It’s all about respect. And families. Not their families, but those left behind when a military family member is killed in battle.

Patriot Guard Riders will be the first to say that they aren’t the story, only the shield for the true heroes.

Jim Warren of Calhoun, has ridden with the group almost since it’s inception and is now the ride captain for the Northwest Georgia. Warren, an Air National Guard veteran, joined after a fellow airman and ride friend from Chattanooga encouraged him.

His first “mission” as they are called was the funeral of 19-year old Lance Cpl. Cody Warren, no relation, of Resaca, who was killed in Iraq in 2006.

“Unbelievable,” Warren said of the experience, who said he didn’t know what to expect. Since then, he’s done more than 150 missions – not all of them funerals. The PGR also does send-off cere-monies and welcome-home events.

The group formed, rather “rag-tag,” in 2005 after a group of American Legion Riders, chapter 136 from Kansas heard about a group of protesters from Westboro Baptist Church protesting at military funerals. They organized a group to shield mourning families from the protestors, but from there, the group took off. The group showed up with “as many types of flags and flag poles” as people.

Nationally, they now have about 180,000 members that include bikers and non-bikers alike.

“Respect is all that is expected,” said Warren, who joined more than four years ago. “Their sacrifice means something.”

Since then, they’ve become more standardized, using the same size flags and poles.

“It looks a lot better and means a lot to the family,” said Warren, whose youngest son, Lane, is stationed in Kuwait.

PGR, usually contacted by the family, works with the funeral home and the police department to provide the flag line at visitation and the ceremony, and motorcycle escorts, even when there is no threat of protestors. However, Georgia’s group has branched out.

“Georgia is really active. Initially, we only did KIA’s, but we have enough members that we can do veteran’s, police, and firemen,” said Warren.

Although there are no exact numbers for Georgia, Warren said the group is large enough for the state to be divided into four regions for organizational purposes. Members often travel outside their region to participate elsewhere. Warren said he has traveled 350 miles to attend a mission. His wife, Vicki, also participates.

Warren said they are currently preparing for the return of the 108th Cavalry returns from Af-ghanistan in March.

“I hope we don’t have anything between now and then,” he said.