D.C. Chapter to Counter Fred Phelps Group at Arlington Nat'l Cemetery on Memorial Day 5/29/06

Friday, May 26, 2006 | Kristinn

[kristinn]

All FReepers and lurkers in good standing are urged to join the D.C. Chapter of Free Republic this Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery as we stand up against the Fred Phelps led Westboro Baptist Church.

Phelps and his cult will be doing their "God Hates Fags," "God Loves Dead Soldiers" schtick on Memorial Drive near the entrance to the cemetery.

We'll gather in opposition to send a positive, patriotic message of gratitude to the families of the Fallen who will be arriving at Arlington for the wreath laying and speech by President Bush that morning.

An excerpt from the press release by Westboro Baptist Church:

Thursday, May 25,2006 NEWS RELEASE Thank God for lEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) God Himself Has Now Become America's Terrorist, Killing and Maiming American Troops in Strange Lands for Fag Sins. WBC to picket Arlington National Cemetery - at 10:15 a.m., Monday, May 29 - at Jefferson Davis Hwy. & Memorial Drive,Washington, D.C. (Virginia) - in religious protest warning: God is not mocked! Gal. 6:7. God Hates Fags! & Fag Enablers! Ergo, God hates the U.S.A. and Memorable Day idolatries.

The D.C. Chapter will arrive at 8 a.m. to get set up along Memorial Drive with the MOAB and our flags and signs. Parking at the cemetery is going to be tight, which is another reason to get there early. There is a Metro station at Arlington that is served by the Blue Line.

Please forward this announcement to those you know who would be interested in joining us Monday morning.

As always, the D.C. Chapters rules for demonstrating will be in effect. Briefly, they are: No violence, no profanity, no racism, no provocations, obey the law and treat all law enforcement officers with respect.

[patton]

lol

[AGreatPer]

Just beautiful leda. Thanks for sharing.

BTW, nice Mustang.

[leda]

thank you! :D

the car is a present ... from my boyfriend ;)

[maica]

I am screaming at the radio, as they call you all "Protesters" every half hour. On various stations all the "news" readers are using this AP Filed story. They make it sound like all the protesters was protesting President Bush, etc.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/funerals29a.html

Memorial Day tribute draws contrasting protesters


May 29, 2006

BY LARRY MARGASAK ASSOCIATED PRESS

ARLINGTON, Va.-- As throngs came to the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery to honor the fallen on Memorial Day, a handful of protesters from an anti-gay group stood across a four-lane highway from a conservative group supporting the troops.

The two groups, separated by a line of police cars, were faced off about 300 feet from the entrance to the cemetery. They held signs making competing arguments. But because of noise from approaching motorcycles and cars, they could not hear one another.

A small group of members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., who have been demonstrating around the country at military funerals, sang "God hates America" to the tune of "God Bless America" and held signs that read "God is America's terror", "Thank God for dead soldiers", "You're going to hell", and "Bush killed them."

Across the street, a handful of people from the conservative group known as FreeRepublic.com held a large sign saying, "God bless our troops, defenders of freedom, American heroes." Other signs said, "God does love our defenders of freedom" and "This Memorial Day, thank a soldier for your freedom."

---snip----



"Shut your mouth," one woman yelled at them, and a man passing by said, "Read your Bible." A spokesman for FreeRepublic.com, Kristinn Taylor, said his group showed up to demonstrate because they knew the church group was coming. He said they have staged counter demonstrations on several occasions when Westboro protesters disrupted military funerals.

"They're out of line," Taylor said. "Their hateful message isn't welcome here. Many of us have loved ones buried here."

"We wanted to send a positive message of support for troops serving now and their families and those who made the ultimate sacrifice," he said.

Margie Phelps, spokeswoman for the Westboro church group, said the group was protesting because "Congress doesn't have the power and can't pass enough laws to stop the wrath of God" against homosexuals.

"America is doomed because she has institutionalized sin and exalted homosexuality," she said.

Many people in cars and on motorcycles honked and gave friendly waves to the FreeRepublic group as they drove by.

And passerby got close to one of the protesters and yelled, "Thank God for America." A policeman stepped between them and the incident ended.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

Memorial Day Demonstrators Face Off
By LARRY MARGASAK

As throngs came to the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery to honor the fallen on Memorial Day, a handful of protesters from an anti-gay group stood across a four-lane highway from a conservative group supporting the troops.
The two groups, separated by a line of police cars, were faced off about 300 feet from the entrance to the cemetery. They held signs making competing arguments. But because of noise from approaching motorcycles and cars, they could not hear one another.
A small group of members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., who have been demonstrating around the country at military funerals, sang "God hates America" to the tune of "God Bless America" and held signs that read "God is America's terror", "Thank God for dead soldiers", "You're going to hell", and "Bush killed them."
Across the street, a handful of people from the conservative group known as FreeRepublic.com held a large sign saying, "God bless our troops, defenders of freedom, American heroes." Other signs said, "God does love our defenders of freedom" and "This Memorial Day, thank a soldier for your freedom."

More Here:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nat-gen/2006/may/29/052909919.html

[3D-JOY]

UPDATE!!

We found the graves easily.

Near one side of a long row and yes the temporary markers are what is still there.

We read the group marker and had our own ceremony presenting a special american flag and red rose.

I hope this was ok, since any more flowers at this time would be just laid on the ground and seemed wasteful.

I will be back there again soon and will wait for the final stones to be placed and take pictures for you.

It is in an area of the cemetery very near my husband and adjacent to the Afghanistan War area. There are several "crew" graves in among rows of single sites. We must have recovered other plane crash sites recently.

The area is high and dry and the grass will soon be new and beautiful there. The side street is heavily treed and very shady and lovely. When you turn off Eisenhower it is completely "arched" over with mature trees.

I have put this in the open thread since others have commented about it, but if you care to send a home address via private email I will have a place to send pictures in the future.

Thank you for sharing your story. It made my families trip even more meaningful.

JOYCE

[knighthawk]

Read this from AP:

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/funerals29.html

[W04Man]

Right, a "handful"..... duh! this one picture shows 12 counting the freeper photographer. Later, we have a few more show up, maybe about 20 all total. Against their 4 people, they didn't even have a "handful."

The rest of my photos: http://TroopsSupport.com/MemorialDay2006/index.htm

[abenaki]

You had a busy day!
Did you get to drive by the FR group?
Kristinn is getting very media-savvy.
abenaki

[Coop]

Thanks for standing tall for our fallen heroes and their loved ones! And of course thank you for the ping/update.

I plan to get to your FReepmail request later this evening, if possible. Great work!

[abenaki]

Great, quick turn-around time on the pictures from Arlington today. Thanks for the hard work, and thanks to all DC FReepers!!
abenaki

[3D-JOY]

I guess I arrived after that picture. Linda and Barb joined us too. We stayed almost 2hours and went into the cemetery too.

Stay tuned to this site. I am sure others will post full lists and pictures.

[sockmonkey]

We read the group marker and had our own ceremony presenting a special american flag and red rose.... Thank you for sharing your story. It made my families trip even more meaningful

Thank you for taking the time and effort out of your trip to honor your own loved one to honor my family's. We are very grateful for your kindness, and remembrance of Elgin and his crew.

[freema]

Welcome home, Elgin. Welcome home. Joy, you are a true sweet heart.

[freema]

Will you ping me with more?

[trooprally]

The AP reports said we were separated by police cars. The police were only on Phelps side of the entrance road. The police set up a barrier on each side of us and that was it.

Some more pics. Kristinn, use as you deem fit.

http://community.webshots.com/myphotos?action=viewAllPhotos&albumID=550871557&security=supTyC


[Mr] T

[zip]

We had phelps pheaks twice in mid Missouri in the last month so I halfway understand what you have to put up with in your area contiuously. We were truly honored to have the Patriot Guard show up (100 plus bikers at one and 90 plus at the second) Thanks PG bikers.

Kristinn, please convey my sincere thanks for all that your group does to show support of our Troops and our Country.

[tgslTakoma]

Thank you for bringing all the equipment today, Mr. T - and for standing out in the hot sun. I know it was hot and SUNNY; Kristinn is a lobster tonight.

And your photos are fabulous! Were you working the camera today, MR. T? I ask because I thought Mrs. T. was going to stay at home cooking today.

Also, a Freepmail is in your box...

[3D-JOY]

My husband is there too. 1997. Building 4? I just go to the second one on the left.

It is so peaceful and the roses are huge, one orange lily was out now and later the fountain is such a nice sound.