Patriot Guard Riders

When people hear 'large group of motorcycles' they don't often think that something good is about to happen. Well the Patriot Guard Riders want to change your mind. These bikers attend the funerals of servicemembers and former servicemembers when invited by the family.

This photo was taken at the Albany Airport, where US Army Air Corps pilot 1st Lt Ray Fletcher flew for the last time. He was lost over Corsica, 10 May 1944 and the crash was in such rugged terrain that the Army didn't think they could get the crew's remains out. So they stayed there until 1989, when a Corsican police officer located the wreckage. That set off an investigation and an excavation followed by DNA testing.

Lt Fletcher will be buried in Essex Center, VT. Albany is the nearest large airport, and so the Army flew him here, where his hearse was escorted by these men, the Patriot Guard Riders. It's about a 3 hour ride there and another 3 hour ride back. There were at least a hundred motorcycles waiting to go.