[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 94 (Tuesday, July 18, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7767-S7768]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 535--COMMENDING THE PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS FOR 
SHIELDING MOURNING MILITARY FAMILIES FROM PROTESTERS AND PRESERVING THE 
              MEMORY OF FALLEN SERVICE MEMBERS AT FUNERALS

  Mr. CONRAD (for himself, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Allen, Mr. 
Brownback, Mr. Lott, Mr. Dorgan, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Carper, and Mr. 
Talent) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 535

       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 
     service members, forming an organization known as the 
     ``Patriot Guard Riders'';
       Whereas the Patriot Guard Riders have since grown into a 
     nationwide network, 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 across the Nation, Patriot Guard Riders volunteer 
     their time to come to the aid of military families in need, 
     so as 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;
       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: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate expresses its deepest 
     appreciation to the Patriot Guard Riders who--
       (1) attend military funerals across the country to show 
     respect for fallen members of the Armed Forces and, when 
     needed, shield mourning family members and friends of the 
     deceased from protestors who interrupt, or threaten to 
     interrupt, the dignity of a funeral; and
       (2) in so doing, help to preserve the memory and honor of 
     the Nation's fallen heroes.
  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, today Senator Roberts is joining me as I 
submit a resolution to commend the Patriot Guard Riders for all they 
have done to honor our Nation's fallen heroes and bring comfort to 
these soldiers' friends and family members.
  The Patriot Guard Riders was established in August of 2005 when the 
American Legion Riders Chapter 136 from Kansas learned that the 
Westboro

[[Page S7768]]

Baptist Church was planning to protest at the funeral of SGT John Doles 
in Chelsea, OK. The Patriot Guard Riders have since grown into a 
national network of tens of thousands of members who share a respect 
for service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
  The group's mission is to show their sincere respect for our fallen 
heroes, their families, and their communities. Patriot Guard members 
attend funerals after being invited by the family of the fallen 
soldier. At the funeral they form a human shield to protect grieving 
family members and friends from protesters.
  I was recently at the funerals for North Dakota soldiers, and I was 
appalled--absolutely appalled--by the behavior of protesters who used 
the funeral to convey their twisted message of hatred for our soldiers 
and their families. These protests do a grave disservice to the men and 
women who have courageously served our country and paid the ultimate 
sacrifice. They and their families deserve privacy and our profound 
respect.
  In addition to attending fallen soldiers' funerals, and send offs, 
and welcome home ceremonies, the Patriot Guard Riders also visit 
critically wounded soldiers in hospitals and help them become 
assimilated back into civilian life. The group has also started the 
Fallen Warrior Scholarship Fund, a scholarship established to send 
fallen soldiers' children to college.
  Our colleagues in the House passed a similar piece of legislation, H. 
Res. 731, on June 20. We should join them in expressing the Senate's 
deepest appreciation to the Patriot Guard Riders who help to preserve 
the memory and dignity of the Nation's fallen heroes. The resolution I 
am submitting today does just that. It expresses the Senate's ``deepest 
appreciation to the Patriot Guard Riders who shield mourning family 
members and friends of the deceased from protesters who interrupt, or 
threaten to interrupt, the dignity of a funeral; and in so doing, help 
to preserve the memory and dignity of the Nation's fallen heroes.''
  All across the Nation, and in my own State of North Dakota, Patriot 
Guard Riders are protecting mourning families from further hurt. For 
that, they deserve our sincere gratitude.

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