Went by the Furneral Home today and your riders are there proudly displaying the Flag in honor of Sgt. Weir. Also no sign of the protesters yet. Here's an article from our local paper.
Sgt. Weir funeral scheduled Monday
By LARRY C. BOWERS Banner Staff Writer
Published Sunday, September 24, 2006 6:00 AM EDT
“My little brother has come home!” were the tearful words of older brother Chris Weir at an afternoon press conference Saturday announcing the arrival of the body of Sgt. David Weir from Iraq.
The slain soldier’s body was flown from Baghdad to Kuwait City and from there to Dover, Del. From Dover the body was flown to McGhee Tyson Air Base in Knoxville and transported to Fike Funeral Home in Cleveland. Chris Weir said the family was at the funeral home for the arrival and was able to view his brother’s body.
He said the family has received a list of the medals his brother has received, including the Bronze Star. “There will be others I’m sure,” he said.
Saturday’s press conference was not only to announce the arrival of Sgt. Weir’s body but also for the family to address the probability a Kansas religious group will protest at Monday’s funeral.
Chris Weir said he did not want to address the church group’s plans but to say it’s their right to protest, which is one of the freedoms for which his brother was fighting. “They have the right to protest and express their views, but not here and not now,” he said. “Such a protest is irresponsible and disrespectful,” he continued. “They’re only looking for a venue for their faces for a cause.”
The elder Weir brother cautioned Bradley County’s citizens not to respond to the protesters. “I hope the people of this community don’t go down to their level,” he said.
Sgt. Weir is the son of Charles and Jackie Weir. He is survived by his wife, Allison, and 18-month-old son, Gavin.
A Bradley County native, Sgt. Weir died on Sept. 14 as a result of an Iraqi ambush on Sept. 13. He was memorialized in tributes at Oak Grove Elementary School and Bradley Central High School last week. Family members and community leaders have described the young soldier “as a hero to all of us.”
In addition to announcing the arrival of his brother’s body, Chris Weir addressed the tremendous support of the Bradley County Community and what it has meant to his family. Concerning last Wednesday’s memorial service on the Bradley Central football field, he said he cannot attempt to describe it and the feelings of his family. “I’m not sure Webster has invented the words,” he said.
“The pride we feel has filled our hearts and is what is helping us through this,” he continued. “It means more than I can personally describe.”
In contrast to the anti-war protesters expected at Monday’s funeral, Chris Weir is urging Bradley County residents to wave flags and banners along the route of the funeral procession to show their support of his brother’s sacrifice.
The funeral is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday at Fike Funeral Home. The service is expected to conclude about 2 p.m., and the motorcade will proceed onto Ocoee Street and along 25th Street to Interstate 75. It will then proceed to Chattanooga where it will merge onto Interstate 24 and exit at Rossville Boulevard. The procession will then turn right onto Lynchburg Street, which changes into Holtzclaw, to the National Cemetery. A member of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, Sgt. Weir will be buried with full military honors.
There are several locations along the funeral route in Cleveland and later on overhead bridges along the interstate for local citizens and veterans to view the procession and show their support.
The motorcade to the National Cemetery is being set up by Bradley County Sheriff Tim Gobble and his department. Sheriff Gobble said his deputies will “take appropriate measures to secure the service and allow constitutionally protected freedom of expression.”
Federal law will not allow protesters within 300 feet of a funeral, while Tennessee’s Legislature has banned protesters within 500 feet.
U.S. Congressman Zach Wamp plans to meet with the family prior to Monday’s service.
Beautiful! Our heroes deserve no less than this honor -- whether the detractors show or not is inconsequential. The PGR honors them irregardless.