The Patriot Guard Riders (PGR), a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting the families of military veterans and first responders, is looking to expand its services in Macon County. PGR honors fallen heroes by providing motorcycle escorts to funerals, offering flag lines at burials, and assisting veterans and their families through their Help on the Homefront (HOTH) programs.
Sam Canada, who serves as Ride Captain of Macon County’s PGR, was inspired to join the program by his wife, Dorothy, and sister-in-law, Mary Pentito, who were both patriot guards in Ohio, after the trio decided to escort a young veteran who was killed in Iraq.
“We went to the Cleveland Airport and escorted him all the way back to Oberlin, about 40 miles, and it kind of just got to me,” remembered Canada.
Canada has now been a member of the PGR for 12 years. When asked what the PGR does, Canada explained, “If any veteran or first responder passes away, the family can get with us and give us the information about the one that passed away. We will send it up to the national website, and then we will do whatever the family wants. If they want a flag line at the funeral, or a motorcycle escort from the funeral home to the cemetery, or for us to stand at the burial, we will do all of that.”
There is no charge for the PGR’s services. The national PGR presents local groups with missions and details. The local PGR then contacts www.patriotguard.org, which submits the mission and gives out the information to all of the patriot guards.
Canada was born in Kentucky and relocated from Ohio to Franklin with his wife, Dorothy, about six years ago.
“Her dad bought some property down here and after coming down to help work on it, she asked if I would like to move to Franklin. I agreed,” said Canada.
Although continuing to be active in the Patriot Guard Reserves, Canada did not start up the local Franklin chapter until three years ago.
“We have a State Captain who normally sends out the information to all of us ride captains,” he said. “When we first started [locally], my wife and I couldn’t figure out why we weren’t getting missions.”
After having no luck with the State Captain in getting assignments, Canada and his wife decided to hold a meeting with his sister-in-law and former Patriot Guard Richard Litchford. The four decided they were going to start the nonprofit chapter in Franklin.
Canada has been trying to push the program to the forefront in Macon County.
“There are a lot of veterans around here, and we want to make sure the public is given the proper information about them,” said Canada.
“I do a lot of stuff for the veterans. I deejay at the American Legion. I do benefit concerts for the Smoky Mountain Stand Down. Just anything that helps the veterans.”
Canada is not a veteran himself, but his father was a veteran and his son retired after serving in the military for 22 years.
Franklin’s PGR does not just operate in Macon County. “We just did Wreaths Across America in Waynesville at the Green Hill Cemetery. There, I had six Patriot Guards and 14 civilians holding flags. We also do a flag line in Clyde for their Veteran’s Day event at the fire station. Just as long as it’s not too far away, we’ll go for it,” detailed Canada.
Donations to the PGR can be made through www.patriotguard.org. Those needing services for fallen veterans and first responders or a Help on the Homefront Mission, such as dedications or escorts to military events for living veterans, can request services at the same website.
Canada urges anyone interested in joining the group to contact him at (440) 315-5326 or by emailing [email protected].
“Anybody can be a Patriot Guard. They do not have to be a veteran. They do not have to ride a motorcycle. All they need is respect. That’s it,” noted Canada.