Issue in Pine City, MN

Members of the MN Patriot Guard

This last weekend we did our mission proud in support of MSgt Fedder in Pine City, MN. On Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday each day over 100 people turned out to stand in support of this hero and show his family and community we recognize his service and sacrifice. The flag lines stretching across the parking lots and streets on those cloudy days brightened up the faces of those attending.

Sadly, one person who claimed to be a member of the MN Patriot Guard risked all the good that was done those days. Some person called the Pine City City Hall and demanded that a flag on private property be lowered to half staff and then attempted illegally to do it themselves when they weren't satisfied with the response.

Some facts.....

A. The only flags that had to be lowered by proclamation that day are those of government offices and facilities. This is directly from the Governors proclamation; "all U.S. flags and Minnesota flags be flown at half-staff at all state and federal buildings in the State of Minnesota, from sunrise until sunset on Tuesday, September 7, 2010."

B. The flag being flown at full height was done so because flying at half staff would have endangered people with the flag touching electrical lines.

C. It is not the duty or right of anyone claiming to be a MN Patriot Guard member to try to force a personal belief on any private business or individual. This organization does not do that.

D. This alleged member committed an illegal act by touching the flag pole on private property. This person could have been arrested for this.

There is no question that the flag, if it could have been safely done, been flown at half staff out of respect for MSgt Fedder sacrifice. I think it is sad that the flag isn't revered as it used to be. That people are allowed to do everything from flying it upside down to making fun of it publicly is a disgrace to the men and women who died defending it.

That doesn't give any private citizen the right to do anything illegally about it though and especially doing it on the behalf of the MN Patriot Guard. One person, in one act, possibly undid all the good that was done by hundreds of other people in Pine City. This person, whoever they may be, should be ashamed of themselves for their selfish behavior.

To the residents of Pine City, MN, and the property owner involved, we apologize on behalf of our organization and please know this is nothing that we condone. Whoever this person was did not do this on our behalf. We believe in the freedoms and laws our heroes have fought and died for and would never support an illegal act such as this. Our hearts continue to be with the family of MSgt Fedder and the community of Pine City.

Douglas Bley

State Captain

MMAF Say Thanks Day - August 28, 2010

Our friends at the Minnesotans' Military Appreciation Fund (MMAF) are hosting a special day this coming Saturday at Harriet Island in St Paul. In two different phases we are setting up a flag line to honor our fallen and the families who are left to carry on in their memory. The fallen and their families are why we are there.... we will Never Forget.

If you are not familiar with the MMAF they are an organization who will gift a minimum $500 to a military member, with a MN residence, for serving in a combat zone. The gifts go up in the case of injury or loss in theater and their web site is http://www.thankmntroops.org/ They receive half the net proceeds from the Patriot Ride every year and I continue to be amazed by what they do for our Minnesota military members every day.

This is both a solemn day as we are remembering our fallen and a fun day with our friend Rockie Lynne who is a co-founder of the Tribute To The Troops (TTTT). Rockie is performing that afternoon and you are invited to attend as a free guest if you stand the flag lines as a MN Patriot Guard member. Added to that you will receive some tickets for a free BBQ dinner for being there!!!

Are you a runner or like to walk? Check out the full day of activities at http://www.thankmntroops.org/

The MMAF and TTTT are good friends of ours and I encourage you to be there if you can this Saturday. More details are listed on the mission calendar at http://www.mnpatriotguard.org/missions/events.asp?date=8%2F28%2F2010

From Spc. Matthew James Johnsons Dad - John H Johnson

To Mr. Doug Bley,

It would make me very happy if you could somehow pass this on to all your members.

Words cannot describe how We felt having the Patriot Guards support. Last Friday you were in the front us, guiding us from the funeral home to Fort Snelling where we saw you come out in Force. The shear number of members and flags was incredible. I, all my family, and friends were truly overwhelmed by your support , you guys brought a SMILE to my face during one of the worst days of my life, and for that, I want to thank you ALL. Caring enough to take your time to honor Matthew and support us with so many members was amazing, It was truly an honor to have you all there with us and every one of you has my respect and admiration. you should be Proud, Loud and Proud, of what you're doing. You made a difference in my life by honoring Matthews service to the Country. There is no doubt I will remember it forever you guys are the best!!!!

Sincerely, John H Johnson

Flag Day

As many of you know I grew up in Wisconsin. This story (from Wikipedia) makes me proud!!

Working as a grade school teacher in Waubeka, Wisconsin, in 1885, Bernard J. Cigrand held the first recognized formal observance of Flag Day at the Stony Hill School. The school has been restored, and a bust of Cigrand also honors him at the National Flag Day Americanism Center in Waubeka.

From the late 1880s on, Cigrand spoke around the country promoting patriotism, respect for the flag, and the need for the annual observance of a flag day on June 14, the day in 1777 that the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes.

He moved to Chicago to attend dental school and, in June 1886, first publicly proposed an annual observance of the birth of the United States flag in an article titled "The Fourteenth of June," published in the Chicago Argus newspaper. In June 1888, Cigrand advocated establishing the holiday in a speech before the "Sons of America," a Chicago group. The organization founded a magazine, American Standard, in order to promote reverence for American emblems. Cigrand was appointed editor-in-chief and wrote articles in the magazine as well as in other magazines and newspapers to promote the holiday.

On the third Saturday in June 1894, a public school children’s celebration of Flag Day took place in Chicago at Douglas, Garfield, Humboldt, Lincoln, and Washington Parks. More than 300,000 children participated, and the celebration was repeated the next year.

Cigrand became president of the American Flag Day Association and later of the National Flag Day Society, which allowed him to promote his cause with organizational backing. Cigrand once noted he had given 2,188 speeches on patriotism and the flag.

Cigrand lived in Batavia, Illinois, from 1913–1932.

Cigrand generally is credited with being the "Father of Flag Day," with the Chicago Tribune noting that he "almost singlehandedly" established the holiday.

D Day Remembrance

Today is the anniversary of our greatest generation stepping off the boats, under withering fire, and crawling their way to the French beaches.

I have been to the Omaha beach area and the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville sur Mer, France. That those brave, and scared, men could get off those boats, see the raging fires on the hill sides, hear the bullets whistle over their heads, see their buddies die, and still come home to help build our country is inspiring.

We salute the veterans of Operation Overlord today.

Stop Saying “HAPPY Memorial Day”

From our good friend Jeff "SailorDoc" Seeber....


By: Jeff Seeber
Written just after Memorial Day in 2006 when I heard "Have a HAPPY Memorial Day" one too many times

I hope I live long enough to be able to get through the month of May just once without some moron sending me a Happy Memorial Day e-mail or hearing some idiot wishing people a Happy Memorial Day.

It’s bad enough I’m reminded every May and every November that very few Americans know the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day, but expecting me to remain silent about the growing trend to turn Memorial Day into some sort of celebration is asking too much. I usually chagrin and bear it, but I’m getting too old to care who I piss off from one day to the next, so if you’re one of those fools who sends me a Happy Memorial Day e-mail or wishes people a Happy Memorial Day, listen up!

There is nothing Happy about Memorial Day. That’s why it’s called M-e-m-o-r-i-a-l Day! Memorial Day is to be commemorated, not celebrated. Memorial Day is supposed to be a day of quiet reflection, remembrance, tribute and rendering honors to those who have given their lives ensuring you nitwits can have the freedom to be able to take full advantage of the rights their deaths secured for you, one of which is the freedom to make ignorant statements like Happy Memorial Day.

Believe it or not, Memorial Day was not placed on calendars to remind you that summer has officially begun. Memorial Day is not the first day of Get Drunk While Pretending To Be An Outdoorsman At Your Cabin season. Memorial Day was not created by General Motors so their dealerships could have a Three-Day Used Car Clearance Blowout. Memorial Day is not intended to be the first day of National Burn That Burger Month.

Memorial Day is supposed to be commemorated on May 30th ... not May 28th, May 29th or May 31st. It makes no difference what day of the week the 30th falls, that’s when Memorial Day is supposed to be observed. However, the United States Congress changed the date in 1971 to the last Monday in May to give Americans yet another 3-day weekend. After all, what’s more important ... one-hundred-plus years of American tradition or giving Americans one more 3-day weekend to have a few brewskis while driving to see Yellowstone with the wife and kids?

The National Moment of Remembrance was started to encourage all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation. Of course, it’s been a dismal failure. I mean, c’mon, you expect Americans to pause for an ENTIRE MINUTE to remember those who died serving the people who are too busy to pause for ONE ENTIRE MINUTE? Are you nuts?

It’s bad enough American Civics is no longer taught in American schools. It’s bad enough most Americans ignore Armed Forces Day. It’s bad enough that very few civilians know that May is National Military Family Appreciation Month. It’s bad enough few Americans understand that Veterans Day is now intended to honor all those who have worn a uniform serving in this nation’s Military, especially those still living. But it’s pitiful that most Americans can’t seem to comprehend that Memorial Day is the one day a year when we are asked to remember those who gave their lives for this country.

Let me repeat that ... they gave their LIVES. Most of them were teenagers or in their twenties. Many of them left behind a spouse after being married for a very short period of time. Some of them left behind infant children who grew up never knowing one of the two people who brought them into this world with the good fortune of being born a free person. All of them had plans for a full and long life, but they interrupted those plans because they knew that serving their country, and the risks that commitment entails, was more important than life itself.

Their dreams and their expectations ended suddenly on a battlefield in some foreign land, or in a training accident at home or abroad, or during a secret mission to ensure this country is not attacked without warning. Some of them are buried in unmarked graves on foreign soil or rest forever in the sea. Some became missing in the fog of war and will never be accounted for.

Is it too much to ask that Americans pause for one day every year to recognize those who gave the last full measure of devotion? Are we as a nation so selfish, so lazy, so ignorant of the reality of the price of freedom, that we can’t set aside even one day to acknowledge the sacrifice of each and every one of our honorable dead? Apparently it is too much to ask. Apparently expecting Americans to relinquish even one day of basking in the sun while swilling beer is too much of an imposition. Let’s face it, most Americans prefer a Happy Memorial Day.

For those of us who served, and for the families and friends of those who gave their lives, Memorial Day will always be the one day a year when we publicly honor our buddies, our brothers, our sisters, our sons, our daughters, our fathers, our mothers, our nieces and nephews, our cousins ... all those who perished, their young lives cut short, while serving America ... while fighting next to us ... while protecting you. The rest of the year, we remember them in private. We remember them daily. We will never forget them.

New Mounted Flag Policy....

Members....

We have debated for a long time the issue of flags being flown while motorcycles are moving. There is no question how beautiful they are as escorts come in with the flags mounted and waving in the wind.

That said… too often people have had to dodge them as they break off and our US Flag hits the ground and bikes run over it. I was on one run last year that as we pulled in I realized the passenger on the bike in front of me had been holding the flag pole the entire ride. We have the rubber band effect of group rides where the back bikes are running 50 mph or more trying to catch the group in front of them with flags poles looking like an ultralight fishing pole bent over.

We know that many members have some really well built mounting systems and we know that some are really suspect. We aren’t engineers or qualified to inspect these systems to say which are Ok and which aren’t. Even a good mounting system with a pole that has been subjected to miles of highway speed is a risky proposition.

Knowing how passionate people are about having flags flying we asked a group of Senior Ride Captains, Ride Captains, representatives of the Board of Directors, and specialists like insurance agents, attorneys, and safety instructors weigh on what our official policy should be. What was the most important factor is what we all believe to be a safe practice that still allows flying flags.

The below is our policy effective immediately. The policy really is nothing more than formalizing what our guidelines had been.

It is the policy of the MN Patriot Guard that flags larger than a 20" X 20" flag may not be flown from any vehicle (motorcycle, car, etc.) traveling at speeds of 35 miles per hour or more during any part of a mission including an organized ride to or from a mission. Anyone flying a flag from their vehicle at speeds less than 35 miles per hour is responsible to ensure that all flags, poles, mounts, and any other associated equipment are safe and securely attached to their vehicle. The ride leader is responsible to lead the ride in such a way that no vehicle following will exceed 35 miles per hour when flags have been allowed to fly. Any person asked not to fly a flag from their vehicle by the Ride Captain in Charge of a mission or event, or their designee, shall comply with the request or not participate in the mission or event.

This puts the burden of safe flag flying on the person who chooses to mount them on their motorcycle. There is no requirement to do so and we really do not encourage it. It is a personal choice each person makes to put them on his or her motorcycle. As long as the policy is followed any injuries or damage that result from something bad happening is not likely to be the liability of the Ride Captain In Charge or the Minnesota Patriot Guard. The liability will likely rest entirely with the rider who had a flag or mount come off in front of the following riders.

We can not declare any system safe because we aren’t trained to do so. We will inspect for those we don’t think are safe and might ask you to put away your flag if there is reason to believe there is an issue. We ask that you comply with that request and ask your understanding if you are asked to not participate in the mission should you refuse to put the flag away.

You might ask why create a policy when we had a guideline in place. Creating a formal policy helps creates some liability protection for our Ride Captains that didn’t exist before assuming they adhere to the policy put in place. They put in so much of their personal time and money that we felt it wasn’t fair they were exposed to as much liability as they were before.

I realize that any type of restriction may not sit well with some people. I hope that most of those who choose to fly flags understand that we haven’t restricted flying flags but put in some safety boundaries that help protect all of us.

Thanks for everything you do!