When Bud Roberts, of Upper St. Clair, turned on the evening news in February of 2006, what he saw would change the direction of his life.

Mr. Roberts watched a report about protesters at a funeral for a soldier killed in action in Iraq. A four-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Mr. Roberts was deeply offended by the protesters' presence at the funeral, and was motivated to act.

Mr. Roberts, 59, a sales manager for Club Car Inc., which manufactures golf cars, also owns two Harley Davidson motorcycles. He joined the Patriot Guard Riders, a patriotic organization whose members attend military funerals to honor the fallen soldiers and act as a buffer between grieving family members and any protesters who might show up.

He now estimates that he has attended 66 military funerals, mostly in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. About 55 of the funerals, he said, have been for soldiers killed in action. He has encountered protesters about a dozen times. Mr. Roberts estimates that in just one year he put more than 9,000 miles on his motorcycle attending funerals and patriotic events with the group.

"Mr. Roberts puts his heart and soul into this effort," said Barry Bioni, of Lawrence, a Vietnam veteran and an assistant state captain.

In September of 2007, Mr. Roberts took his involvement with the group to a new level when he volunteered to serve as the Pennsylvania state captain, meaning that he is in charge of the group's activities within the state.

The Patriot Guard Riders got its start in Kansas in 2005 with the American Legion Riders, a motorcycle group comprised of bike-riding members from the American Legion, an organization of veterans who served in wartime. The riders organized to counteract protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church, or WBC, of Topeka, Kan.

The WBC, which believes that God is killing soldiers to punish America for condoning homosexuality, is led by the Rev. Fred Phelps. Church membership consists almost entirely of members of the Phelps family. The church is not affiliated with the mainstream Baptist church.

The church lists on its Web site military funerals at which it plans to protest. Church members arrive at funerals, carrying placards that carry messages such as "God blew up the troops.''

The efforts by the American Legion Riders quickly grew, and a separate group, Patriot Guard Riders, was formed in October of 2005. Today the organization has chapters in each of the 50 states.

The group has a twofold mission: to attend veterans' funerals to show respect for America's fallen heroes and their families, and to provide a nonviolent barrier between protesters and family members at military funerals.

The group requires its members to be nonconfrontational, and to show total respect, Mr. Roberts said. The group is not political, and does not take a stance for or against military actions, such as the war in Iraq.

Mr. Roberts estimates that there are 2,300 members in the state and more than 120,000 nationwide. About 85 percent of the members in Pennsylvania are veterans, he said. Many served in the Vietnam War, and most are men.

While the group is open to all motorists, most members ride motorcycles. Members come from all walks of life, and membership is free.

Guard riders rely heavily on communication through their Web site to coordinate activities.

The national group keeps a close watch on the list of war casualties, released by the Department of Defense. Once the group hears of the death of a member of the armed forces, the organization lists information on a "watch list" on its Web site.

The group will not attend a funeral unless it is invited by the next-of-kin of the deceased. Going through the military, church, or funeral home, the group contacts the family to ask if they would like the Patriot Guard Riders to attend.

Occasionally, families are hesitant. "They're afraid of us," Mr. Roberts said. "They think we're just a group of bikers." But once the group and its mission are explained, he said, families usually welcome its presence.

After receiving an invitation from the family, the funeral moves to a "confirmed mission" status on the Web site, which provides details for the funeral, including time and location. With nicknames like Road Dog, Desert Doc, Shooter, and Dark Horse, members track upcoming missions in their area, and post condolences to the family.

Wearing black leather, jeans, and triangle-shaped patches with the group's logo, guard members arrive at the church or funeral home at least an hour in advance of the family, under the direction of a ride captain, who wears a maroon baseball cap. They then hold a briefing to review the details of the funeral, and to remind members of the group's rules, which include no cell phones and no eating.

By standing side-by-side, at attention, and holding 3-foot-by-5-foot American flags, the members form a corridor leading to the entrance of the church or funeral home. The family members walk through the corridor to the memorial services, followed by the flag-draped coffin.

Visitors at funeral services frequently stop to thank the guard members for their service.

If the family requests it, Patriot Guard Riders offer a six-bike escort for the hearse and family members as they drive to the church or worship site. They will also attend the interment, if asked.

Patriot Guard Riders present the next-of-kin with a plaque, expressing their grief and appreciation of the deceased's service. Group members traditionally do not enter to attend memorial services.

On average, a dozen or more members participate in local funerals, some driving several hours. "We're a pretty strong group in Western Pennsylvania," said Jay Goodman, of Finleyville, a retired firefighter.

Even after attending so many military funerals, said Mr. Roberts, they are still very emotional events. "It is always very difficult to see a flag-draped coffin," he said.

When asked why motorcyclists, in particular, organized to counteract protesters, Mr. Roberts said, "Many people in our society today are patriotic, but they're afraid to show it. Motorcyclists are different. They're not afraid to show their patriotism."

Federal and state laws have been passed in an effort to curtail the protests of groups such as the WBC. These laws seek to limit the time and location of protests.

Under the Pennsylvania law, adopted in 2006, a person cannot engage in demonstrations within 500 feet of any location being used for a commemorative service. These restrictions apply one hour prior to, during, and after the service.

The WBC, however, has challenged similar statutes in the states of Ohio, Kentucky, and Missouri, alleging constitutional violations. At least in part, courts have found in favor of the WBC in each of these states, finding that the statutes are overly broad and run afoul of constitutional rights of free speech.

Larry Frankel, the legislative director for the American Civil Liberties Union for Pennsylvania said that Pennsylvania's law would also likely not withstand a constitutional challenge.

"The law is overbroad," he said.

With the protesters further away from the memorial services, Mr. Roberts said, the Patriot Guard Riders still serve the purpose of creating a visual barrier between protesters and grieving family members. "We have had a successful mission if the family members never see one protestor," he said.

While legislative restrictions have been helpful to the guard's efforts, Mr. Roberts said, the group's mission remains vital, and he sees efforts expanding in future years.

"Hopefully the day will come when there won't be any more casualties," said Mr. Roberts.

Even so, he expects the Patriot Guard Riders to continue; With increased funding, he hopes the group can be an active military support group for veterans and their families.

Mr. Roberts plans to organize the Pennsylvania group into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity. The national organization is already a nonprofit, he said, but he would like the state organization to be more formally organized.

For Mr. Roberts, involvement with the Patriot Guard Riders has been life changing. A self-described type-A personality, he said, "I'm much more patient now. I've learned that most of my daily concerns are insignificant."

For more, visit www.patriotguard.org.