Patriot Guard Riders New York
Who We Are
PGRNY is a diverse group of patriots who come together to show respect and support to US service members, honorably discharged veterans, first responders, and their families by standing flag lines and providing escorts at memorial services, only at the request of the family. We also stand flag line for other events honoring veterans and military personnel by request. We do not have meetings, dues, or most of the other membership requirements of other organizations. Many of our members share a love of motorcycles and many are veterans, but neither is a requirement. The only thing our members do have in common is a deep feeling of appreciation of the sacrifices that our military and first responders have made and continue to make.
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and 100% volunteer organization. Any donations received go directly to members of the Armed Services, veterans, families of deployed service members, and Gold Star families in need through our Help on the Homefront (HOTH) programs: Veteran's Financial Assistance Program and Veteran's Transition Assistance Program. A small portion of the funds raised goes to the families of veterans in the form of a plaque at memorial services.
Our Veterans Recovery Program has provided honor and respect to those who have served this country, by securing a final resting place for forgotten heroes.
Request A PGRNY Mission
"Standing For Those Who Stood For US"
Missions are one of the ways Patriot Guard Riders New York, Inc. (PGRNY) show support for US service members, veterans, and their families.
Missions vary greatly and can include standing flag lines or providing escorts to veterans for such diverse events as calling hours, gravesite services, the return home of veterans on Honor Flights and active military personnel from overseas assignments, as well as for ceremonies honoring veterans, etc. It is our honor to attend these missions and there are no fees or expenses incurred by the requesting family or organization.
Funeral Mission Requests
Event Mission Requests
Covid Information
Based on the most current COVID-19 Prevention Guidelines: Protect Yourself and Your Family from COVID-19, and CDC Guidelines of 3 March 2022, going forward, the Lead Ride Captain for any mission will be responsible for determining whether PGR members will have to mask up or not. Please ensure that you have a mask with you, should the need arise, and respect the LRC’s decision in these matters.
PGRNY Current Missions
(For a listing of past Missions, please visit our COMPLETED MISSIONS page.)
- R1/2, Honor Mission - Eugene Frank Norman, US Navy, WWII Veteran, Tue., 12/06/2022, Cheektowaga - Orchard Park, NY
- R1/2, Honor Mission - Robert A. Crum, US Marine Corps, Korean War Veteran, Wed. - Thu., 11/30 & 12/01/2022, Webster, NY
- R1/2, Special Mission - Blue Star Mothers Lights of Honor, All Military Branches, Sun., 12/04/2022, Rochester, NY
- R1/2, UPDATED - Honor Mission - Dennis Jay Schultz, US Army Veteran, Fri., 12/02/2022, Buffalo, NY
- R2/3, HOTH Mission - Snowball Express - Gary Sinise Foundation, Sat., 12/03/2022, Syracuse, NY
- R4/5, Honor Mission - Ernest F. Wiebicke, Jr., US Army Veteran, Fri., 12/02/2022, Schuylerville, NY
- R4/5, Honor Mission - James Yates, US Marine Corps, Vietnam Veteran, Mon., 12/05/2022, Schuylerville, NY
- R4/5, Short Notice Honor Mission - Roland F. Garti, US Army Veteran, Fri., 12/02/2022, Schuylerville, NY
- R4/5, UPDATED - Honor Mission - Clayton H. Green, US Army, Vietnam Era Veteran, Fri., 12/02/2022, Schuylerville, NY
- R7,8,9 HOTH mission - Operation Holiday Cheer (formerly Trees for Troops), All Military Branches, Mon., 12/05/2022 - Oceanside, Jamaica NY
- R8/9 Special Mission - Send Off/Welcome Home Snowball Express - All Military Branches, Sat., 12/03/2022 - Jamaica, NY
- R8/9, Memorial Mission - 81st Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Remembrance and Dropping of the Roses, Wed., 12/07/2022, Farmingdale, NY
- R8/9, Short Notice Honor Mission - Bernard Jones, US Army, Vietnam Veteran, Fri., 12/02/2022, Brentwood - Calverton, NY
Thank You Notes
For a complete listing of all Thank You Notes, visit the Thank You Notes page found in our navigation.
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R1/2 Honor Mission - Jeffery A. Carlson
Received from the family of Jeffery A Carlson...
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R1/2 Honor Mission - William A. Greene
Don: Please accept our thanks to you & the Patriot Guard Riders for making Bill's funeral service so very special. He did his best honoring all veterans he came into contact with plus those that had gone on before him. The plaque you presented was beautiful & greatly appreciated. The entire family...
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R1/2 Honor Mission - Robert A. Trescott
Patriot Guard Riders, We would like to thank you very much for your part in honoring our Dad & Grandfather - Robert A. Trescott on Sept 9,2022. We sincerely appreciate your presence there and the escort to the cemetery. Thank you for the beautiful plaque in remembrance of our Dad's service to our...
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R1/2 Honor Mission - Barry A. Russell
From the Family of Barry A. Russell...
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R1/2 Honor Mission - Peter J. Pittner, Jr.
Thank you from the Pittner Family.....
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R1/2 Honor Mission - Dana F. Fanaro
From the Family of Dana F. Fanaro...
Announcements
For a complete listing of all Announcements, visit the Announcements page found in our navigation.
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Region 3 Announces RC Mike Van Ryn
I am pleased to announce Mike Van Ryn as Region 3 newest Ride Captain. Mike has been an active PGR member since 2019 and was recently asked to become a PGR Ride Captain for Region 3. Mike is an USAF Veteran and an American Legion Rider and Officer from Post 787 in Cicero, NY and is currently...
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Region 4 Announces RC Shirley Gawlak
We are honored to announce the appointment of Shirley Gawlak as Ride Captain for Region 4 of PGRNY. Shirley joined the PGRNY to honor her father a WWII/Korean Army Veteran who had over 25 years in the service and her (late) father-in-law who was also a WWII Veteran. Both her father and my...
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Region 1 Announces RC Thomas Robert Murphy
Thomas Murphy has been a member since April 2013 and is one of our "frequent flyers." He is a highly-decorated US Army 1st Aviation Brigade Vietnam Veteran, including the Distinguished Flying Cross and multiple Air Medals. I've given Tom the opportunity over the past few months to serve as an...
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Region 2 Announces RC Bobby Rinck
Robert (Bobby) Rinck, has been an active member for nine years and has had two years experience as acting lead ride captain along with working with Veteran Recovery Program (VRP). Retired last year after 30 years as a Code Enforcement Officer, His full-time duties now have him grand parenting 4 kids...
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Region 2 Announces RC Bruce Forsyth
Bruce participated in his first PGR Mission in 2013. Since then Bruce has participated in Honor and HOTH missions in NY Regions 1, 2, 3 and PA Regions 1, 2. In 2016 Bruce did his first duty as an Acting Ride Captain. That particular mission, no Ride Captain was available to lead the cemetery...
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Region 1 Announces RC Richard "Dixie" Hancock
With thanks to State Captain Bill Schaaf and Assistant State Captain Nigel Heaton for their approval, I'm honored to announce the appointment of Richard "Dixie" Hancock of Batavia as a new Ride Captain in Region-1. Dixie has been a member for 3-1/2 years, and he's done approx. 150 Missions with...
Our News
Acknowledgements
Rep. Zeldin Honors Patriot Guard Riders on House Floor. On April 12, 2018, Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) honored the Patriot Guard Riders from Long Island and across the United States on the floor of the House of Representatives.
On August 15, 2015, the 70th anniversary of VJ Day, the Patriot Guard Riders of New York were honored to present a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. To make this an even greater honor, we were accompanied and assisted by Dr Tom Smith, Sal Famularo and Francis "Dick" Varone, US Marine Corps veterans of WWII, participants in many battles in Pacific Theater of Operations, including the Battle of Iwo Jima.
It's not about us...
However, we received recognition for our efforts in the form of a proclamation from Sulfolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy, 12th District. Patriot Guard Riders of New York attended and stood honoring Daniel Pierce, USAF on November 5, 2020. There was no known family to see him to his final rest. PGRNY was asked to stand and honor him as part of his family.
Thank you Legislator Leslie Kennedy.
Honoring and being Honored...
PGRNY arrived at Ernie Pyle Center with our flags ready to stand a flag line but were asked to put them back in our bikes - "We have this one," we were told by the 1174th Deployment & Distribution Battalion Honor Guard, Fort Totten, NY.
We were invited to take seats in the front of the hall, that we were guests of honor today.
Toward the end of the Retirement Ceremony, we were asked to come up to the front to accept a Certificate of Appreciation from the Battalion, which was accepted on behalf of Patriot Guard Riders across the country.
Thank you on behalf of all PGR!
