I've been riding with the Patriot Guard for two years, 2008 will be my third year. I have proudly served on four missions.

If you do not know what or who the Patriot Guard is, read their website. http://www.patriotguard.org

A few years ago someone on the PGR site posted this.

No, Never Again.

But still I hear you say "Why does it matter to you?" "They aren't your friends, your brothers, your sisters, your father, your mother." War is a sad time for many; it is sad but true. So, why do you gather in the gap between their families and their foes? The answer is simple: "Because, Never Again!"

Never again will grieving parents, families and friends alone bear mourning's toil. Never again will hard-won freedom of speech be used to debase and destroy. Never again will their sacrifice be dishonored upon their home soil. No, Never Again.

Why do we gather, why do we ride? Why travel this country far and wide? We remember our grandfathers, fathers, brothers and others yet to come. We stand proud through tears reflecting their courage and pride. Because, Never Again.

That's why we ride.

Let me preface this for those that don't already know, I ride motorcycles. I wear my helmet and armored protective gear. THAT IS MY CHOICE!

Every year I read stories in the newspapers about the dangers of motorcycles and what our Government officials should or want to do to "protect" motorcyclists. Most every proposal put forward limits my freedoms, liberties and rights as an individual. The first false premise is that we are suffering from an epidemic of dead motorcyclists on our roads and that the motorcyclists must be protected from themselves. The next false premise is that Government has my best interests as their first interests. The last, but greatest false premise is if the Government steps in, limits my rights and forces me to comply with their "protective" measures the number of motorcycle deaths will decrease. This just isn't true. The traffic data shows that this is not true.

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For those blaming the motorcyclists I say is this. You would be screaming a different song if Hum-vees were driving around and crushing little Toyota Prius's every other day. You would protest, write letters to editors, call congressmen to get Hum-vees banned and jail their drivers. Hum-vee drivers would be blaming the owners of such small cars for driving something that can't be seen, has little or no protection for the occupants and blame them for their deaths if they weren't wearing a seat belt. Of course you would rightly reject those excuses.

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