Page 57 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2023 - Online Magazine

2023-24 HONORING VETERANS

Patriot Guard Riders—

Answering the Call to Respect by Jane Bromley

2 YEARS IN A ROW he Patriot Guard Riders exists to ensure dignity and served his country in the US Army. Today, he and

and respect at memorial services honoring fallen his comrades have found a new calling—serving fellow
Tmilitary heroes, first responders and honorably soldiers and civil servants by seeing to it that they are
discharged veterans. * honored as their families and communities say goodbye.
Lubbock Ride Captain Willie Buckingham recently *Patriot Guard Riders Mission Statement
explained who the PGR are and why they exist. The
Patriot Guard Riders is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit made up To volunteer, go to www.lubbockpgr.org
of volunteers who seek to ensure dignity and respect at
memorial services for local heroes. It began in Kansas in To donate, please contact:
2005, when a group of protesters sought to disrupt the Deputy State Captain: Leighton Lowell 432-258-2891
funeral of a young Marine who had been killed in Iraq. llowellpgr@gmail.com
Local citizens heard about the protest, and a large group Assistant Deputy State Captain: Wayne Grehl
showed up on motorcycles to drown out the disrespectful 503-351-4268 wgrehlpgr@gmail.com
voices. A movement quickly spread across the nation to
protect the solemnity of the funeral of every veteran, and Ride Captain: Willie Buckingham 806-317-4791
laws were eventually put in place to keep protesters a wbuckingham428@gmail.com
significant distance from memorial services.

The Guard seeks to provide a safe environment for
families to grieve their loved ones. To join the Patriot
Guard Riders, you don’t have to be a veteran; you don’t
have to own a motorcycle; and you don’t even have to
pay a membership fee. “The only prerequisite is Respect.”
Their presence at a memorial is at the request of the
family, and they consider it a privilege to pay tribute to
the one who has put their life on the line for our freedom,
our security, or our safety.

The motto of the Guard is “Stand for those who stood for
us,” and they do it faithfully in all kinds of weather. They
show up at Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, Independence
Day, and 9-11 events, and they are there to welcome every
Honor Flight home. Sometimes, they are asked to escort
the remains of unknown soldiers. President Eisenhower
Carillon achieved U.S. News & World Report’s said, “The important is rarely urgent, and the urgent
is rarely important.” In an age where many of us are
highest rating in three categories! consumed with the urgent, the Patriot Guard Riders have
made honoring our nation’s heroes their top priority.

Willie himself grew up with a respect for the military
1717 Norfolk Avenue
Lubbock, Texas 79416
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