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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Dream Bikes and Bible Stories
Born To Ride, Faith Follows
PLANT CITY FL - Greg Kingen has enjoyed motorcycles since he was a teen. A year ago he felt God calling him to use that part of his life in ministry. Today he leads the Plant City chapter of Faith Riders, a motorcycle ministry of First Baptist Church.
"If you love to ride, come join us," he said.
Q. What's the point of Faith Riders?
A. It's about getting people to attend church who otherwise wouldn't feel comfortable to come. It was a big adjustment for my wife, Melvia, and I. She grew up wearing her best and finest to church. Now we dress in bluejeans and T-shirts and leather. My wife has a patch on her jacket that reads, "These ARE my church clothes."
Q. How did you get involved?
A. I was teaching median age adult Sunday school, and heard of Faith Riders at First Baptist Church of the Mall in Lakeland. I was interested in getting another motorcycle, but we wanted to use it to honor God. So we went on a ride with the Lakeland group and it was a lot of fun.
Q. Is it a real biker club?
A. September 2006 we were commissioned as the 15th chapter of Faith Riders. We now have 22 chapters and are growing exponentially. We have colors too; bikers wear their colors, but there are expectations of behavior that go along with them.
Q. Is this interdenominational?
A. Not really, most are at Baptist churches. It hooks well into the witnessing methodology called F.A.I.T.H.
Q. That stands for?
A. Forgiveness through Christ, Available to all, Impossible for God to allow sin into Heaven, Turn from sin to Christ, Heaven is eternal life.
Q. What's the purpose?
A. It's all about reaching people for Christ. We can go to places where you and I - walking in church clothes - would not be welcome. We attend Plant City Bike Fest; Daytona Bike Week; the Sturgis, S.D., national rally. We've seen many people accept Christ.
Q. How many in the club?
A. We had three people start. Now we have about 24 involved.
Q. Where were you raised?
A. Born 1955. Grew up in St. Louis, in a Catholic orphanage then foster care. Got a degree in journalism from the University of Missouri in Columbia. I love writing. But there were no jobs to be had anywhere.
Q. So what did you do?
A. I got involved in a computer company, ADP. Worked in customer service, and then got into training, then sales. I moved to Tampa in 1980 because it was freezing cold in St Louis! They wouldn't transfer me so I quit and came anyway. I moved to St Petersburg, and was the youngest by many years in an adult-only trailer park.
Q. How about today?
A. I'm VP of sales for a software company and I've worked out of my home here for 11 years.
Q. How did faith become central in your life?
A. I was a Christian, but couldn't find my niche. I met my wife, Melvia Long, on a blind date; we fell in love immediately and married in 1987 at West Thonotosassa Baptist Church. We moved out here around 1992.
Q. How do you like Plant City?
A. I like the community atmosphere. I've got hooked on being able to walk down the street and wave at people I know.
Q. Do you have children?
A. Three. We each had one going in - Adrian 24 and Matt 22. Alexander "The Great" is 11.
Q. What makes you proud of your wife?
A. God has given her the desire to reach other people. She steps out of her comfort zone to do pet therapy at the hospital. We got Putter and Luke and they're therapy dogs. She allows God to use her.
Q. When did you begin to see yourself doing ministry?
A. Really when I started teaching Sunday school. God blessed me with the ability to explain difficult things. We have to start from scratch with a lot of motorcycle people.
Q. Where do you meet?
A. Every chapter has a Bible study fellowship. We meet at First Baptist during the Sunday school hour 9:15 a.m. in the singles building on the first floor - where we can park our motorcycles out front
Q. Do you organize rides?
A. There's a monthly "go-somewhere" together ride. The ladies have their own ladies ride right after church. We also do ministry rides.
Children's homes, bike festivals, different places.
Q. What's your dream bike?
A. I already own my dream bike! A 2007 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic - the largest they make. It's built for touring.
Q. What's your favorite Bible story?
A. Joseph. In spite of the circumstances he was still able to succeed - and he paid people back in the right way. God saw me through and now I have the opportunity to help other people.
Q. Is there someone you would enjoy meeting for lunch?
A. George Bush, I admire the man, he's the most powerful man on the planet and he still gives glory to God. That powerful and he's still humble before God.