The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse group of motorcyclists from across the nation, with one thing in common besides motorcycles, they have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security. The main mission of the PGR is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission 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.
My first mission as a PGR member was quite moving, to the point of overwhelming. There where about 100 riders on this mission with 20 on the motorcade route. I was one of the 20 to accompany the motorcade from the church to the cemetery, about a 6 mile trip.
Lining the streets along the route, thousands of town folk, all holding flags and dressed in red, white,and blue. Some you could see crying, others rendering a salute, a true outpouring of support and respect for this fallen hero. Sgt. Isaac Palomarez was killed in action May 9 fighting in Afghanistan. He was 26 years old. He will never be forgotten.
No matter what your political views are, or where you come from, you can join the PGR. Membership in the Patriot Guard Riders is FREE. You don’t have to be a veteran, you don’t have to be a biker, the only thing you have to have is Respect.
Follow this link to join the PGR Patroit Guard Riders
If you are thinking of buying a new Victory motorcycle, you can go to the official Victory web site and build your very own custom machine, and when your done get a quote on the cost for your new custom Victory motorcycle.
One look at the all-new Victory Vision™ Street tells you everything about the effort put into design and engineering. It’s a new generation of an American luxury-touring motorcycle, which takes modern style and comfort as far as it’s ever been. The chassis is long & low with remarkable balance & maneuverability. The seat, floorboards, controls, and modern design are engineered for optimal riding comfort, while a new 106-cubic-inch Freedom® V-Twin™ with 6-speed overdrive produces smooth, powerful performance.
American made and manufactured in Minnesota. The Victory motorcycle’s history dates back to 1997. So it has been a little over a decade since the very first unit roared right out of the assembly plant and soared its way through the streets. Victory motorcycles come in three different forms and styles – motorcycle tourers, cruisers, and sport tourers. They even offer a NESS Series. Yes, custom bike builder, Arlen Ness, came aboard for 2008 as a design consultant. Which one is going to be yours?
Check out the Victory Motorcycle home page at, www.polarisindustries.com
Whether you’re a manager of a large company, someone who drives a truck for a living, or just a concerned car driver, you can find valuable resources on this website that may save the life of your employees or yourself. Learn how to safely interact with motorcyclists from the people who know the challenges of motorcycling the best – the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.
The Ten Things All Car & Truck Drivers Should Know About Motorcycles:
- Over half of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle. Most of the time, the motorist, not the motorcyclist, is at fault. There are a lot more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road, and some drivers don’t “recognize” a motorcycle – they ignore it (usually unintentionally).
- Because of its small size, a motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car’s blind spots (door/roof pillars) or masked by objects or backgrounds outside a car (bushes, fences, bridges, etc). Take an extra moment to look for motorcycles, whether you’re changing lanes or turning at intersections.
- Because of its small size, a motorcycle may look farther away than it is. It may also be difficult to judge a motorcycle’s speed. When checking traffic to turn at an intersection or into (or out of) a driveway, predict a motorcycle is closer than it looks.
- Motorcyclists often slow by downshifting or merely rolling off the throttle, thus not activating the brake light. Allow more following distance, say 3 or 4 seconds. At intersections, predict a motorcyclist may slow down without visual warning.
- Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily and to minimize the effects of road debris, passing vehicles, and wind. Understand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, not to be reckless or show off or to allow you to share the lane with them.
- Turn signals on a motorcycle usually are not self-canceling, thus some riders (especially beginners) sometimes forget to turn them off after a turn or lane change. Make sure a motorcycle’s signal is for real.
- Maneuverability is one of a motorcycle’s better characteristics, especially at slower speeds and with good road conditions, but don’t expect a motorcyclist to always be able to dodge out of the way.
- Stopping distance for motorcycles is nearly the same as for cars, but slippery pavement makes stopping quickly difficult. Allow more following distance behind a motorcycle because it can’t always stop “on a dime.”
- When a motorcycle is in motion, see more than the motorcycle – see the person under the helmet, who could be your friend, neighbor, or relative.
- If a driver crashes into a motorcyclist, bicyclist, or pedestrian and causes serious injury, the driver would likely never forgive himself/herself.
Many local organizations come together to sponsor this event with all proceeds going to the Homelake Veterans resident fund. The poker run starts off at the Colorado State Veterans Center at Homelake, after the flag raising ceremony at 9:00am, run sign up starts at 8:00 am, 15 bucks a hand and that includes lunch. After the poker run, join Fast Friends of Colorado, downtown Monte Vista, at Fullenwider Park for a picnic/cruise night. Fast Friends will be selling cheap, burgers and dogs starting at 5 pm, then cruising all night long. Sounds like a good time to me, and helping out the Homelake Veterans is priceless!
For more info on the Poker Run call (719) 852-8225 or email here
Check out Fast Friends Cruise Night for other updates, as we ride from spring to summer
Some Homelake History; Established in the San Luis Valley in 1889, the Colorado State Veterans Center at Homelake, also referred to as the Soldiers and Sailors Home, provided a peaceful place for aging and displaced Civil War veterans. This continuously operated complex is the oldest veterans’ center in the state and contains more than eighty structures. A cemetery with headstones in concentric circles surrounds a 1912 monument dedicated to veterans of the Civil and Spanish-American Wars; veterans of every major conflict from the Civil War to the current war in Iraq are buried there.
