Our marines and army men risked their lives to protect ours. Hence, it is only a must to give them a respectable burial ceremony. The Patriot Guard Riders, an organization based in the United States has members ensuring that our fallen heroes will get the peaceful and honorable funeral that they truly deserve.
Members of the Patriot Guard Riders protects funerals of fallen heroes from protesters and possible harassment. Also, they attend burial ceremonies for our homeless veterans.
There are times that the bikers host homecoming celebrations for troops coming home after rendering their service overseas.
A testament of the Patriot Guard Riders‘ commitment of being of service to our fallen heroes has gone viral.
When Staff Sgt. Jonathan Turner, a veteran who served seven tours in Iraq and California died, bikers of PGR was there to give their final respect to the fallen hero. Unfortunately, for the 41-year-old veteran, his family cannot make it to California.
Knowing that they couldn’t let the remains of Turner be transported via FedEx, the Patriot Guard Riders volunteered to ensure that the remains of the veteran would reach his family safely.
“The California Patriot Guard Riders contacted all of the state captains from California to Georgia and explained the situation, that it wasn’t proper to ship this war hero home via FedEx,” Jeff Goodiel of the Georgia Patriot Guard Riders shared with Fox 5 Atlanta.
“Within days, a convoy was assembled with each state’s Patriot Guard Riders driving Turner’s cremated remains across their state and then passing those remains off to the next group of riders.”
Each state’s Patriot Guard Riders took turn in delivering Turner’s cremated remains across the land until it arrived safely to his family members.
According to the organization, delivering Turner’s remains was the longest trip of its kind. A hundred of bikers volunteered to transport safely the remains of Turner and traveled more than 2,000 miles.
“It’s heartwarming, to see all these people here,” Annie Glanton, Turner’s mother, expressed her gratitude in an interview. “I know that he was loved by a lot of people.”
“Turner was a great leader who inspired his fellow Marines, both in the Corps and in daily life,” The PGR website stated, explaining how much Turner deserved their respect and sacrifice.
“You were his friend if you knew him for five minutes or five years. He would give you the shirt off his back.”
Bikers may look scary and intimidating, especially when they are riding their big bikes. But behind their tough exterior, there lies a heart with a soft and thoughtful spot.
Watch the video below and witness how selfless and dutiful the members of the Patriot Guard Riders are. Although they did not serve the country by participating in war, they are a true hero in their own right!