Kansas Patriot Guard unit stops at Lincolnville
A contingent of the Kansas Patriot Guard stopped Friday in Lincolnville on its way to Fort Riley.
The approximately 30 motorcycle riders were served a 6:45 a.m. breakfast of free coffee and cinnamon rolls or biscuits and gravy by Joe and Tish Vinduska at their convenience store on Main Street.
Composed mainly of American Legion Riders from Wichita, Derby, Mulvane, Haysville, Andover, Sedgwick, and Rose Hill, the group was invited by the commanding officer at Fort Riley to attend an awards ceremony for soldiers returning from Iraq and a memorial service for those killed in the war.
They expected to meet approximately 120 other members in Junction City for the ride to Fort Riley.
Kansas Patriot Guard was formed in August to counter anti-military demonstrations by Fred Phelps and his gang from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka at military funerals.
The group now has at least 1,500 members. It was the forerunner of similar groups which have been formed in other states. The national organization boasts 19,000 members. The vast majority are military veterans.
According to Terry "Darkhorse" Houck, Patriot Guard founder and Kansas captain, the guard goes to military funeral sites only after receiving permission from the families involved.
"We don't protest against Phelps, we just line up shoulder-to-shoulder as a human shield between the protesters and the families," he said.
Barry Montgomery of Lincolnville is a member of the Kansas Patriot Guard.
They have been represented at 16 funerals to date, six for veterans they knew, including one of their own who was killed in a motorcycle accident.
According to co-captain Cregg Hansen, at first approximately 40 riders were present at funerals, and now between 200 and 300 come together.
"It's a great showing," he said.
