Check to see if there is an organization called "Patriot Guard" near you. We stand flag line for returning/departing troops, funerals for veterans of any war (and ride motorcycles if you got 'em).
It really helps you forget what was done. I was proud to help honor and grieve the loss of one of our brave Navy Seals this summer.
You guys are great!
I had heard that the lefties, moon bats, Code Pink and the Westborough Baptist people were going to be doing a demonstration right outside of Arlington national Cemetery a couple years ago, so one of the DC Chapter of Free Republic invited me down to take part in the counterprotest.
I admit that there was a little bit more to this because of the Westboro Baptist people. I had seen some of the signs that they hold up, and I almost couldn’t believe it. So part of me really wanted to see this with my own eyes.
So, right outside the opening to Arlington national Cemetery, they had us isolated on one side of the access road, while on the other side the Westboro Baptist people were inside a rectangle barriers set up by the Park service. I think there was only about 10 of them at the most, but what really bothered me was a little girl who was about 6, maybe 7 years old holding an extremely vile sign.
During this time, there had been a steady procession of counter protesters who marched the large circle around them, to the point you just couldn’t see them. Initially, the counter protesters had been standing around them shoulder to shoulder about 3 deep, but after a while the Park service came over and told them they couldn’t protest like that. Apparently, they had to keep walking, so that’s what they did.
On our side of the road, we had some grateful people coming up to us to tell us how much they appreciated our being a counterbalancing voice to the hate on the other side. Amongst these people was a large contingent of the Patriot Guard. Now, you know what a lot of these folks look like the non-bikers… they’re wearing their “pirate gear” (as my boss humorously refers to biker clothes!) And a lot of the guys are big and bearded. We found it hilarious, because we had these 3 little cute College girls who were protesting with us, and these big huge biker guys were chatting with them, it just looked really funny!
Anyway, we could see these Patriot Guards keep looking over at the Westboro Baptist people and getting more and more agitated. Finally, one of the biker says “Watch this…” and 6 guys jumped on their Harleys started them up, all their front tires pointing at the rectangular enclosure across the street that held the Westboro Baptist protesters.
On cue, when there was a break in the traffic, the bikers gunned their engines and streaked across the street is that they were going to run right into the enclosure! At the last second, in unison they all swung around so that their exhausts were pointing at the Westboro Baptist protesters, and slowly backed their motorcycles so the exhaust was about 8 feet away from the barricade.
All the Patriot Guard guys began to rev their engines at very high RPMs… and the noise was deafening! We laughed and cheered for several minutes as this went on, and finally the Park service came over and told them they had to move. I thought that was kind of funny, because the Park service just sat there and watched for a while, just to let the Patriot Guard guys do their thing before they called them off.
You guys are great. I have a huge degree of respect for your organization and what they do. God bless all of you…
Thanks! I will check around Buffalo, NY