Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn Declares Patriot Guard Day in Illinois HUNDREDS OF MOTORCYCLE RIDERS ROLL INTO CHICAGO!

(CHICAGO) - Today, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn declared Saturday, September 9 as "Patriot Guard Day" in the Land of Lincoln in honor of the Illinois chapter of the Patriot Guard - a diverse group of motorcycle riders whose mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen servicemembers who died in the Global War on Terrorism.

As invited guests of the family, the members of the Patriot Guard shield the mourners from hate groups seeking to disrupt the funeral service.

Quinn was joined by the Gold Star family of fallen hero, Marine Lance CPL Philip J. Martini who shared the impact of the Patriot Guard's presence at their son's funeral. Martini, of Lansing, Illinois, died on April 8, 2006 of a gunshot wound received in combat in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was 24 years old.

Nationwide, there are more than 52,000 Patriot Guard riders, with more than 2,700 in Illinois. More than 800 of those riders are from the Chicago area.

Earlier this year, the Illinois Patriot Guard joined Quinn to win passage of the Let Them Rest in Peace Act - landmark legislation in Illinois which creates a zone of privacy of 200 feet around a funeral or memorial service so families mourning the loss of a loved one will not be subjected to vile epithets or signs.

"The Illinois Patriot Guard ensures that the servicemen and women who have given their last full measure of devotion to our country are laid to rest in peace," said Quinn. "Today, I salute the Illinois riders of the Patriot Guard for their tireless commitment to honoring the memory of true heroes of the Land of Lincoln and protecting the families who mourn their loss."

Quinn was also joined by Ed Mueller, Great Lakes Regional Captain for the Patriot Guard.

To learn more about the Patriot Guard, visit www.OperationHomefront.org. With more than 17.6 million hits, it's one of the country's most informative websites on supporting our troops.
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State of Illinois
Office of Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn

Declaration

WHEREAS, the Patriot Guard Riders are a grassroots organization of motorcycle riders from across Illinois; and

WHEREAS, the Patriot Guard Riders were formed in response to vile protests intended to disrupt funerals of members of the United States Armed Forces who have given their lives in the Global War on Terror; and

WHEREAS, since their inception in 2005, the Patriot Guard Riders have gathered thousands of patriotic men and women who have joined together to form honor guards at dozens of military funerals across the Land of Lincoln; and

WHEREAS, Patriot Guard Riders have shown unwavering respect for our fallen heroes; and

WHEREAS, the Patriot Guard Riders were instrumental in the passage of Illinois' Let Them Rest In Peace Act, a law protecting mourning families and friends from heckling and harassment by hate groups at military funerals; and

WHEREAS, the families and friends of our fallen heroes have expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Patriot Guard Riders for helping to maintain a proper atmosphere of dignity, respect and reverence at military funerals in our state; and

WHEREAS, the Patriot Guard Riders' brave, selfless and thoughtful actions at military funerals have exemplified the deep patriotism that inspires all Americans and demonstrated the remarkable power of a grassroots movement to make a positive difference in people's lives; and

WHEREAS, the Patriot Guard Riders have expanded their mission over time to further recognize and honor the sacrifice of America's fallen heroes and those who loved them; and

WHEREAS, the Patriot Guard Riders are a shining example of the democratic, vigorous, principled free expression of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution;

THEREFORE, I, Pat Quinn, Lt. Governor of the State of Illinois, hereby commend and salute the Patriot Guard Riders for their unwavering and unselfish service to America's fallen heroes and their families and to the great principles of democracy and freedom that those heroes gave their lives to defend, and declare Saturday, September 9, 2006, to be Patriot Guard Day throughout the Land of Lincoln.

Dated this September 9, 2006.

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Pat Quinn
Lt. Governor