Bikers Counter Anti-Gay Protests

Rev. Fred Phelps and his supporters, mainly members of his family, continue to disturb funerals of soldiers that have died in Iraq, claiming that the soldiers death are God's punishment for a country they say harbors homosexuals.

However, a group of motorcyclists have grown tired of the extremist group's disrespect towards the grieving families of fallen American soldiers and are now gathering to shield the families from the protesters, 'drowning' the protesters with patriotic chants and American flags.

The group, which calls itself the Patriot Guard Riders, rides to any funeral of a dead soldier where they get invited by the family.

"The most important thing we can do is let families know that the nation cares," said Don Woodrick, captain of the group's Kentucky branch. "When a total stranger gets on a motorcycle in the middle of winter and drives 300 miles to hold a flag, that makes a powerful statement."

"This is just the right thing to do. This is something America didn't do in the '70s," said Kurt Mayer, national spokesman for the group. "Whether we agree with why we're over there, these soldiers are dying to protect our freedoms."