Topeka ? A veteran of Vietnam, Terry Houck was troubled by reports in a local newspaper that members of a Topeka church were protesting at the funerals of soldiers who were killed in Iraq.

So the Derby resident, who is a member of the American Legion Riders motorcycle organization, started making some phone calls to fellow veterans and other clubs to create a group that would help protect the families of fallen soldiers from funeral protests by the Rev. Fred Phelps and his flock.

“From being a Vietnam veteran myself, I felt like when parents have to bury their sons or daughters, the least we can do is give them some type of protection or just give them our support,” Houck said.

The group, called the Patriot Guard, first participated in a funeral on Oct. 11, with bikers placing themselves and their motorcycles between the mourners and members of Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church.

Since then, the organization has expanded to include ride “captains,” or local organizers, in nearly every state.

So far, 940 Kansas bikers have joined the Patriot Guard, which has about 6,500 riders nationwide.

One Kansas member is J. “Beaux” Bryant, who braved the bitter cold on Jan. 11 on his Harley-Davidson Sportster motorcycle to show support for the family of Maj. Ronald L. Rousser, a Kansas National Guard member who was killed.

Though he was cold and missed a day of work, Bryant said the show of support for Rousser’s family by the Patriot Guard made the sacrifice worthwhile.

“It was 9 o’clock at night before I could feel my feet again,” he said. “But it was the right thing for us to do.”

Phelps’ group has been protesting at funerals across the country, contending that American soldiers are dying because God is punishing the nation for tolerating homosexuality.

Houck said it’s not easy for many of his group’s members to make it to the funerals, which usually are during the week. Most have to take vacation days or sick leave from their jobs to attend, he said.

“Most of them work for a living and work very hard,” Bryant said.