the United States would enter World War II. Sixteen and one-half million Americans took part in this war. Armistice Day did not pay tribute to these people, so President Eisenhower changed Armistice Day to Veterans Day in 1954 to honor all Americans who had served in all wars.

The memorial amphitheater that was built around the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier continues to be the focal point for official ceremonies for Veterans Day. A combined color guard representing all military services executes “Present Arms” at the tomb at 11 a.m. on November 11 every year. A presidential wreath is also laid out as the nation’s tribute to its war dead, and a bugler plays “Taps.”

Sir Woody,putting on his sad
I didn’t mean it face..
After opening the pantry and chewing open
not 1 but 2 bags of treats..

At least he shared.. sigh….

Click photo for full sized image.

I have really struggled to keep my opinions to myself,
and to move forward in support of our duly elected commander in chief.
I find I just don’t have it in me.
I am afraid for my country and for all the people in these
(Less than) united-United States.

Today, thinking about MLK and the life he lived and the teaching he gave.
Always, always, using himself as an example for people to follow.

“I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. … And if America is to be a great nation this must become true.” –Martin Luther King Jr.

Focusing on the “content of a person’s character rather than the color of his skin”… What character has Barek Obama shown? That he is exceptionally adept at avoiding or covering up facts? That the content of a person’s bank account weighs heavily in his decision making?
That honesty and integrity are catch words……..

I see such irony in watching Barak Obama being sworn in as President of the United States.
He professes to be a Christian, yet….this man worshiped for 20 some years under a preacher whose message was anti-American hate, just plain hate and bigotry.
I don’t care who you are or where you are, but 20 years of the same message is going to impact your thoughts and decision making.

During the transition of power, he continues to avoid questions about his citizenship, his personal ethics, it seems that daily the news has announced a new scandal, arrests, rumors, and more rumors. All of it is ugly and reflects in my mind that this country is facing a disaster.

I believe that God is going to allow us to reap as we have sown.

It started between Drew McLellan, and Gavin Heaton a couple of strangers who met on the Internet became friends and then became partners in a world wide project for the second year in a row.

The book is titled Age of Conversation 2. Why don’t they get it?

I was not up to blogging about it when the book was published a couple of weeks ago.
My apologies for that!

I am humbled to be counted among the 237 authors from 15 countries, fine souls who worked hard to contribute their personal insights in marketing and social media!
That does take allot of cooperation! The book arrived yesterday, as I skimmed thru it I was struck by the many approaches authors took. It is filled with analysis, humor, and provocative thinking.

Best of all, it’s a great book for a great cause. The proceeds from this year’s book again go to Variety Children’s Charity. You can but a copy or several dozen copies here at LULU.com
Give them as gifts!
The book is again offered in hardcover, soft cover, and as an E-book digital download..
Here is a list of the authors.

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