IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 731 

Commending the Patriot Guard Riders for shielding mourning military families from protesters and preserving the memory of fallen service members 

at funerals. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 16, 2006 

Mr. MORAN of Kansas (for himself, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. SULLIVAN, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. EVANS, Mr. MOORE of Kansas, Mr. 

MCCOTTER, Mr. TANNER, Mr. TIAHRT, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. KING of 

Iowa, Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky, Mr. LUCAS, Mr. TERRY, Mr. OSBORNE, 

Mr. HULSHOF, Mr. SHIMKUS, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mrs. KELLY, and Mr. 

RYUN of Kansas) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on Armed Services 

RESOLUTION 

Commending the Patriot Guard Riders for shielding mourning military families from protesters and preserving the 

memory of fallen service members at funerals. 

Whereas in 2005, a small group of American Legion Riders 

in Kansas calling themselves the ‘‘Patriot Guard’’ began 

a movement to shield the families and friends of fallen 

service members from interruptions by protesters appearing at military funerals; 

Whereas individuals from Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas 

later brought together diverse groups of motorcycle organizations across the country who rode to honor fallen 


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•HRES 731 IH 

service members, forming a nationwide organization 

known as the ‘‘Patriot Guard Riders’’; 

Whereas the Patriot Guard Riders have since grown into a 

national network of tens of thousands of members, including both veterans and nonveterans and riders and 

nonriders, and is open to anyone who shares a respect for 

service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice for 

the Nation; 

Whereas Patriot Guard Riders attend military funerals to 

show respect for fallen service members and to shield 

mourning family members and friends of the deceased 

from protestors who interrupt, or threaten to interrupt, 

the dignity of the event; 

Whereas the Patriot Guard Riders perform their mission of 

respect for, and shielding of, mourning family members 

and friends at military funerals by waving American 

flags, revving motorcycle engines, and otherwise peaceably acting to serve as a buffer; 

Whereas across the Nation, Patriot Guard Riders volunteer 

their time to come to the aid of military families in need, 

taking lawful actions at funerals to drown out the insults 

and hateful signs of protesters, so to allow the memories 

of the deceased service member to be remembered with 

honor and dignity; 

Whereas regardless of one’s opinion of the Nation’s military 

commitments, the families, friends, and communities of 

the Nation’s fallen soldiers deserve a peaceful time of 

mourning and should not be harassed and caused further 

suffering at a funeral; 


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•HRES 731 IH 

Whereas Patriot Guard Riders appear at a funeral only at 

the invitation of the fallen soldier’s family and participate 

in a nonviolent, legal manner; and 

Whereas the members of the Nation’s Armed Forces willingly 

risk their lives to protect the American way of life and 

the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, including 

the right to freedom of speech: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives ex2 presses its deepest appreciation to the Patriot Guard Rid3 ers who— 

4 (1) attend military funerals across the country 

5 to show respect for fallen members of the Armed 

6 Forces and, when needed, shield mourning family 

7 members and friends of the deceased from protestors 

8 who interrupt, or threaten to interrupt, the dignity 

9 of a funeral; and 

10 (2) in so doing and standing tall in the face of 

11 ugliness, help to preserve the memory and dignity of 

12 the Nation’s fallen heroes. 

Æ 


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