The Patriot Guard Riders is a 100 percent volunteer non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to ensure dignity and respect at memorial services honoring fallen military heroes, first responders, and honorably discharged veterans. Their main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family.
The mission of the Patriot Guard Riders has spoken to Mountain Home residents Brenda and Larry Nelson and led them to join the organization. Brenda Nelson says they didn’t know anything about the group five years ago when they purchased their motorcycle, the means of transportation members most frequently utilize. She says, in a recent visit to KTLO-FM’s Talk of the Town, that she and Larry have become passionate about the Patriot Guard Riders since then. Larry Nelson says the group has members across the country who attend the funeral services.
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Larry Nelson says while most of the Patriot Guard members are motorcyclists, it is not a requirement. In fact, if the weather forecast is bad for a particular mission, riding in an enclosed vehicle is suggested.
When a service is scheduled in the area and the Patriot Guard is requested, the local members receive notification via email and Facebook. The Nelsons say they belong to the North Central Patriot Guard, but have participation in missions with the South Central Missouri, Oklahoma, Northwest Arkansas and Central Arkansas groups. They say there are three to four missions daily among these groups.
The Nelsons have participated in 26 missions so far, with the Patriot Guard membership ranging from as little as four members in a small cemetery in a neighboring county to as many as 150 riders.
The Nelsons say the missions have been memorable trips. Brenda Nelson says the missions include those from heroes killed in action, those who have been prisoners of war and those who were missing in action.
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Brenda Nelson said 70 miles outside of Mountain View the roads were lined with civic and school groups saluting and flying flags welcoming the hero home.
She says in a second mission they escorted a man from Oklahoma to Missouri.
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Larry Nelson said one of his most memorable missions involved a state-to-state relay ride.
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He says with solemn white glove ceremonies, the hero’s urn, flag with bullets fired at his funeral, and a Bible were transfered between groups of hundreds of Patriot Guard Riders in seven states over 2,190 miles from California to Georgia. It became known not only as the Patriot Guard’s longest mission but as the Pony Express Ride.
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