As I reached ninety strangers in my 100 Strangers project, I began to wonder who would be my 100th stranger, and I began to slow to a halt. I wanted somebody special, someone memorable. Enter a real McCoy, Jerry McCoy. Jerry had been a photographer in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. He proudly told me that his favorite assignment had been to photograph the first female cadets at the Air Force Academy throughout their first year. Today, he was carrying a Canon point and shoot.
We talked photography a while, and Jerry readily agreed when I asked to take his portrait. I knelt down and squeezed off a flury of frames at 5fps, and he looked at me quizzically. "Digital," I said, knowing what he was thinking.
"Yeah, it's a whole new world when you don't have to worry how many frames you have left, isn't it?" he said. I smiled and Jerry instinctively looked the other direction as I fired off a few more frames. We chatted some more, and I gave Jerry my card. He told me he would be certain to look up my photostream and the 100 Strangers group.
Jerry is a member of The Patriot Guard Riders. The Patriot Guard Riders were formed in 2005 to shelter and protect the funerals of servicemen from the most contemptable protesters imaginable. On this day, many had come hundreds of miles to shield such a funeral.
In exchange for the privilege of photographing the riders, I agreed to not mention the specific group of protestors by name. The Guard's attitude towards the protestors is one of total indifference. Their mission is not to stop the protest, but to prevent the disruption of the funeral ceremony through nonviolent means, and to insure that a sincere respect is shown for fallen heroes, their families and their communities. Today, that mission was accomplished.
If you would like to be a part of the Patriot Guard, or if you would like to donate to their cause, visit their website at the link above. You do not have to ride a motorcycle to join. Your political affiliation and your views on the current war do not matter. You do not have to be a veteran. The only requirement is that you have a sincere respect for our fallen heroes.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
~Voltaire
Thank you, Jerry, for being my one hundredth Stranger in the 100 Strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the flickr group page.
The 100 Strangers website can be found at 100strangers.com/
Nikkor 50mm ƒ1.8, Available Light
View Large and on Black
Tags: 100 Strangers 100/100 Jerry McCoy Patriot Guard Riders Patriot Guard Photographer US Air Force Veteran Biker Harley Davidson Portrait 8X10
© All Rights Reserved
As I reached ninety strangers in my 100 Strangers project, I began to wonder who would be my 100th stranger, and I began to slow to a halt. I wanted somebody special, someone memorable. Enter a real McCoy, Jerry McCoy. Jerry had been a photographer in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. He proudly told me that his favorite assignment had been to photograph the first female cadets at the Air Force Academy throughout their first year. Today, he was carrying a Canon point and shoot.
We talked photography a while, and Jerry readily agreed when I asked to take his portrait. I knelt down and squeezed off a flury of frames at 5fps, and he looked at me quizzically. "Digital," I said, knowing what he was thinking.
"Yeah, it's a whole new world when you don't have to worry how many frames you have left, isn't it?" he said. I smiled and Jerry instinctively looked the other direction as I fired off a few more frames. We chatted some more, and I gave Jerry my card. He told me he would be certain to look up my photostream and the 100 Strangers group.
Jerry is a member of The Patriot Guard Riders. The Patriot Guard Riders were formed in 2005 to shelter and protect the funerals of servicemen from the most contemptable protesters imaginable. On this day, many had come hundreds of miles to shield such a funeral.
In exchange for the privilege of photographing the riders, I agreed to not mention the specific group of protestors by name. The Guard's attitude towards the protestors is one of total indifference. Their mission is not to stop the protest, but to prevent the disruption of the funeral ceremony through nonviolent means, and to insure that a sincere respect is shown for fallen heroes, their families and their communities. Today, that mission was accomplished.
If you would like to be a part of the Patriot Guard, or if you would like to donate to their cause, visit their website at the link above. You do not have to ride a motorcycle to join. Your political affiliation and your views on the current war do not matter. You do not have to be a veteran. The only requirement is that you have a sincere respect for our fallen heroes.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
~Voltaire
Thank you, Jerry, for being my one hundredth Stranger in the 100 Strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the flickr group page.
The 100 Strangers website can be found at 100strangers.com/
Nikkor 50mm ƒ1.8, Available Light
View Large and on Black
Tags: 100 Strangers 100/100 Jerry McCoy Patriot Guard Riders Patriot Guard Photographer US Air Force Veteran Biker Harley Davidson Portrait 8X10
© All Rights Reserved
On the morning I met him, John Dirst had ridden his Harley Davidson almost 200 miles to attend the funeral of a man he had never met. John was a Chief Petty Officer in the US Navy, and since I am an old sailor myself, we had a ready topic of conversation. We discussed various duty stations and ports of call, and the changes in the military over the past twenty years. One thing that we both agreed that would never change is the brotherhood that comrades in arms feel.
About that 200 mile ride to attend a funeral of a man he never met..... John is a member of The Patriot Guard Riders. The Patriot Guard Riders were formed in 2005 to shelter and protect the funerals of servicemen from the most contemptable protesters imaginable. In exchange for the privilege of photographing the riders, I agreed to not mention the specific group of protestors by name. The Guard's attitude towards the protestors is one of total indifference. Their mission is not to stop the protest, but to prevent the disruption of the funeral ceremony through nonviolent means, and to insure that a sincere respect is shown for fallen heroes, their families and their communities. Today, that mission was accomplished.
If you would like to be a part of the Patriot Guard, or if you would like to donate to their cause, visit their website at the link above. You do not have to ride a motorcycle to join. Your political affiliation and your views on the current war do not matter. You do not have to be a veteran. The only requirement is that you have a sincere respect for our fallen heroes.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
~Voltaire
Thank you, John, for your service today and yesterday. Thank you, too, for being Stranger number ninety-eight in my 100 Strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the flickr group page.
The 100 Strangers website can be found at 100strangers.com/
Nikkor 50mm ƒ1.8, Available Light
View Large and on Black
Tags: 100 Strangers 98/100 John Dirst Patriot Guard Riders Patriot Guard US Navy Chief CPO Harley Davidson Biker Veteran Portrait 8X10
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The Gunny was running with The Patriot Guard Riders when I met him. Like many old warriors, he showed up in the recruiter's office after 9/11 to re-enlist. He was told by another Gunnery Sergeant that he was to old. "But you are older than me!" he replied incredulously to the Gunny in charge of the office.
"Yeah, but you got out, I didn't." came the reply. Today, as a member of The Patriot Guard Riders, the Gunny makes certain that the funeral proceedings of service men and women are not disrupted by protestors.
In an ironic state of affairs, those who serve to protect the freedom of speech that all US citizens enjoy are sometimes the victims of the derranged fringes of society. When soldiers, sailors and Marines began to return to the United States in flag draped coffins, some groups began to exploit the return for their own twisted delusional aims with offensive picketing of funerals. While many people wrung their hand and others shugged, bikers began to organize.
The Patriot Guard Riders were formed in 2005 to shelter and protect the funerals of servicemen from the most contemptable protesters imaginable. In exchange for the privilege of photographing the riders, I agreed to not mention the specific group of protestors by name. The Guard's attitude towards the protestors is one of indifference. Their mission is not to stop the protest, but to prevent the disruption of the funeral ceremony through nonviolent means, and to insure that a sincere respect is shown for fallen heroes, their families and their communities. Mission accomplished.
If you would like to be a part of the Patriot Guard, or if you would like to donate to their cause, visit their website at the link above. You do not have to ride a motorcycle to join. Your political affiliation and your views on the current war do not matter. You do not have to be a veteran. The only requirement is that you have a sincere respect for our fallen heroes.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
~Voltaire
Thank you, Gunny, for your service today and yesterday. Thank you, too, for being Stranger number ninety-seven in my 100 Strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the flickr group page.
The 100 Strangers website can be found at 100strangers.com/
Nikkor 50mm ƒ1.8, Available Light
View Large and on Black
Tags: 100 Strangers 97/100 Gunny Gunnery Sergeant USMC GySgt Patriot Guard Riders Patriot Guard Veteran Portrait 8X10
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Drifty had ridden his Harley Davidson 145 miles from Marshall Texas to shield a deceased soldier's grieving family from potential protestors. It was a hot and humid day with gulf storm clouds gathering on the horizon. Although he was tired, hungry and sweaty, the prospect of providing this service invigorated Drifty.
Drifty is a member of The Patriot Guard Riders. He served in the US Navy in the Vietnam War, and regularly attends funerals for servicemen with the PGR. I had the honor of standing beside Drifty in the flag line. I had previously agreed, at the request of the family, to not photograph anything but the Patriot Guard riders themselves.
The Patriot Guard Riders were formed in 2005 to shelter and protect the funerals of servicemen from the most contemptable protesters imaginable. In exchange for the privilege of photographing the riders, I agreed to not mention the specific group of protestors by name. The Guard's attitude towards the protestors is one of indifference. Their mission is not to stop the protest, but to prevent the disruption of the funeral ceremony through nonviolent means, and to insure that a sincere respect is shown for fallen heroes, their families and their communities. Mission accomplished.
If you would like to be a part of the Patriot Guard, or if you would like to donate to their cause, visit their website at the link above. You do not have to ride a motorcycle to join. Your political affiliation and your views on the current war do not matter. You do not have to be a veteran. The only requirement is that you have a sincere respect for our fallen heroes.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
~Voltaire
Thank you, Drifty, for your service today and yesterday. Thank you, too, for being Stranger number ninety-six in my 100 Strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the flickr group page.
The 100 Strangers website can be found at 100strangers.com/
Nikkor 50mm ƒ1.8, Available Light
View Large and on Black
Tags: 100 Strangers 96/100 Drifty Patriot Guard Riders Biker Patriot Guard Funeral Service Veteran Portrait 8X10
© All Rights Reserved