The Patriot Guard Riders Mission Statement

Mission Statement:

The Patriot Guard Riders is a 100% volunteer, federally registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization which ensures dignity and respect at memorial services honoring fallen military heroes, first responders, and honorably discharged veterans.

Vision Statement:

The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security, including fallen military heroes, first responders, and honorably discharged veterans. If you share this respect, please join us.

We don’t care what you ride or if you ride, what your political views are, or whether you’re a hawk or a dove. It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what your income is; you don’t even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.

Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. 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 their friends from interruptions created by any protester or group of protesters.

We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.

To those of you who are currently serving and fighting for the freedom of others, at home and abroad, please know that we are backing you. We honor and support you with every mission we carry out, and we are praying for a safe return home for all.

Welcome To The RGVPGR Website

Attention RGVPGR members and friends:

This blog site has been created to help spread the word about the local PGR and the services we provide and to share information regarding upcoming missions, past missions, and other events. Photos and other event descriptions will be posted here unless otherwise requested. Comments and suggestions are welcome. In keeping with the dignified mission of the PGR, please keep all comments respectful and bear in mind that others besides ourselves will be able to view this site. All comments will be moderated before being posted.

Our Fallen Heroes 2003-present



Army Chief Warrant Officer Jose L. Montenegro, Jr., 31 * San Juan/Houston
1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division,
Fort Bragg, N.C
KIA September 5, 2012
Logar Province, Afghanistan

 
Marine Staff Sgt. Joseph Fankhauser, 30 * Sharyland
7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force
KIA April 22, 2012 
Helmand province, Afghanistan


 Army Spc. Kurt Kern, 24 * McAllen
720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade
KIA December 27, 2011
Paktya, Afghanistan


 Army 1st Lt. Andres Zermeno, 26 * Brownsville
2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
KIA September 25, 2011
Wardak province, Afghanistan


Army Staff Sgt. Estevan Altamirano, 30 * Edcouch
1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division
KIA September 18, 2011
Tikrit, Iraq


Army Sgt. Rodolfo "Rudy" Rodriguez, 26 * Pharr
3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
KIA September 14, 2011
Kandahar province, Afghanistan


Army PFC Ira Benjamin Laningham, 22 * Zapata
2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
KIA January 7, 2011
Logar province, Afghanistan 


Army PFC Diego Montoya, 20 * Mission
720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade
KIA September 2, 2010
FOB Mehtar Lam, Afghanistan


Marine Lance Cpl. Derek Hernandez, 20 * Edinburg
3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force
KIA June 5, 2010
Helmand province, Afghanistan


Army PFC Adriana Alvarez, 20 * San Benito
504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade
KIA February 10, 2010
Baghdad, Iraq


Army Sgt. Fernando De La Rosa, 27 * Alamo 
1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division
KIA October 27, 2009
Arghandab Valley, Afghanistan


Army Staff Sgt. Bradley Espinoza, 26 * Mission
1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division
KIA October 19, 2009
Qwest, Iraq


Army Spc. Alex D. Gonzalez, 21 * Mission
43rd Combat Engineer Company, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment
KIA May 6, 2008
Mosul, Iraq


Army Cpl. Jose A. Rubio Hernandez, 24 * Mission
4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division
KIA March 24, 2008
Baghdad, Iraq


Army Spc. Eric D. Salinas, 25 * Primera
2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division
KIA August 2, 2007
Baghdad, Iraq


Army Staff Sgt. Juan Campos, 27 * McAllen
1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
KIA June 1, 2007
Baghdad, Iraq


Marine Lance Cpl. Anthony Aguirre, 20 * Raymondville
2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force
KIA February 26, 2007
Anbar province, Iraq


Army PFC Darrell Shipp, 25 * Harlingen
2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division
KIA January 25, 2007
Baghdad, Iraq

Army Staff Sgt. Hector Leija, 27 * Raymondville
1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team)
KIA January 24, 2007
Baghdad, Iraq

Army Staff Sgt. Omar D. Flores, 27 * Mission
54th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer Brigade
KIA July 8, 2006
Ramadi, Iraq


Army PFC Kristian Menchaca, 23 * Brownsville
1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
KIA June 16, 2006
Baghdad, Iraq

Marine Lance Cpl. Benito Ramirez, 21 * Edinburg
3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force
KIA May 21, 2006
Fallujah, Iraq

Marine Lance Cpl. Samuel Tapia, 20 * San Benito
3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force
KIA December 18, 2005
Ramadi, Iraq

Army Spc. James Kesinger, 32 * Pharr
2nd Battalion, 70th Armor, 3rd Brigade Combat Team
KIA December 13, 2005
Taji, Iraq

Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher McCrackin, 20 * Brownsville
Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 
I Marine Expeditionary Force, 
KIA November 14, 2005
New Ubaydi, Iraq

Army Staff Sgt. Joseph Rodriguez, 25 * Brownsville
8th Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division
KIA January 28, 2005
Baghdad, Iraq

Army Sgt. Javier Marin, 29 * Mission
2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry, 1st Infantry Division
KIA January 24, 2005
Mohammed Sacran, Iraq

Marine Lance Cpl. Julio Cisneros Alvarez, 22 * Pharr
1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force
KIA January 2, 2005
Anbar province, Iraq

Army Spc. Isaac Diaz, 26 * Rio Hondo
2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division (Light)
KIA December 1, 2004
Sharona, Afghanistan
 Army Maj. Horst "Gary" Moore, 38 * Los Fresnos
1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team)
KIA November 9, 2004
Mosul, Iraq

Army National Guard Spc. Tomas Garces, 19 * Weslaco
1836th Transportation Company, Texas Army National Guard
KIA September 6, 2004
Baghdad, Iraq

Army Spc. Mark Anthony Zapata, 27 * Edinburg
2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
KIA August 15, 2004
Najaf, Iraq

Army Sgt. Daniel Galvan, 30 * Mercedes
2nd Battalion (Assault), 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Light Infantry Division
KIA August 12, 2004
Salerno, Afghanistan

Marine Sgt. Juan Calderon, Jr., 26 * Weslaco
3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force
KIA August 2, 2004
Anbar province, Iraq

Marine Lance Cpl. Pedro Contreras, 27 * Brownsville
2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force
KIA June 21, 2004
Anbar province,Iraq

Army Sgt. Christopher Ramirez, 34 * McAllen
1st Battalion, 16th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division
KIA April 14, 2004
Anbar province, Iraq 

Marine PFC Dustin Sekula, 18 * Edinburg
2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force
KIA April 1, 2004
Anbar province, Iraq

Army Pvt. Rey D. Cuervo, 24 * Laguna Vista
1st Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment
KIA December 28, 2003
Baghdad, Iraq

Army Staff Sgt. Hector Perez, 40 * Brownsville
Company A, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division
KIA July 24, 2003
Hawd, Iraq

Marine PFC Juan Garza, 20 * San Benito
1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division
KIA April 8, 2003
Baghdad, Iraq 

Army Sgt. Edward Anguiano, 24 * Brownsville
3rd Combat Support Battalion, 507th Maintenance Company
KIA March 23, 2003
Iraq

"They are dead, but they live 
in each Patriot's breast
And their names are engraven
on honor's bright chest."
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow