BECAUSE THEY ARE AMERICANS

Never let it be said that there aren't nice people left on this earth. I am here as a witness that there are alot of them.

About a hundred plus Texas Patriot Riders (Riding Hard/Standing Tall) road three hours from Katy, Texas to San Antonio on their Harleys to bring Santa and gifts to the children of our wounded warriors, as part of their mission to assist the wounded on the homefront.

The roar of the motorcycles, as they approached the Warrior Family Support Center at Brook Army Medical Center, couldn't diminish the children's screams of joy and delight when they were told that 'Santa is here!' The first Harley was pulling Santa's sleigh and the entourage was accompanied by a semi-truck packed from floor to ceiling with boxes and boxes of gifts for children of all ages. Children who have made great sacrifices and in many cases have had to grow up far too quickly.

The Texas Patriot Riders have worked hard to bring donations to the children whose mom's and/or dad's have been seriously wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan. They were kind, courteous, professional and stood tall and proud, as they unloaded the boxes and took them to place under the huge Christmas tree inside the WFSC. The children lined the pathway waiting to go visit with Santa as they hung onto the arms of their parents wheelchairs or crutches or legs.

But not all of the TPR's missions are as happy. These generous, kind, and compassionate Americans are often a 'rolling tribute of honor and respect' with American flags flying, to accompany the remains of soldiers killed in action to their final resting places. They support the wives and mothers of fallen soldiers. They stand tall and silent on a flag line. They attend funeral services for soldiers they have never met because they are Americans.

This was a Christmas like no other I have ever seen. This one is what Christmas is all about. Taking care of each other, loving each other, and loving and caring for people we have never met because they put their lives on the line for us, people they don't know either.

This is because we are Americans.

The Texas Patriot Riders are a non-profit organization. Their Mission Statement tells us everything we need to know about who they are and what they stand for:

Mission Statement...
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. If you share this respect, please join us.

We don't care what 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.
Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
Shield the mourning family and friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors. We accomplish the later through strictly legal and non-violent means.

We divide our support into two different types of missions...
Providing Honor and respect for the defenders of our freedoms that paid the ultimate price (a Soldier, Veteran, or First responder)
Active duty soldiers, Wounded Warriors, or Veterans that have a special need via our HOTH (Help on the Homefront) Program.

These are good people! They do what they do because they are Americans!

They are truly extraordinary, as they show the greatest respect with every act of kindness. We could all learn lessons from them.

http://setexaspgr.org/