1,200 missions complete
By Sofia Legaspi Dickens
Jim Clark is the Iowa State Captain for the Patriot Guard Riders. He served 12 months in Vietnam from 1969-1970. Photo by Sofia Legaspi Dickens
Iowa State Captain shares experiences with Patriot Guard Riders.
For those who wish to join the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR), the only prerequisite is respect.
There are no membership dues, no monthly meetings, no background requirements. Only a desire to honor veterans, first responders and members of the military who were killed in action (KIA).
"We were formed in 2005 to take on and show the families that when our KIAs were returned to the United States that their loss was not forgotten and to counter the protests that were going on," said State Captain Jim Clark.
At a time when an infamous group from Kansas was traveling the country to picket at funerals, including military funerals, a band of Vietnam War veterans and motorcycle enthusiasts assembled to protect grieving families.
As its challenge coin reads, the Patriot Guard Riders' motto is "Riding with Respect."
"Our motorcycles take pretty good care of their noise," Clark said. "We just rev them up and kind of shut them down."
PGR members do their best to shield the family from seeing or hearing protestors at assignments they call "missions." At times, the whole town has gotten involved.
"We had a town up in north central Iowa," Clark recalled. "They brought in some cattle trucks and parked the cattle trucks in front of [the protestors]. That was very interesting."
These days, missions are more modest affairs. It's been about four years since protesters picketed a local funeral, Clark recalls, and KIAs now occur less often.
Now, the PGR attends funerals for veterans and first responders, always at the invitation of families. Members stand in a flag line an hour prior to the service and often provide an escort to the burial site.
"Most of the time, we try to ride motorcycles," Clark said, "but in Iowa, that's a little bit problematic in the wintertime, so we use our vehicles."
PGR completes a mission in Algona. Photo submitted
While they initially formed as a group of bikers, PGR membership accepts anyone, no matter what they drive. Regular vehicles — or "cages," as bikers like to call them — are always welcome.
Clark's "cage" is hard to miss. Wrapped, his truck depicts the famed Sullivan Brothers on both sides. By the left taillight is a photo of his Uncle Jim, who died at age 19 on the U.S.S. Yorktown during World War II. And by the right taillight is a photo of someone else significant to Clark: the reason he joined PGR.
"I saw a newscast of Marine Lance Cpl. Josh Davis being returned to Iowa; he was killed in Afghanistan in 2010," Clark said. "I heard the protestors who were going to be there at the service — and that was in Perry, Iowa. I said to myself, 'That's not right, somebody should be doing something.' "
Through this, he discovered PGR. He described his first service as humbling and moving, emotions paralleled by anger at the protestors.
"As a Patriot Guard member, you have to be overcome by the outpouring of love the family shows for you," he said. "Just for somebody they don't know to come and be a part of their loss, it's a tremendous thing — especially when it's a young soldier or Marine or Air Force."
Over the years, he's become good friends with the Davis family.
"Words can't describe it," he said.
Soon after joining PGR, Clark became assistant state captain, then state captain eight years later. He's responsible for "keeping the troops organized" and handling incoming mission requests. Members can view online which requests need to be fulfilled — and simply attend.
While most PGR members take up missions closer to their home area, Clark travels across the state. He's now approaching his 1,200th mission in 13 years.
"For me, it's just a matter of showing respect for the families that have lost a loved one in the protection of our country. It's just the thing to do," he said. "I understand that people work; they can't do everything, so they kind of have to pick and choose. But maybe, if you're retired or you don't have a lot to, join the Patriot Guard. It's a good organization, great people."
Those who'd like to participate in a mission or request PGR presence at a funeral may visit www.iowapgr.org. The organization also accepts donations to cover the cost of flag replacements, plaques given to families, teddy bears for the children and challenge coins. ♦