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'Patriots' outnumber protesters at Marine's funeral
Chicago Tribune ^ | 4/19/2006 | Jason George

Posted on 04/19/2006 6:06:03 PM PDT by Velveeta

Five members of a small Kansas church demonstrated today outside the funeral of a Marine from south suburban Lansing, but left when hundreds of counter-protesters turned out to shield family members from their display.

Members of Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka have been traveling around the country to demonstrate at military funerals, contending that God is punishing America with war casualties for its tolerance of homosexuals and generally welcoming the combat deaths.

Today, they came to the funeral of Marine Lance Cpl. Philip J. Martini, 24, who died in combat of a gunshot wound April 8 in Iraq's Al Anbar province.

This time, however, the demonstrators were met by nearly 200 "Patriot Guard Riders," a biker group, which shielded family members and other mourners outside Holy Ghost Church at 170th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue in South Holland.

When a gray hearse carrying Martini's body arrived at the church, all that could be seen on the street was a sea of black biker leather and American flags waving in the wind.(snip)

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: aar; fredphelps; gnfi; illinois; iraq; patriots; pgr
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To: Velveeta
Nice - V.

That one of the priest standing with the bikers holding flags made my monitor go blurry.

There is yet hope for this nation!!

21 posted on 04/19/2006 6:26:21 PM PDT by don-o
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To: Velveeta

Thanks for posting this article. Kudos to the Patriots guarding the family from these despicable protesters. Prayers and condolences to the family of Lance Cpl. Philip J. Martini.


22 posted on 04/19/2006 6:26:23 PM PDT by Angelwood (FReepers are Everywhere! We Support Our Troops! (Hillary's Vast Rt Wg Conspiracy))
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To: Velveeta
God bless the Patriot Guard. May Lance Cpl. Martini rest in peace.

And as David prayed for God to smite his enemies, I pray for God to do the same to Phelps and his mindless followers. They are no witness to God and His Glory.

23 posted on 04/19/2006 6:29:27 PM PDT by Ladysmith ((NRA, SAS))
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To: Zeroisanumber

Good question.


24 posted on 04/19/2006 6:31:34 PM PDT by Velveeta
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To: Velveeta

Condolences to the family and friends of Marine Lance Corporal Philip J. Martini.


25 posted on 04/19/2006 6:32:35 PM PDT by PGalt
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To: don-o

That picture got me too.

Here's the caption for the pic with the Bishop:

>>Bishop James Alan Wilkowski of the Evangelical Diocese of the Northwest joins members of the Patriot Guard Riders outside the funeral for Lance Cpl. Philip J. Martini at Holy Ghost Church in South Holland on Wednesday.<<


26 posted on 04/19/2006 6:33:55 PM PDT by Velveeta
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To: Angelwood

Amen


27 posted on 04/19/2006 6:34:17 PM PDT by Velveeta
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To: Velveeta

Thank you, Patriot Guards.


28 posted on 04/19/2006 6:34:47 PM PDT by SuzyQue
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To: Ladysmith

They will answer to God.


29 posted on 04/19/2006 6:35:15 PM PDT by Velveeta
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To: SandRat

Yes they do, SandRat. Thank God for them.


30 posted on 04/19/2006 6:36:53 PM PDT by Miss Behave (Beloved daughter of Miss Creant, super sister of danged Miss Ology, and proud mother of Miss Hap.)
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To: frankiep

let's see church is the private hobby/money tree for a lawyer and a democrat... 'nuff said


31 posted on 04/19/2006 6:37:42 PM PDT by Dick Vomer (liberals suck......... but it depends on what your definition of the word "suck" is.)
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To: Zeroisanumber
Phelps gets his money by suing people.
32 posted on 04/19/2006 6:38:03 PM PDT by TASMANIANRED (The Internet is the samizdat of liberty..)
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To: Gordongekko909
It's Fred Phelps's crew. He hates gays and hates the United States. I think he's on a mission to piss off every single person in the world. He's doing a good job so far

agent provocateurs... they're dems trying to make "Christians" look bad.. hoping to sue if their rights get violated or they are attacked.

33 posted on 04/19/2006 6:39:38 PM PDT by Dick Vomer (liberals suck......... but it depends on what your definition of the word "suck" is.)
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To: Velveeta
God bless the Patriot Guard and God bless Marine Lance Cpl. Philip J. Martini and his family for their service and sacrifice.

Normally on these threads I post a pic that shows Phelps with two young men standing on either side of him that have opened their shirts to say "He's Gay".

I won't ruin this thread with that pic.

34 posted on 04/19/2006 6:42:09 PM PDT by raybbr
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To: Dick Vomer
agent provocateurs... they're dems trying to make "Christians" look bad.. hoping to sue if their rights get violated or they are attacked.

I think you're right that Phelps and his knuckleheads are looking to sue, but I don't think that they're following anyone's particular agenda. Picketing soldier's funerals is too extreme, even for the Dems.

35 posted on 04/19/2006 6:42:21 PM PDT by Zeroisanumber
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To: Zeroisanumber
Where does Phelps get the money to do all of this traveling? Someone at the Kansas State D.A.'s office should look into his finances.

Received knowledge is they fund by law suits when their free speech rights are denied by a municipality.

Could use some more digging, methinks.

These asshats are major league travelers.

36 posted on 04/19/2006 6:43:21 PM PDT by don-o
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To: raybbr

I know what you mean.
I didn't even post the pics of the disgusting slobs who were present at this funeral.

Didn't want that slop to tarnish American pride.


37 posted on 04/19/2006 6:46:41 PM PDT by Velveeta
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To: don-o
These asshats are major league travelers.

And they always seem to bring quite a crew...

If I were Phelps, I'd keep my books as clean as a preacher's sheets, but Phelps is as crazy as an outhouse rat, so there might be something there to latch on to.

Where's the IRS when you actually need them?

38 posted on 04/19/2006 6:47:22 PM PDT by Zeroisanumber
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To: Velveeta

Thanks for the post and to Lance Cpl. Philip J. Martini, one of America's finest.

May God bless him and his family and the Patriot Guard Riders for their devotion to our fallen heroes.


39 posted on 04/19/2006 6:47:52 PM PDT by jazusamo (-- Married a WAC in '65 and I'm still reenlisting. :-)
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To: jazusamo; All

I found a guest book for condolences to Lance Cpl. Martini's family, if anyone would like to leave a message.


http://www.legacy.com/houstonchronicle/GuestBook.asp?Page=GuestBook&PersonID=17415602


40 posted on 04/19/2006 6:54:30 PM PDT by Velveeta
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