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 ...
free speech makes it easier to find the morons.
"Patriot Guard Riders" = GREAT AMERICANS. God Bless you Lance Cpl. Martini. You will live in our hearts forever.
I am sorry for what I am about to say. This idiot Phelps and his "church" attempts at desecrating the memories of true American heroes who made the supreme sacrifice for this country and to their grieving families is nothing but terrorism. To borrow a line from John Wayne's movie, The Shootist, when Phelps dies (and if I ever get the chance), "What I do on [his] grave won't pass for flowers."
Well done, Patriot Guard Riders....
Thanks for posting the pics. I'm inspired!
I hope so too.
I have a hunch you'd have to stand in line to....ah... mark the grave.
It was my pleasure.
They were here in Iowa yesterday too.
http://www.messengernews.net
The legislature passed a bill and the gov. signed it that you can't protest within like 500 feet of a funeral or burial.
God bless them all.
Makes me proud to be an American!
Patriot Guard Riders for President!
Thank you, Patriot Guard Riders, for shielding the family of our fallen brother, Lance Corporal Philip J. Martini, as he was being laid to rest.
May God bless the Patriot Guard Riders, Marine Martini, and his family!
And may God have mercy on fred "flaming" phelps' soul, cuz if I ever meet that SOB, I will have no mercy on his body.
Me too.
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.
I think they're multiplying as the numbers of Patriots at our brave warriors' funerals is increasing.
Many are Veterans themselves.
Thanks for the ping SandRat. As a result of a hard drive crash I don't have my PGR ping list. ACK!! Wish I did though -- this is a GOOD one!!
Crank those engines, lads!
Anyone who is such a scumbag as to protest a fallen soldiers funeral should immediately have their citizenship revoked and be deported be whipped to death. These people are beneath scum.
Improved.
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