A group of Patriot Guard Riders process into the parking lot in front of the CrossPointe Church Saturday in Norman. The Patriot Guard Riders came to support the family of Sgt. Dan Eshbaugh who died in a helicopter crash in Iraq, as well as to help with the escort to the funeral home. Amy Frost/The Daily
About 100 military veterans on motorcycles escorted the family of a Norman soldier killed in Iraq to his funeral Saturday morning in Norman.
The Patriot Guard Riders came to the funeral of Oklahoma Army National Guard Sgt. Daniel Michael Eshbaugh, 43, of Norman, who was killed Sept. 18 in a helicopter crash in Iraq.
The Patriot Guard Riders were founded in 2005, when a group of military veterans attended a soldier’s funeral in Chelsea. Many members of the group are military veterans who ride motorcycles, but it is not a requirement for members to be veterans or bikers. The Patriot Guard Riders is a national organization that attends the funeral services of American soldiers to support the soldiers, their families and their communities.
Dennis Patterson, 53, of Purcell, was one of the riders who attended the service. He said honoring soldiers who died while serving their country is the sole mission of the group.
“That’s it. No other purpose,” Patterson said.
Before the funeral service began, a group of protesters from Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas stood near the CrossPointe Church on Highway 9 holding signs that read “pray for more dead soldiers” and waving upside-down American flags.
According to Westboro’s Web site, the deaths of American soldiers are God’s way of punishing the U.S. for its tolerance of homosexuality. The protesters were required by law to remain 500 feet away from the church.
The riders revved their engines to drown out the sound of the protesters’ yelling.
The protesters left before the service began. The patriot riders cheered their departure and yelled, “Mission accomplished.”
“They’re insignificant,” Patterson said of the Westboro protesters. Patterson has been a member of the riders for three years and was in the Army from 1971 to 1973.
Kandy Cina, 48, of Norman, came to support the Patriot Guard Riders. She said one goal of the riders is to shield the family of the soldier from the protestors.
“They are protesting and disrupting the funeral service,” said Cina, who said she was in the Navy from 1978 to 1999 and has been to about 20 funerals. “Families should not be disrespected. A funeral service is sacred.”
About 50 members of OU’s ROTC Army, Navy and Marine Corps detachments also attended the funeral.
Nick Kuhn, aviation senior and OU Naval ROTC member, was at the church before the funeral service began.
Kuhn said he came to support the family of the soldier who was killed.
“From a military standpoint, if I was ever killed in combat, I would want a flag representation out here to try and protect my family and my body,” Kuhn said. “And I know everyone here feels the same way.”
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Wow. I saw that picture and one of the first thoughts in my mind was, "Wouldn't it be nice if those Patriot Riders could keep the protesters out?"
It's good to hear that there is a group meant to honor the dead, not mock them or take away from the event by protesting about something else.
Someone, a hero, has fallen. And when he or she dies, they deserve some respect.
I understand the whole aspect of freedom of speech and peaceful assembly. I also understand about common sense and being considerate and understanding that there is something bigger than a political view at hand.
I am a member of the Eshbaugh Family. Danny was my cousin. I was deeply touched by the respect and honor given to Danny by the Patriot Guard Riders. They did sheild us from the protestors which we didn't even see. We did however see many other very respectful people along the side of the road saluting, waving their flags or just pulled over out of respect. I was very impressed by the amount of patriotism I experienced in Norman, OK. I am from Pennsylvania and I can't say people always take the time to be respectful because they are in too much of a hurry. Thank you Patriot Riders and Norman, OK for being so respectful to me and my family during our visit for Danny's services. I'm sure Rachel and Danny's four children will have plenty of people to look out for them.
God Bless you all
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