The area unit of the Patriot Guard is well on its way to reaching goals set for equipping the group and is working to raise money to buy an enclosed trailer in which to haul its supplies from town to town.
Patriot Guard riders, primarily motorcyclists, shield funerals of soldiers and veterans from protesters, using ranks of people carrying 3-foot by 5-foot flags as they stand along roadways and around funeral homes and cemeteries. The riders also accompany funeral processions to their destinations. They perform the service, on request, at no charge to the family.
The group’s motto is “Standing for Those Who Stood for Us.”
“The outpouring was just phenomenal,” Debi Fuller, Patriot Guard coordinator, said of the community’s response for supplies. “These people just went ‘way above.’”
Fuller coordinates for the area bounded by Emporia, Ottawa and Iola. The group earlier this month had attended the graveside service for Sgt. Michael Chenoweth, a former area resident who died in a lake accident while on leave from serving with the 142nd Field Artillery Battalion in Iraq. Chenoweth had one Iraq deployment under his belt and also had served in the Navy.
Fuller had asked for donations to help supply the Patriot Guard for last Thursday’s graveside service for Spc. David J. Lane. Among the needed items were 10’ lengths of half-inch conduit for flag poles, money to buy 300 flags in bulk, coolers, “O” rings, 25 pieces of 2’ rebar, yellow ribbon for memorial bows, zip ties and 30 cases of bottled water.
Within two days, the group had received five coolers, 50 flags and yellow ribbon, 375 pieces of conduit, 30 cases of water, rebar, cinnamon rolls from Arizings coffee shop and a number of monetary donations from individuals and businesses.
Fuller said a number of people brought in oversized casket flags from military services for deceased parents and spouses.
“The thought was so heartwarming,” Fuller said. “I know there was a couple of times we were kind of tearing up.”
Those flags — which are too large to be used by the Patriot Guard — have been donated to the American Legion to be flown on special days at cemeteries or whenever needed.
The yellow ribbons and O rings will be part of a fundraising effort for the group. For a small fee, people can purchase the ribbons in memory of deceased family and friends or to honor the living. The ribbons will be inscribed with a poem and an individual’s name and attached with an O ring to a flag pole. The cost is $10.
Businesses that donated supplies or funds to the local Patriot Guard include: Sutherland’s, Riverside Garden Florists, The Window Company, ABATE of Kansas, Arizings coffee shop, Bob Crawford Heating and Air Conditioning, Shelly Electric, Flint Hills Care Center, Nature’s Paradise, Old Rum’s Liquor, Norfolk Iron, Landscape Plus, Bluestem Farm and Ranch, Dolly Madison and Wal-Mart.
For information, call Fuller at 340-7526. Financial donations may be mailed to Fuller at 413 Homewood St., Emporia, KS 66801.
She said the Patriot Guard is designated a 501(c)(3) charity, which makes donations tax-deductible.
hercules (anonymous) says...
Folks,
The Kansas Patriot Guard is NOT a nonprofit organization. It is a mission of the American Legion Riders organization, which IS a nonprofit organization. Debi Fuller is misrepresenting her quest for finances. The Patriot Guard does NOT solicit donations of any kind.
If Ms. Fuller is actually asking for donations for the National Patriot Guard Riders, then she's still mistaken. It is not a nonprofit. It is a for-profit corporation. Furthermore, if they learn that their Ride Captain (Ms. Fuller) is getting donations from her community, they will demand that the money be sent to their national headquarters. Emporia may never see a dime of it.
If you want to keep your money in your community, you'd be wise to donate to the American Legion Riders. They will ensure that the money is used for the purpose intended, and that it is used within the Emporia community.
September 20, 2007 at 2:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cwalker (anonymous) says...
Checks can also be sent to the Emporia Community Foundation at P.O. Box 1337, Emporia KS 66801. Make checks payable to Emporia Community Foundation / Patriot Guard Riders Fund. For information, call Fuller at 340-7526.
September 20, 2007 at 3:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
johncanyon (anonymous) says...
I don't care where the money goes. When 200 plus riders show up to shield a family from the likes of Rev. Phelps and his band of misfits. I consider the donation I made to be well worth the investment, whether it stays here to fund the Emporia chapter or the national chapter.
September 20, 2007 at 3:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fuquari (anonymous) says...
It would be nice if you got your facts correct, the Gazette was given the documentation to prove the 501C3 status. No where on the national site does it require that items donated for basic needs as in flags, poles, water, coolers... be sent into National. Any money that was given is being run through the community foundation which if the RIDERS did not have the 501c3 status would make it so. Any money collected is being used for items that will stay in this area at all times for use by this area. The Riders only asked for items to get started, flags, poles. coolers,... it was stated at some time they would do something to try to get a trailer. AT NO POINT did anyone ask for cash, several generous people donated with the understanding that Flags be purchased and they have been. The only mention of cash was that if one wanted to dedice a flag to an individual it could be done for 10.00. Individuals contacted one of the trailer retailers about them getting a trailer and letting the Riders use it.
September 20, 2007 at 3:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weltha (anonymous) says...
hercules- Who gives a rats butt. IT IS GOING TO A GOOD NO WAIT A GREAT CAUSE. No my caps lock isn't stuck. I am yelling at you for being such a heartless jerk as to question the motives of the PGR and/or any of their Riders. In my opinion they are the best thing to happen for this Country in a long time. I know Debi personally and she is not in this to screw people. She is an honest good hearted woman. She/PGR isn't requesting donations. People are giving freely. They are just letting the people know where to do so. Why can't people just set back and let good people/organizations do good things w/o having to pick it apart and find fault. If it wasn't for monsters like Phelps we wouldn't need these people and they wouldn't be needing these supplys.
September 20, 2007 at 5:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Ebay (anonymous) says...
This is Ebay, Co-captain of the Kansas Patriot Guard. I am just wanting to ask everyone to please be civil. There are 2 Patriot Guards in the area, The Kansas Patriot Guard and the National Patriot Guard Riders. One is a mission to honor the fallen soldier, the other is an organization. The media seems to keep calling each group the Patriot Guard, so it sends a mixed message.
I am sure Hercules is probably a Kansas Patriot Guard member, and knows some of the dealings with the National Patriot Guard in the past. It is time to get on. I am also sure, they are just warning you to double check on the 501-c3 because they were to have it once before, but, it somehow didn't happen as it should.
The Kansas Patriot Guard does stand shoulder to shoulder with the National Patriot Guard Riders as we are all in this for basically the same reason, to honor the soldier and support the family through their time of grief.
As far as the comment about showing up to put flags on the poles, if I can guess who Hercules is, I would say that there are many of you that will never be able to catch up to the volunteer hours this person has put in since the inception of the first mission in Chelsea, Oklahoma, October 10, 2005.
Let us all remember, we are all in this together. We need to put the past behind us.
Just remember, Twister is not everything that he is made out to be, but the concept of the National Patriot Guard Riders is good and I am hoping the BOD is distancing him from any of the workings of the NPGR.
Not all of us are able to belong to other organizations as we already belong to one orgainization with by-laws, officers, and missions.
Deb, I know you and your heart is pure. If you have another mission come up, let me know and I would be glad to work with you on all facets of the mission to make it comes off without any speed bumps. Take care, and God be with you.
September 21, 2007 at 12:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fuquari (anonymous) says...
I too offer apologies if I was out of line, I was very shocked and hurt that someone would post something like Hercules did with out getting with me so I could show them the documentation, I now keep a copy with me as much as possible. Ebay Thank you so much, it really means a lot to me to have you post such kind words. And yes it is so very confusing to the media that there are 2 groups with similar names doing pretty much the same thing. Respecting our fallen hero’s and their families. I had only asked for start up materials and the outpouring has been outstanding, we received 5 coolers, 50 short sticks of rebar, cases and cases of water, well over 300 pieces of conduit, rolls of ribbon, zip ties, o-rings….. I am currently working on thank you notes and receipts. We will be ready when needed. A local group has made it their project to secure a trailer that they will own for us to use when needed.
The local ALR, is a great group also dedicated to honoring fallen heroes, they are also just starting out, as of Tuesday they only had 7 members. I felt it would be too much a burden on them to ask them to help the NPGR get started. Knowing how great this community is and how many people had stopped me asking what they could do to help. I was on the local radio talking about my A.B.A.T.E activities and they were kind enough to let me list some of the items that would make the upcoming mission easier. From there it just took on a life of it’s own.
I invite anyone that would like to help assemble flags to come to the Armory by the college Thursday the 27th from 5:30-8, this will also be a drop off point for the radios pack the pantry for the Salvation Army, if you have extra food please bring a can with you.
I am not sure how my name was chosen to be the Ride Captain for this area, I am sure there are others with more experience, and more deserving than I am, I just hope I can make the people that made that choice proud. I am honored and humbled with the task of being there to pay last respects to our fallen hero’s.
Debi
September 21, 2007 at 7:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )