Patriot Guard Mission to Aitken and Deer River Legion Riders to Ely

Friday August 22, 2008 I went on my first Patriot Guard mission. You may remember that the Patriot Guard came about because of some people claiming to be Christians protesting at funerals of soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq. Some veterns and non-veterans said we will not allow those people or any other groups that wish to disrupt the funeral of a fallen American soldier. Their plan was to form a wall of supporters with American flags to shield the family and others from the pathetic protestors. There were allegations that the protesters were really doing it to provoke someone to attack them so that they could sue the municipality for not protecting them and their right to free speech. Are you starting to boil alittle here??? The response was overwhelming and The Patriot Guard is now a national organization represented in every state. You do not need to be a veteran to be a member of the Patriot Guard. It is a great way to support the troops with something tangebile rather that a bumber sticker, magnet or yard sign.

In its early days there were many missions for the fallen from Afghanistan and Iraq and then requests came for the Guard to attend funerals of veterans from all wars. Our mission to Aitken was for a former Marine who was killed in a motorcycle accident. His family requested a mission and the call went out. It was a last minute request during the time of the State Patriot Guard Gathering in Rochester. My calendar was clear and I had yet to go on a mission.

I met a group of bike riders and cage drivers (I drove my cage cuz it looked like rain) numbering around 30.

There was a veteran of Korea who had both legs frozen in the Chosin Resovoir in Korea and a young man who was a Combat Medic and wounded in Iraq. Guess what his nickname was?????? Yup, Doc!

The Guard was led by the bikes with the flags on them. At the funeral home we then stood in a flag line for two hours as people arrived to pay their respects and attend the service. Doc didn't have a flag so I gave him mine and became relief man and held their flag while they took a break. The family came down the flag line and hugged every Patriot Guard and shook their hand and thanked them before the service. Plenty of tears to go around when a veterans goes down.

Semper FI Donald "Duck" Smeby. 6-24-62 - 8-22-08. Thank you military service from a grateful nation. RIP

Staurday, August 23 a group of about 30 riders led by the Deer River Legion Riders Chapter #1 headed to Ely and The Veterans' Resort on Fall Lake, actually closer to Winton than Ely. For some reason when we met in the GR L&M parking lot the metric bikes parked seperately from the Harleys.

They were a great bunch of people and it just seems that riding on a mission for veterans brings out the best in everyone. One young couple from Stillwater were on their second ride to Ely and told me how they had become a part of the ride. A coule of years ago their battery died on the side of Hwy 38 and while they were wondering what they were going to do Mike and Candy pulled over and offered to help. They ended up taking them into town to get a new battery and then staying over night and becoming best friends and participants in the ride..ROOL 62 is don't take yourself so damn serious...a message from a friend of Bill.

This year the Legion Riders from Deer River raised over $3200 and the couple from Stillwater over $1800 for the Veterans' Resort.

What a beautiful facility and staff. They have a full service resort for all veterans and very reasonable in price.

Next year I am booking a cabin and staying for the Ely Blues Fest. Thank you from a grateful veteran for your support. God, I love this country. PS Overheard conversations. After the service people were thanking the PG people on the flag line and the man next me was thanked by a couple and he replied "My privilege!" and I thought how appropriate. It reminded me of another recently overheard conversation on "The Run For The Wall" in Jackson MS where we were greeted by three men who had been awarded the Medal of Honor and one person was talking about how what a honor it was to be addressed by three Medal of Honor winners and a retired Sgt Major was walking by and he said ever so politely "Gentlemen these men did not win the MOH, they were recipients of the MOH, it's not a contest."