"The Old Guard"
 |
|
|
|
Honoring, Protecting and Supporting Founded by the Gold Star parents of Sgt Robert Scott Eppich, the Old Guard Riders are keenly aware of the desire of the family to pay as much honor and tribute to the deceased loved one as possible, while at the same time desiring the personal space the family needs to grieve their loss. One of the most common complaints from family members and Casualty Assistance Officers is the unintended hardship and grief caused to the family of a deceased service member by well intentioned individuals and organizations interjecting themselves into the grieving process. By offering its services to the family through the Military Casualty Officer, the Old Guard Riders, when invited to participate by the family, is truly acting as invited guests of the family as they go through the burial process, from their fallen loved one returning home to the family - all the way through the last moments of the funeral itself and beyond. Honoring
One of the most visible ways of honoring America's fallen is by providing a beautiful honor-flag-arrayed motorcade to escort the fallen family member as he or she is being transported throughout the funeral process. Nothing turns the routine movements of a hearse going about its business into a display of honor and respect more than a beautiful motorcade. At the request of the family, the Old Guard Riders will coordinate with the family and Military Casualty Officer to provide or participate in an appropriate motorcade for the family. In addition to the motorcade, the Old Guard Riders, at the family's request, will provide a flag line at the funeral home and cemetery to add a display of patriotism and pageantry for the family and guests as they attend services for the departed service member. The Old Guard Riders continue to honor the families of America's fallen year after year by attending the various family and community memorials for their fallen loved ones. As many of the officers and members of the Old Guard Riders are members of the American Legion, the VFW and other veterans organizations, the Old Guard Riders work closely with these organizations to assist the family in every way possible. Protecting During the Vietnam Conflict, military men and women were often the victims of animosity and scorn because of public disapproval of the war; however, that disapproval and scorn did not spill over to the funerals of fallen service members and veterans. Since 2005, members of a radical religious group have changed all that. Using bright colored signs and boisterous demonstration, members of the Westboro Baptist Church (pictured below) have frequented military funerals for the singular purpose of disrupting the funeral in order to promote their own radical views.
The Old Guard Riders, in conjunction with other organizations, have attended military services in order to protect grieving families from this kind of malicious behavior. The Old Guard Riders continue to stand ready to protect the privacy and dignity of the grieving families of our fallen service men and women. Supporting In addition to honoring and protecting our fallen heroes and their families, the Old Guard Riders support the families of our fallen heroes through several support activities. Among the membership of the Old Guard Riders are current and retired military personnel capable of assisting the family with a host of information and services. Members of the Old Guard Riders include current and former Casualty Assistance Officers who are available to answer questions and lend assistance as required. The Old Guard Riders support all of the Gold Star organizations and stand ready to assist in any way possible. Ron Eppich, founder and President of the Old Guard Riders, is the Arizona State Coordinator for the Gold Star Dads of America.
|
Table of Contents
|
Honoring Our Fallen |
Copyright 2007 Old Guard Riders Inc. All rights reserved.
