Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge FLORIDA PATRIOT RIDERS

I received this email a couple of weeks ago and offer it here without comment:

On Thursday, September 14th the Florida State Captain and almost all Florida Ride Captains made the difficult decision to resign from the Patriot Guard Riders. There were a number of reasons that prompted this decision; the most significant of these reasons are as follows:

We have lost our way: The Patriot Guard Riders national organization has strayed from its original mission. When many of us joined this organization, we did so with the intent of gathering to offer our deep respects, and to honor the services and sacrifices of our fallen American Heroes and their families. Over the course of the past year, the PGR has strayed from this basic mission into areas which have nothing to do with our original purpose. This new mission overload has resulted in a high level of stress and burnout within the ranks of our membership throughout the country. While many of us are still here from the beginning, a lot of the old faces are now gone.

It is all about us: The Patriot Guard Riders organization has moved away from the concept of centering all of our attention on the fallen soldier and the family. The organization has become the centerpiece of praise and admiration. These days, it is sadly no longer “all about the deceased soldier”. The organization’s activities have become events that are all about the PGR. All of you as members have seen this happen. We have gone from a simple 2”x3” logo patch for the front of our vests, to banners, back patches, press releases and a hunger for media coverage about the PGR posted in the forums. This is an expression of organizational ego at its worst.

Our involvement with Hard Core 1% motorcycle clubs: When the PGR knowingly agrees to associating with 1% clubs (Hells Angels), allowing their active participation in Honor Missions, and using their influence within the Outlaw Biker Club community, the PGR has clearly crossed the line. Many of our members are prior or active duty military. In addition, we have a significant presence form the ranks of law enforcement. These members cannot in any way be associated with known 1% clubs and the PGR should know better. Most of us can’t imagine standing in a flag line next to a probable felon, and the thought of the family seeing these types of individuals is appalling to most of us.

Early on, the original founding members of the PGR, recognized this tragic distortion of the original intent of this organization. When they protested what was happening, they were tossed out of the organization by the National Staff.

Because of these and other reasons, the original Florida state Captains have launched a new organization which is true to the ideals of the original PGR founders. If you would like to stand with us to purely honor and respect our fallen heroes, visit the new website and forum of the FLORIDA PATRIOT RIDERS. (NOTE: http://www.floridapatriotriders.org)

You may register as a member of this Florida-based group of patriots, by simply replying to this email with the message “Register” and you will be added to our current roster of active members.

With Respect,

Clayton Murphy
State Captain – Florida Patriot Riders

wow, I just joined PGR today! Great news!

In my opinion there's lots that these guys are WAY over-reacting to. It is all about "Honor and Respect". PERIOD. There are no judgements made as to what you wear, what you drive, what your lifestyle is, with whom you choose to asscoiate, veteran or not, cop or fireman, 1%er, boy scout or girl scout, ad nauseum. That is just what these "Florida Patriot Riders" are doing; making judgements about who and what shows up. With the PGR, if you do not like or do not want to support an event, then don't. If you want to put on a PGR patch or some other recognition of the fallen heroes you've personally been able to honor. Then so be it! If you want to keep all your memories, participation, respect, grief, etc. internal, well that's all right too. It's not about you. It's not about the PGR. IT IS ABOUT HONOR AND RESPECT FOR OUR NATIONS HEROES, PERIOD! The FPR folks need to get over themselves and there judgement oriented mentality.

Do the Patriot Riders contact the family and ask if they can come to the funeral or do they just show up?

Satxron,

The PGR ONLY shows up at the invitation of the family.

Vance

I ride with the PGR and I have only this to say...
They are invited guests of the family...and I'll stand next to ANYONE 1%, criminal, cop, regular, Joe, man, woman, child, chicken F'ker or any other twisted MoFo provided they are there to honnor those whom we ride for! It isn't about the PGR or the riders in attendance...It's about the poor S.O.B. in the box and their Family!

I have to say I agree Rob, it isn't about who shows up, but WHY they show up, and that is THE ONLY, ONLY reason that matters...

I believe typically the military liason officer is aware of the PGR and monitors the freaks website as well. He/she informs the family with the best info they have available and the family decides to invite the PGR or not. Purely the family's decision and the PGR honors whatever they feel they need to do to mourn and grieve for their great loss. It's that simple.

I , too, heard about the hoolabaloo and the Florida captains resigning.

Apparantly it had something to do with some Hells Angels riding at the front of an escort on one occasion. I also know the leader of that event offered to allow them to be in the vanguard even though it was not necessary. It is my understanding they would have gone wherever they were put.

The purpose of the PGR is to honor the fallen and I like many others consider this to be paramount. We will ride with anyone to any PGR event regardless of their "club" affiliation.

I will show them respect as long as they show it to me.

I do not subscribe to the protocols and rules that pertain to "territoriality" that the outlaw clubs subscribe to simply because I feel it is not "intelligent" and can cause needless violence. I wear the PGR patch on the back of my denim vest and I ask no permission of the PGR or any other organization to do so. I wear it to PGR events and no one has the right to question my wearing it and I will not show fealty nor respect to anyone who would question my right to wear a patch that exemplifies respect.

So in that regard you will never see me becoming a member of a full fledged M/C club. I ride free and I show respect to those who earn it. Rding with the PGR exemplifies respect and I will ride with anyone who wears outlaw colors as long as they do not threaten violence and show the proper respect for the fallen.

NBC Nightly News carried a feature piece about the PGR tonight. It seemed pretty even handed to me. As mentioned above, it was about the fallen soldier and his family.

JH