We need to educate those who do not understand the Patriot Guard Riders and the American Legion Riders. I did not say anything to a PGR member the other day when he said about the New Mexico ride [to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Angel Fire]. "That was just a bunch of American Legion Riders”, but now is the time to educate all future members of the PGR of the beginnings of the organization and its true purpose.
The Patriot Guard Riders history is on the web to be viewed by all. It started through the efforts of Terry Houck and his wife Carol in July of 2005. A meeting was held to discuss the possible birth of the PGR at American Legion Post 136 of Mulvane, Kansas to combat the dishonor and harassment shown to Veteran's families by the protests of the Westboro Baptist Church. The Patriot Guard owes its life to Post 136 of the American Legion who thought that it would be good to open membership up to non-veteran persons, and other organizations or groups so they could also show their support.
To that end it is a shameful act to accuse a gentlemen like Ted of taking part in the "Journey 4 Justice" when that was the main purpose of the Patriot Guard to begin with. Even more outrageous is using that as a charge to remove Ted from the Patriot Guard even though there were many witnesses that he did not attend.
Also, the American Legion Riders elect their leaders. In the Patriot Guard Riders if you start a group, you are in for life more or less, without election. The American Legion Riders have been around many years before the PGR was ever thought of. To make offhand statements like "It is only an event of the American Legion Riders" by current PGR members only shows lack of intelligence or their desire to belong to a WEB based organization that only takes few keystrokes to allow admission.
At one time a TV crew asked to speak to me about my time with the 101st Airborne in Vietnam. Like most Vietnam Vets I almost never talk about such things. But suddenly a local leader of the PGR stepped between us and started talking about PGR. I just walked on and never was given a chance to say a word. But after watching the Local PGR for some time I now think that - to stand in front of a bunch of Vietnam Veterans and take credit for the work of PGR members and hog TV cameras is nothing short of Stolen Valor, especially when you are not an "elected leader or a Veteran."
It is also disgraceful to now state that taking action against the Westboro Baptist Church is not the purpose of PGR. In the beginning it was the main purpose of PGR leadership.
I know that many of the American Legion now regret not putting in a rule when they started the PGR - that states "Leaders, must be elected and be a Veteran", that would have taken away the opportunity for non-deserving and non-understanding people to take control.
Every American Legion Rider should take the time to educate any future Legion Rider, or PGR member about the roots and purpose of the history of the organizations.
The American Legion Riders is the most respectful, graceful and best Veteran Support group I have ever had the chance to be a member of.
Respectfully,
"Nikon" Bill
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