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It's all about respect: Dover man's service to veterans is something he holds dear

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Greg Buxton heads down Union Street in Rochester on Monday after attending the city's Memorial Day Observance on the Common. (Rochester Voice photo)

ROCHESTER - Greg Buxton of Dover was hoping to have about 30 of his fellow motorcyclists from all over Southern New Hampshire join him in honoring the nation's war dead at Rochester's Memorial Day observance on Monday, but when he learned most weren't coming due to the predicted rain, he decided to do his own version of rolling thunder.

Buxton is one of nearly 190,000 Patriot Guard Riders nationwide who ride escort and provide flag lines at funerals for servicemen and women.

Greg Buxton of Dover said he'd spend most of the day on Monday tooling around the Northern Seacoast spreading the word about Patriot Guard Riders.

The organization was formed in Kansas in 2005 by the American Legion Riders chapter 136 when they learned that protesters were disrupting private funerals of those who served.

"That's something we can't stand for," said Buxton, who is quick to point out he is not a veteran, but devotes most of his free time to veterans causes.

He said the group only goes to funerals if they are invited to the funeral home or graveyard.

"If someone were to protest, we would try to shield the grieving family from any unwanted intrusion," he said, adding of course they would never engage in violence.

He said he's been in the group since 2014, and thankfully, he has never seen a protester at any funeral his group has attended in New Hampshire, but sadly it does happen elsewhere in the country.

He said one of the biggest thrills he's had since joining is being allowed to escort New Hampshire Medal of Honor winner Ryan Pitts, who now lives in Manchester.

The group also provides escorts to deploying soldiers and recently escorted a large group of Army Reservists as they traveled from Somersworth Army Reserve Center to Logan Airport for deployment to the Middle East.

He said it doesn't matter what bike you ride or whether you ride at all. Anyone is welcome to join the all-volunteer 501c3 nonprofit.

To learn more about New Hampshire Patriot Guard Riders, click here.

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