WarChild Riding Group
Sandy's Toddle Inn - Chaffee MO
Bikers Who Care – We Support:
Finding Cures – Saving Children
Free Spirit
Patriot Guard Riders Mission Statement
Notice - The PGR store is open since the first of the new year.
Thank you for your patience.
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, what your political views are, or whether you’re a "hawk" or a "dove". It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It 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 friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors.
We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.
Folks, this is not just important…
It’s what we do!
Join Us!
RD - SE Missouri Ride Captain
Stars & Stripes Museum
 This Dayin History |
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Over the last 139 years, millions of copies of The Stars and Stripes have been distributed throughout the world. And, it all began during the Civil War in the town of Bloomfield, located in southeast Missouri. It was here on November 9, 1861 that ten Illinois Union soldiers, using the vacated press of The Bloomfield Herald, published the first "Stars and Stripes" which they named after the American flag. One of the original copies of that 1861 paper is now owned by the Stoddard County Historical Society and to be put on loan with the museum. The Stars and Stripes flourished during each of the five major wars this country has fought. |
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During World War II, General George C. Marshall referred to The Stars and Stripes "as a symbol of the things we are fighting to preserve...free thought and free expression of a free people". Many famous people have been connected with The Stars and Stripes: Cartoonist Bill Mauldin; Andy Rooney and Steve Kroft of "Sixty Minutes" were former Striper's as was Harold K. Ross, founder of the New Yorker magazine. Grantland Rice, Ernie Pyle and other war correspondents have also contributed to the newspaper. Several former S & S staff members and various war veterans have donated personal letters, unpublished behind-the-scenes reports, back issues of The Stars and Stripes and other interesting war-related items to be displayed or filed as reference material. |
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All this history will be preserved. A Stars and Stripes Museum/Library with climate-controlled storage, handicapped accessibility, display and meeting rooms will be invaluable for research. The facility serves historians, students and writers, as well as the general public. |
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2008 Lone Star Rally
Mild weather drew hordes of bikers to rally
By Chris Paschenko
The Daily News
Three months to the day after Hurricane Ike silenced The Strand, thousands of hogs, choppers and custom-made bikes flooded the cobblestone street for the 2008 Lone Star Rally.
The storm, which caused severe flooding and damaged much of the upper Texas coast, delayed the rally more than a month, but the sounds of racking pipes and ringing cash registers were music to merchants’ ears.
Mike Dean, owner of Tsunami, reopened his bar Nov. 19, just in time for Thanksgiving, Dickens on The Strand and motorcycle rally crowds. His Yaga’s Cafe, with its hardwood floors ruined by the flood, will take a while longer, Dean said.
Dean, whose cafe took 14 months to reopen after it was damaged by Hurricane Rita in 2005, said he took out a personal loan to refloat the bar, rather than wait on a government loan.
“The first time was horrible, like breaking up with your first girlfriend,” Dean said.
“The second time, I know now to get back on the horse ... insurance is not there to help you, and neither is the government. You’ve got to help yourself.”
John and Denise Taylor turned the entrance of their clothing store Jammin’ Sportswear into an oasis, selling hot dogs and refreshing beverages to the thirsty leather-clad crowds.
“It’s good to have the people here,” Denise Taylor said. “We hope to open the store next month for when the Mardi Gras and spring break tourists come back.”
Ron Limbock, president of the motorcycle rally, said the 250 street vendors were down by 100 participants this year because of the storm.
The weather held back attendance Thursday and Friday, he said.
“Our crowd showed up (Saturday),” Limbock said, looking at the overflowing sidewalks and streets downtown.
The closed streets on the seawall were just as packed, he said.
“We’re doing everything we can to jump-start the economy here,” Limbock said. “City Manager Steve LeBlanc did an excellent, super job getting this city running in three months.”
Bruce Goudeau rode with his motorcycle club, the Ground Pounders from Houston.
“I’m a longshoreman and work for the Port of Houston,” Goudeau said. “I love bikes, and this is just a great city. It’s awesome to meet people from all over the U.S.”
Some taking in the sites happened upon the rally by accident. Native Canadian Danny Cunningham from Toronto lives with his wife, Carrie Cunningham, in Beaumont.
The couple were surprised to see so many motorcycles on the Galveston-Bolivar Ferry.
“We were going to go to The Strand to look at the shops and then tool around,” Danny Cunningham said.
“But we didn’t know it was bike week. It was neat to catch a glimpse of it.”
It’s still not too late to catch your own glimpse of the biker lifestyle.
The rally concludes at 6 p.m. today.