Patriot Guard Riders: Standing for Those Who Stood for Us

The following is a guest post by a retired Deputy District Attorney who served four years active in the Marine Corps as a Radar Intercept Officer and six years in the Marine Corps Reserves with an artillery group. You can follow him at www.Twitter.com/marinemajor

Robert Wayne Latsha passed away at the age of 70 on August 8, 2009, in Killeen, Texas. A funeral service was held for him on August 19, followed by burial with full military honors at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery.

He served his country as an enlisted man and as an officer in the United States Army for 21 years and retired in 1976. His military service included two tours of duty in Vietnam. He was awarded numerous awards and medals, including the Bronze Star, Air Medal, Army Commendation and three Vietnam Service Medals.

Members of Patriot Guard Riders honored this veteran by attending his funeral and the following internment ceremony at the cemetery. More than 25 members rode their motorcycles to the funeral home and stood in a line of flags at the entrance to the funeral home.

Other members went in advance to the committal center and put out 50 American flags to honor this American hero.

Following the funeral, the Patriot Guard Riders rode their motorcycles as a group in the funeral procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery. Upon the arrival of the procession, the Riders formed a flag line around the Committal Service Center.

Patriot Guard Riders Mission Statement:

The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join us.

We don’t care what you ride or if you ride, what your political views are, or whether you’re a hawk or a dove. It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. If doesn’t matter where you’re from or what your income is; you don’t even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.

Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives.

1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
2. Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protester or group of protesters.

We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.

To those of you who are currently serving and fighting for the freedoms of others, at home and abroad, please know that we are backing you. We honor and support you with every mission we carry out, and we are praying for a safe return home for all.

Please learn more visiting by our web site at www.patriotguard.org.
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Phyllis Zimbler Miller is the author of the novel MRS. LIEUTENANT and the co-author of the Jewish holiday book SEASONS FOR CELEBRATION. She also writes articles as a National Internet Business Examiner and she is the co-host of the BlogTalkRadio show Your Military Life.

Phyllis' company has launched the monthly program WeTeachWebMarketing.com to help people promote their brand, book or business online. Her company also does Twitter tutoring -- see TeachMetoTweetNow.com