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To learn more about Patriot Guard Riders of Georgia, go to patriotguard.org
The Patriot Guard Riders of Georgia formed eight years ago as the counter response to the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church, whose members have drawn ire for demonstrating at the funerals of soldiers. The riders carry American flags and form lines to shield soldiers’ families from the church members, who contend that God is punishing the military for the nation’s tolerance of gays. In recent years, the Westboro protests and the deaths of American soldiers have waned. “With the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan coming to an end, we don’t have as many soldiers killed in action as we did before, thank God,” said Jim Warren, who lives in Calhoun and serves as state captain of the riders. But the group still is going strong. At a family’s request, the riders attend the funerals of veterans and first responders. They also show up when soldiers are being shipped out — and when they return.
Q: Can you talk more about how you got started?
A: In the fall of 2005, a small group of American Legion riders got together to protect families from the Westboro Baptist Church members. This small group founded and renamed the group the Patriot Guard Riders. The group has grown to 300,000 people nationwide. Most of us ride motorcycles but that is not a requirement.
Q: Georgia has its own group?
A: Each state acts on its own but we are all affiliated with the national group. We all help each other out. We call it "no borders." We have approximately 5,000 riders in Georgia.
Q: What do you all do?
A: We will work with the family to provide a flag line either at the church or cemetery or both. Early on, we had to make some cold calls. We have become so well known that a lot of the funeral homes will ask families if they want us at their services. We can be at as many as three of four a week. Most of the services we attend now are for veterans, not for soldiers killed in action.
Q: What is your role?
A: When soldiers are killed in action, families are usually very distraught. We show the family that there are people who care and will support them. It's the same thing with veterans. Our military men and women deserve all the respect they can get. The lack of respect that Vietnam veterans were shown when they returned home is something we can never forget. We want to make sure that doesn't ever happen again.
Q: Are most of your members veterans?
A: Most of our men and women are but that is not a requirement. We are all patriotic.
Q: You are nonpartisan and nonreligious?
A: We are and we are also non-confrontational. Westboro Baptist has a website that announces where they will be protesting. Word spreads like wildfire and people call us and say they want to fight these people. That is not what we are about.
Q: The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the group’s right to protest. What do you think about that?
A: Most of us who served did so to protect the rights and freedoms that our Constitution affords us. Protesting is one of those rights. We don't like what they do but we will protect their right to do so.
Q: How does attending these funerals make you feel?
A: These services are very sobering and sometimes extremely emotional, especially early on when we were attending a lot of services for soldiers killed in action. It can get to you but knowing that we have made a difference to the families who have lost a son, a daughter, a mother or a father makes it all worthwhile.
The Sunday Conversation is edited for length and clarity. Writer Ann Hardie can be reached by email at ann.hardie@ymail.com.
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