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The Bradford Era: Patriot Guard Riders to be in Bradford for fallen soldier's funeral

Protesters may plan to be at the location of the funeral of Master Sgt. Thomas Maholic on Friday, but a national motorcycle group plans to thwart any contact by the protesters with the Maholic family.

"Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family," explained Max Howerter, assistant director of public relations for the Patriot Riders Group.

"Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives: 1. show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families and their communities;
2. shield the mourning family and friends from interruptions created by any protester or group protester. We do this by turning our backs to them and holding 3' X 5' American flags on 6-foot poles to block them from the families," Howerter explained.

Everything is done through strictly legal and non-violent means, he added, stressing that Patriot Riders are not a protest group.

"We do not conflict with them. We do not talk to them," Howerter said.
"We build (the family) a tunnel of flags outside (of where the funeral is held) and all they'll see is American flags flying.

"We do this out of honor and respect," he said.

Explaining how their organization came about, Howerter said that about eight months ago, the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas was protesting a funeral of an American solider.

"A group of us veterans got together ... we decided we couldn't take this anymore," he said. "We decided to form an organization. Today we have over 42,000 members. A lot of us are veterans."

Howerter himself is a Vietnam veteran - one who was not treated well when he returned home all those years ago.

"What happened to us we don't want to happen to anyone else," he said vehemently.

Amen to that, Brother. Thank you and your comrades for your service to our nation, then and now.

"It's our honor to do this," he added emotionally. "We have quite a few members who travel eight hours one way to go to these."

He could not say how many members may be at the ceremony for Maholic.
According to the organization's Web site, where there is a discussion forum regarding the plans for Maholic's service, members are planning to come from Ontario, Canada, all around New York and Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New Jersey and even one from Fort Bragg, N.C., where Maholic was stationed.

Maholic was killed June 24 while on duty in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan.

The group of riders, who all have one thing in common other than motorcycles, Howerter said, "have an unwavering respect for those who risk their lives for every American's freedom and security."

On the group's Web site, a few relatives of Maholic have posted responses thanking the members for their support and willingness to perform this service for military men and women.

"We will ignore the protesters, if any are so foolish as to show up," reads a message from a nephew. "If their means and motivation were not so vile, I would forgive them their ignorance. As it stands, I can only feel a slight amount of pity for them and their horribly skewed view of the world."

Anyone attending the services on Friday will see that the protesters are in the minority, Howerter said.

"You will see with your own eyes that patriotism still does exist in the United States," he said proudly.

And their patriotism and commitment to families of the military have been lauded by President Bush and by Congress, Howerter explained, saying the Patriot Riders were commended for "stepping up to do the right thing."

Closer to home, a contingent from the Open Arms Community Church will be at the services Friday to support the Maholic family and provide drinks to the Patriot Riders, explained Josh Hatcher, outreach pastor, Wednesday night.

The Rev. Mike McAvoy, pastor of Open Arms in Bradford, offered these comments.

"We as a church want to extend our apologies to the family of Thomas Maholic, the community of Bradford and God for this group's behavior and misrepresentation of biblical Christianity. We have been praying for the Maholic family for months before he was killed and continue to do so.

"We trust that the Maholic family and this community will see the love and truth of Jesus Christ demonstrated through the local churches of this community and will see that this group does not in any way represent us, our beliefs, or the person of Jesus Christ."

Not bad, Reverend. Not bad at all.

McAvoy added that the messages of the Westboro Baptist Church are contradictory.

"These people contradict themselves in their declared theology. They isolate Scriptures and focus on using them in a way to mask their own prejudice and hatred in the name of God."

The Bible says anyone who does not love does not know God, and since their message is devoid of love, they cannot be God's representatives.

"This group's picketing of a funeral shows no love or sensitivity, and is not only unloving toward a grieving family, but is hateful and sin," McAvoy said.