There are many different types of volunteerism.  My Mother used to volunteer as a Hospice worker.  She knew her patients were going to die yet there she was year after year supporting, aiding and giving of herself freely to a patient with an unknown length of time left to live.  I didn’t know how she could do this year after year.  But she did and I’m sure it was her faith which propelled and maintained her. 

I’m not quite up to my Mother’s giving but I do attend many military funerals.  Each funeral is different but what is usually the same is how difficult it is to interact with the soldier’s family and friends.  When the wife, son, daughter, mother, father or comrade come by to thank me for being there to stand for their soldier it is difficult to not cry or choke up.  I owe them for their soldier’s life, for their soldier standing in for all of us Americans in protecting and defending our country.  It is an honor to be in attendance for their soldier. 

WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING TO DO AS A PATRIOT GUARD CAPTAIN?

With a dozen missions performed, I came to the realization, that I’m a better person for having participated. Considering that I’m just some ratty ole biker, most would say that any forward motion is an improvement. But after spending many a night going over maps, planning routes, coordinating with other ride captains, LEOs, funeral directors, and Family members; I came to a realization:

What’s the hardest thing to do:

Ride 200 miles in monsoon rains to welcome a soldier home…

Wet but easy.

Miss a day’s pay to ride escort from the Airport to the Funeral home..

Simple Choice Really.

Public Speaking about the PGR and it’s Mission…

Terrifying, but doable.

Facing reporters and being interviewed…

Simple,.. be polite, talk to the reporter, forget about the camera.

Learning to use the Internet to do PGR Missions..

Fustrating and slow, but learnable.

Facing Heat-Stroke on the flag line in 105 degree heat..

Solution.. Bring Water.

Getting Razzed about having the dirtiest, oldest, most broken-down, bike in the group.

A fact of life I’ve learned to live with.

Facing the UG(lies)…

Simplest of all, they don’t deserve my acknowledgement that they even exist.

No.. The Hardest things a PGR Member Can Do is:

Accept a “Thank You” from a member of the family without misting up.

Present the Plaque to the Wife or Mother without breaking down.

Telling the Children what a wonderful man their father was

THAT’s Hard

Note - UG’s are uninvited guests (these are the protesters) .

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