A Membership Milestone

The Patriot Guard Riders has reached a milestone that – at one time – seemed like a pipe dream. As you may have noticed on the home page, we have surpassed 100,000 members worldwide. The list of people to thank is virtually endless – from the few who gave breath and life to an idea, to those that spend countless hours maintaining the website, to those who have taken on countless hours per week of additional workload, and finally to those who are the faces of the PGR – those in the flag lines. Words cannot convey the gratitude owed to each of you…

When asked to write a few paragraphs about the PGR reaching the 100,000 member mark… I initially thought, “Piece of cake”. A few thank you’s – a couple ‘atta boys – and your standard patriotic finish … and I’m golden. The article should be upbeat, celebratory, and highlight just how good we are. But I find myself struggling to write this as described above…

“100,000 strong… and still feeling helpless…”

The statement above is what I would really like to title this collection of thoughts. Why? Because it’s the first phrase that comes to mind that truly describes who we are – and what we are.

You see, the PGR was founded with the idea of helping the family of a fallen soldier – a hero. Help them get through their grief in peace and surround them with the love and support of a nation that cares about them – and the memory of a hero. The PGR started by focusing on soldiers who were killed in action – but it wasn’t enough. Our membership saw the need to show a veteran who had passed that the PGR cared and loved them as well. In the same vein, the PGR took on the services of first responders – police, and firefighters. Finally… we were doing all we could.

Wrong. Help On the Homefront was established to deliver aid and assistance to troops and their families who were experiencing hardships due to injuries received. Now we’re good to go. Nope. The Fallen Warrior Scholarship fund was created for children of fallen heroes to pursue their dreams of higher education.

Is it ever enough? No… it isn’t. Thus you see the logic of my statement “100,000 strong… and still feeling helpless…”

The PGR rapidly grew in membership because it made sense – it was logical – it was sincere. To this day, these same values drive our mission and our efforts. What makes the PGR such a beautiful organization is the over 100,000 members who all share the same sentiment and ask the same question: “What else can I do?”

What else can I do? What else can I do to honor a man or woman who committed all that they are in this world to serve this country? What else can I do to preserve the honor and memory of a soldier who paid the ultimate price and gave the last full measure of themselves? What else can I do to make sure that they all know I care – it matters… they matter… they truly are special people… heroes to me.

I’m reminded of a story of a young child and his grandfather walking along a beach. Each time the grandfather came across a sand dollar, he would bend down and throw it back into the water. When his grandson asked why – he explained, “Each sand dollar is a live organism. If I don’t throw them back in the water, they’ll die in the heat of the sun.” As they continued their walk, the grandfather bent down and threw another sand dollar into the water. The young boy asked, “Grandpa – there are so many sand dollars on this beach… and so many beaches all over the world… how do you expect to really make a difference?” As  the grandfather threw yet another sand dollar back into the ocean… he looked down at his grandson and said, “To that one, I made all the difference in the world.”

This story is the lifeblood of the PGR. It makes sense now. Yes, I’m one member doing what I can…

• I shake the hands of men and women in uniform when I see them and say “Thank you”.
• I buy soldier’s lunches and dinners when I see them in restaurants.
• I send care packages overseas to soldiers I’ve never met.
• I fly a flag on my house 24/7.
• I stand in flag lines in their honor.
• I simply nod and say “It’s our honor” when a family member says thank you.
• I hug family members if they want me to.
• I recite the names of the heroes that I have been present to honor.
• I cry on the way home from every mission.
• I tear up listening to The Star Spangled Banner and other patriotic songs.
• I shed a tear just thinking about these great men and women who we have so tragically lost.
• I promise that my five month old son will know the names that I now know as heroes – soldiers I never met – heroes I will never forget.
• And… I go to bed each night asking… what else can I do? Have I done enough?

Yes… this one single member feels helpless in the grand scheme. But I’m comforted in knowing that there are 100,000 others out there asking the same questions. I see it every day… the difference the PGR has made – and is continuing to make.  While we may not change millions of lives overnight… we indeed change one life at a time – I have seen it, as you have I’m sure.

With this in mind, we have one goal – continue to grow – continue to expand – continue to make a difference – continue to ask, “What else can I do?”. And always… always… ALWAYS… take the time to demonstrate that you care.

Now one could always say, “But we have one mission – one purpose – and that should be the focus,” and that is a fair statement. However, there is always a need. And with 100,000 members ready to demonstrate their support and commitment – in various ways – the assistance the PGR can provide is limited only by our vision – by our drive – and by our charitable spirit. The PGR is not a program, event, or club. The PGR is a spirit, an attitude, a belief that common men can do uncommon greatness when needed. Each member’s role is simply find the PGR avenue of support that means the most to you, embrace it, and execute it with all your energy.

While we may never eliminate the “still feeling helpless”… perhaps we never should… but we can be proud in what we have had a hand in creating and we can smile in the comfort of knowing that we are making a difference. We never ask for public recognition – and we are always good to say “it’s not about us” – but for this closing paragraph… it is. Thank you Patriot Guard. You have made a difference that is beyond profound and beyond the words of this simple man. You have changed lives… forever.

On behalf of a grateful nation… Thank You.

                                                                                                                Respectfully,

                                                                                                                Jeff Lockhart

                                                                                                                National Communications Officer