Posted on 01/10/2006 6:06:38 PM PST by presidio9
UPDATE, 11AM: Hundreds of veterans turned out to honor Private Jonathan Pfender at The Centre Tuesday, and to make sure that a small group of protestors didn't disrupt the service.
Pfender's aunt, Vicky Wolf came out just before the service to thank the veterans and other supporters, while making reference to the protesters. "That's the good thing about this- the community and the veterans came out and it's just overwhelming. We don't care about the other people on the other side of the street. That's not our focus. Our focus is Jonathan and our country."
We'll have complete coverage on Newswatch at 5, 6 and 10.
UPDATE, TUE, 8:00 AM: Funeral services will be held Tuesday in Evansville for a soldier who was killed in Iraq.
Private Jonathan Pfender, 22-years-old, was killed by an improvised explosive device during a patrol on December 30th.
Pfender was with the 101st Airborne Division.
Police say they will restrict access to the funeral, the funeral procession and the burial because protesters are expected to be on hand.
They expect 12 to 20 anti-gay protesters from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas.
Police say they won't tolerate any illegal activity.
And another group, Patriot Guard Riders, were invited by the family of Private Pfender to provide escort and comfort in their time of need.
Previously: Evansville police and Vanderburgh County officials are urging veterans to stay out of confrontations with anti-gay protesters who plan to attend Tuesday's funeral of an Indiana soldier killed in Iraq.
Members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, plan to protest at the funeral of Private Jonathan R. Pfender, who was killed December 30th in Iraq.
Hundreds of area veterans say they will do what they can to shield family from the protest. Church members say American soldiers are being killed in Iraq as vengeance from God for protecting a country that harbors gays.
Police and officials met Sunday with about 100 veterans and urged restraint.
Evansville police Sgt. Chris Pugh says about 12 to 20 protesters were expected. He said the group will be restricted to public sidewalks and protesters won't be allowed to enter areas where services are being held.
Waiting for SOMEONE to take this guy out. Al Queda in Iraq must be laughing it up that we cant keep a handle on our own citizens here.
The more publicity they get, the more they like it. These people are crazy and I wouldn't be surprised if one or more of them doesn't eventually get hurt.
Now wonder fred phelps was a friend of al gore in the late 80's and early 90's and got an invitation to the 93 Presidential inauguration.
I missed the connection between the dead soldier and the anti gay protesters.
Just what is the relevence?
I knew it. Scum.
they say that the us gov't is full of "fag-enablers" and therefore are illegally running the country. US Soldiers are viewed as an extension of that.
Muleteam1
Pardon me, but there is nothing Baptist about these morons.
These crazed idiots were going to protest at the miner's funerals in W Va.My wife's family lives about 30 miles from those mines,her only comment was"If they go down there somebody is gonna get killed"
I am not one for government regulation and stifling free speech, but I could buy that one. Definitely.
Al Queda in Iraq must be laughing it up that we cant keep a handle on our own citizens here.
You better believe that they count on it. They know our weaknesses and play on them.
BTW, I've hunted deer around Charleston and camped with my family at Blackwater Falls and Canaan State Parks. Incredibly beautiful country.
Muleteam1
The protesters are hateful idiots who have protested at several military funerals. Anti-gay has nothing to do with these creeps protest except they use it as a vehicle to protest by. In no way does their presence indicate anyone they are protesting against are gay.
They do their best to be hateful in order to provoke people into actions where those people can be sued for money because the idiots right to free speech and right to congregate may have been impinged. They also want to provoke people into physical confrontation where they can sue them too.
They are not affiliated with any Baptist organization or convention. Their church is made up of family members and a few other creeps. A number of them are lawyers, hence their ability to sue and win some of their lawsuits.
Please do not let the words Baptist or Church give any credence to these sub-human pieces of trash.
According to the nutjobs, dead soldiers are God's way of punishing us for embracing the buttsex culture.
I thought He covered that with AIDS.
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