Sometimes we are asked "What does the Patriot Guard Riders/Minnesota Patriot Guard Riders do?"  Please see below the MN PG mission statement, and National's vision statement - you can find both on the main page of the websites:

 

Minnesota Patriot Guard:

 

"The Minnesota Patriot Guard is a 100% Volunteer, registered 501(c)3 non-profit Organization which ensures Honor, Dignity, and Respect at memorial services honoring Fallen Military Heroes, Honorably discharged Veterans, and line of duty Police, Firefighters, and First Responders."

Members of the Minnesota Patriot Guard are all members of the Patriot Guard Riders national organization and believe very strongly in its mission.

Minnesota Patriot Guard is a diverse group of individuals with one thing in common: we all have tremendous respect for those who risk their lives every day, whether on American soil or abroad, in securing our Nation's freedoms and liberties. We welcome those who do not ride motorcycles, those who are not veterans, and those who come from different states. We encourage those who share this respect to join us in support of all those that have served

We accomplish our mission strictly through legal and non-violent means.

MN Patriot Guard Mission statement: To attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family, Providing Honor, Dignity, and Respect.

Other missions undertaken by Minnesota Patriot Guard include:

• Funeral Missions As requested by families
• Welcome Home and Deployment Sendoff Missions
• Visits to VA Medical Centers and Minnesota State Veterans Homes 

 

National:

 

"The Patriot Guard Riders is a 100% Volunteer, Federally registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization which ensures dignity and respect at memorial services honoring Fallen Military Heroes, First Responders and Honorably Discharged Veterans."

"Our Vision
The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America's freedom and security including Fallen Military Heroes, First Responders and Honorably Discharged Veterans. If you share this respect, please join us.

We don't care what you ride or if you ride, what your political views are, or whether you're a hawk or a dove. It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It doesn't matter where you're from or what your income is; you don't even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.

Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives:
1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
2. Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors.
We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.

To those of you who are currently serving and fighting for the freedoms of others, at home and abroad, please know that we are backing you. We honor and support you with every mission we carry out, and we are praying for a safe return home for all." 

Members....

 

We are offering up a possible source for a new flag pole that is available through one of our members.  The MN Patriot Guard store sold these a few years ago and they were popular.

 

The costs have gone up so instead of us buying them to resell to you we have agreed to help get the word out about them.  The MN Patriot Guard gets a commission for each on he sells through this email and Patriot Ride store.  You save some money and we get to raise a few dollars this way.

 

These are a newly designed pole similar to the one offered in our web store two years ago.  They are 4 sections 24" long each as opposed to 5 sections and when assembled are telescoping from 7ft to 9ft 8 in. tall. When dismantled the tube bundle fits nicely in most motorcycle hard saddle bags.

 

They are chrome plated and come with rubber end caps and flag attachment snaps.

 

$30.00 each unit plus shipping if mailed, (appx. $10.00 USPS in MN).  Contact Jim (Kilroy) Larson at 612-868-1192 or jmloghome@earthlink.net.  Please make sure you tell Jim you saw this on the MN Patriot Guard email and he will donate $5 to us when you pay for it!

The Twin Cities Chapter of the Military Mama Network, the Minnesota Patriot Guard and the Military Salute Project invite you to join us in sending cards to the nearly 1,000 residents of Minnesota's five Veterans Homes to thank them for their service and hopefully brighten their day. Individuals, groups and organizations nationwide are encouraged to participate.

 

The Minneapolis Veterans Home has approx 525 residents, the Hastings Veterans Home approx 200 residents, the Silver Bay Veterans Home approx 90 residents, the Fergus Falls Veterans Home approx 100 residents and the Luverne Veterans Home approx 85 residents.

Your card or letter can include a note of thanks and appreciation for the Veteran's service. We hope to be able to give every resident at least one. Packs of 10 generic "Thank You" cards with envelopes are available at Target or Walmart for about $5.00.

 

Please mail cards for the Minneapolis Veterans Home and/or the Hastings Veterans Home and/or the Fergus Falls Veterans Home to Lynn Soler, the Twin Cities Military Mama Network Chair. Lynn will allocate and deliver the cards in bulk to the respective homes. If you wish to send a card to all three homes, please mail them in separate envelopes. Print MPLS in the lower left corner of the front of one envelope, print HAST in the lower left corner of the front of the second envelope, and print FERG in the lower left corner of the front of the third envelope.

Lynn Soler

Cards For Veterans

8085 71st Street Court South

Cottage Grove, MN 55016

 

Cards and letters for the Silver Bay and Luverne can be mailed directly to each home.

Silver Bay Veterans Home

Attn: Ward Wallin

45 Banks Blvd

Silver Bay, MN 55614

 

The Luverne home requests that cards are sent in early November for Veterans Day.

Luverne Veterans Home

Attn: Duane Mabon

P.O. Box 539

Luverne, MN 56156

 

Please note: Send cards and letters ONLY. Because of dietary restrictions and potential allergies, do not send any food items.

 

Please share. Thank you!

 

Respectfully,

Jeff Seeber, Director

Military Salute Project

Woodbury, MN

We would like to announce some leadership changes in the Southern Region.  Joel, the Albert Lea Ride Captain and Southern Region Senior Ride Captain has relocated to Wisconsin. 

 

Joel - thank you for everything, and your many years dedicated to the mission of the MN PG/PGR!  Wisconsin is gaining a great asset - we wish you all the very best!

 

Paul Ramsbey, Worthington Ride Captain, accepted the position of Southern Region Senior Ride Captain.  After votes by the leadership in the Southern Region, he became the SRC for the Southern Region effective 1 June.  Paul brings a wealth of knowledge to the position and the Southern Region will remain in good hands. 

 

Richard Clark accepted the position of Ride Captain for the Albert Lea sector - thank you Richard!  Chuck Crabtree also came on as an Assistant Ride Captain in Albert Lea. 

 

Thank you to both of these gentlemen for their willingness to step into leadership!

 

Thank you to all for everything you do!  We can't do our mission without the leaders and members that make it all happen.

Members - just wanted to make a friendly reminder to everyone! 

 

There are a lot of upset people right now with our Government, flag-stomping, disrespect to the flag or showing lack of respect to the flag and the National Anthem, etc. - on both sides of the issue.  Protests are going on around the state and the nation.

 

If you wish to attend, please leave the MN PG/PGR gear/identification at home and attend as a private citizen.  The PGR/MN PG are not a protest or a counter-protest group, and we cannot participate in political events/issues. 

 

You are certainly encouraged to participate on your own if you wish - it's one of the freedoms that our military served for.  But leave the gear at home.  We cannot jeopardize our 501c3, our relationship with the military, and the much respected image of the organization that you have helped to create.

 

Thank you for all you do!

Members....  

 

Listed below are the volunteer members who make up the Board of Directors for the MN Patriot Guard.  This information can also be found on our web site www.mnpatriotguard.org.

 

BOD: Karla Richardson - Verndale, MN 

BOD: Craig Ugland - Rochester, MN

BOD: Mark Lea - Elk River, MN

BOD: Bob Gindorff - White Bear Lake, MN

BOD: Dick Kelso - New Hope, MN

 

At Large Members

BOD: Doug Bley - Rogers, MN (2016)

BOD: Greg Yung - Apple Valley, MN (2016)

BOD: Mike O'Loughlin - Maple Lake, MN (2017)

BOD: Dave Winkler - Newport, MN (2017)

 

The listed above can be reached by emailing directors@mnpatriotguard.org. 

 

MN Patriot Guard President -Doug Bley

MN Patriot Guard Vice President - Mark Lea

MN Patriot Guard Treasurer - Bob Gindorff

MN Patriot Guard Secretary - Dick Kelso

 

Thanks for all you do!!!

Now that riding season and warmer weather have finally arrived, it's a good time to go over a few things.

We are not about motorcycles! We have many members who do not ride and we are grateful for their attendance at our missions and events. It doesn't matter HOW you get to a Patriot Guard mission or event - what is important is that you are there to pay honor, dignity, and respect to someone serving or have served our great nation; and that you arrive safely there and home again.

As the temps rise, we all need to be thinking about sunburn, heat stroke, heat exhaustion and all the other things that come with warm weather. Please take care of yourself and watch out for each other. We have faithful members who would rather pass out on the flag line than to step aside to cool off - definitely not what we want!  Drink plenty of water to hydrate before and during the Mission. 

 

We have had an extremely busy April for missions.  Thank you to all who have stepped up and are willing to help make sure missions get done!  If you are interested in helping run a honor mission on the ground, or to come into leadership - talk to your Ride Captain!  Your help is how we have been able to honor all the requests we have received.

 

Thank you for all you do!