John and Paula Price with their Hannigan TriCar Goldwing Conversion
How far would you go to honor our wounded warriors? Is a thousand miles too far? Not according to John Price, who for five out of the past seven years has made the 1,100 mile trip from his home in Colterville, Illlinois to escort the Warrior’s Weekend soldiers from Victoria to Port O’Connor.
John is a member of the Patriot Guard Riders (Missouri/Illinois Branch). Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation who have one thing in common besides motorcycles. They have an unwavering respect for those who risk their lives for America’s freedom and security.
John is a disabled Vietnam Veteran, but he stresses that one need not be military, or even own a motorcycle to be a member of the Patriot Guard Riders. Many in the organization serve by driving support vehicles, putting up “flag lines”, and in various other ways. Members only have to meet one requirement: Respect.
The main mission of the Patriot Guard Riders is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission they undertake has two basic objectives:
1. Show sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families and their communities.
2. Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions caused by any protestor or group of protestors (strictly by legal and non-violent means).
Residing near Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, John attends many funerals, sometimes up to three per day. He enjoyed a different sort of mission a few weeks ago for the dedication of the Stalag 17B Survivors Museum at the Jefferson Barracks Memorial Site. He had the privilege of transporting to the ceremony, in his side-car, an 88-year-old female veteran. John said she really enjoyed the ride.
John and his wife Paula have assisted in many ways during Warrior’s Weekend, but the past couple of years there have been so many volunteers and things we so well organized, they felt their services were not needed. “My sole purpose was to ride escort,” John said. On Friday, May 17, John met up with Jesse Cortez and the Patriot Guards of Seadrift and rode to Praseks at Hilje, then joined the rest of the Texas Patriot Guard Riders to escort the Warrior’s Weekend caravan to the Field of Honor in Victoria and then on to Port O’Connor. There were more than 450 motorcyclists escorting the troops for Warrior’s Weekend. Some were well-known groups, some unaffiliated, but all were there to honor our soldiers.
Following his trip to Warrior’s Weekend, John and Paula plan to ride around the country for a while. They’ll go to California, Florida, and places in between. And should John hear of a Patriot Guard group nearby invited to escort a fallen soldier, he’ll be there to participate.
While in Port O’Connor, the Prices visited with Clyde and Connie Rowney. Clyde (a Navy Veteran) is Paula’s brother. Port O’Connor “old-timers” will remember their mother Totsie, Aunt Polly, and Grandma Purdy.
