Patriot Guard Riders get standing O
The bikers in the "Patriot Guard Riders" just got one of the longest standing ovations of the session.
These guys are the ones who go to the funerals of military men and women and scare the bejeezus out of (and drown out) those "crazy people from Kansas," as Rep. Charlie Geren calls them, who go to the funerals to protest and say the soldiers died because God is angry over gays in the military.
One sign prominently featured being carried by protesters - at funerals, people - is this one: "God hates your tears."
To quote the choppster, OK, wow. Yeah, I'm guessing the leather-clad bikers - and looking at them in the gallery, those are some tough dudes - caused some serious pants-wetting in those protesters.
From a CNN article:
This is also very much a story about another phenomenon the Phelps protest has created. That's the birth of a group called the "Patriot Guard Riders." They're a volunteer group that came together after hearing that so many military families were being blindsided by the protesters. (Watch bikers ride to protect a funeral -- 2:11)
More than 400 motorcycles thundered toward this showdown in Dodge City this weekend to make sure Sgt. Jessie Davila's funeral was not overshadowed by the Phelps protest. They converged from small towns all over southwest Kansas to support Sgt. Davila's family. One group leader says, "I knew we would have a crowd, but I didn't know it would be this big."
The procession of rolling thunder escorted Davila's family from memorial services to the grave site on a quiet hill.