Posted on 10/13/2006 10:44:16 AM PDT by oxcart
Men and women of the Patriot Guard Riders have one main mission: Show respect for soldiers killed in war and shield the mourning families and friends from protesters.
Protests and military funerals
President Bush signed a law on Memorial Day banning protests within 300 feet of national cemeteries. Last month, he said it "ensures that families of fallen service members will not have to endure protests during military funerals."
Florida law also states that anyone who willfully interrupts or disturbs a military funeral honors detail commits a first-degree misdemeanor.
On Saturday, the men and women of this national motorcyclists organization will be in Orange City to serve as a buffer between the family of Spc. Angelo Vaccaro and protesters from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan. Vaccaro, a 23-year-old Army medic from Deltona was killed Oct. 2 while trying to rescue fellow soldiers wounded in an ambush in Afghanistan. He will be laid to rest at Deltona Memorial Gardens at 1295 Saxon Blvd. in Orange City.
"We honor these fallen heroes by creating a line of our members standing with 3-by-5 (foot) flags and do our best to ensure that the family is not disturbed," said Bobbie Bilotta, the Patriot Guard Riders Florida State Captain. "If possible we do not let the family be seen by the group."
The funeral has attracted the attention of the Topeka church group, which, according to its Web site, "adhere to the teachings of the Bible and preaches against all form of sin (e.g., fornication, adultery, sodomy)."
On Thursday, Shirley Phelps-Roper, an attorney and member of the church, confirmed that 10 members will come to Orange City to picket Vaccaro's funeral. The church is not protesting the Iraq or Afghanistan war but the nation's disobedience to God, Phelps-Roper said.
"It is a curse when the child comes home dead from battle," Phelps-Roper said. "War is the mechanism God is using to punish and will use to destroy this nation.
"We will be on the public right of way with our signs that say God hates fags, Thank God for dead soldiers and Thank God for IEDs," Phelps-Roper said.
Topeka Mayor Bill Bunten said by telephone that he is familiar with the "profane and abusive" signs the church group uses. He said he sent a letter of apology to Orange City law enforcement after learning of the group's plans.
"To our friends in Orange City, we want them to know that this group of people does not represent our city or the values of our citizens in any way," Bunten said. "They carry lewd signs that are abusive and profane to people who disagree with them. I want the mayor and the police to know that they can take whatever action necessary to protect the peace in their city."
It is not yet clear how Orange City officials will handle the situation, but Florida law states that persons who interrupt or disturb a military funeral commit a first-degree misdemeanor.
Orange City police Sgt. Jason Sampsell said officers who are on vacation have been asked to report for duty in uniform on Saturday. Ten Florida Highway Patrol troopers are expected to help with traffic, Sampsell said, acknowledging his department had heard from Bunten.
The Sheriff's Office will provide deputies to escort the family from their homes to the funeral service, said sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught.
The Patriot Guard Riders started in early August of 2005 with the American Legion Riders chapter 136 from Kansas. They were appalled to hear that a fallen hero's memory was being tarnished by "misguided religious zealots who were protesting at funerals," according to the organization's Web site.
"We are strictly legal and nonviolent, in other words: We ignore them," Bilotta said. "They only see our backs."
So your family would be with a son AND a father. While I understand the thinking, in practice, it would do more harm than good.
Where's the FBI and the IRS!!?? Who is funding these nutcases!? Set Homeland Security on them, for crying out loud!
How about #3--organized and funded by a leftist Dirty Tricks outfit?
If the local prosecutor had any sense of decency, then the case would never make it to trial.
Who pays these kooks to travel all over the place to do Satans work?
Is it Code Pink?
Well, I don't believe that. I think the Phelps are purely profit driven and evil - but not a leftist plot.
But, if I were a leftist wanting to play a dirty trick, this would be a good one.
Read above - they want to be sued.
wpuld make a serious statement and maybe make these bozos think before they do this crap.
I live for my family.
The Rev. Fred Phelps had a typical Southern upbringing in a highly respected family. Those who knew Phelps in Mississippi during his childhood say he was a model citizen. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout with Palms, played in the high school band and graduated with honors. In his graduating class of 213 students, Phelps ranked sixth and was the class orator at commencement on May 28, 1946.
As a native Kansan, I have to point out that Fred doesn't come from here. Residents of Topeka have learned to ignore him as he protests almost every thing public.
Here is an interesting read from the local paper "The Topeka Capitol Journal". Its very long and covers what we know of Fred Phelps . You might want to know that he has ran for Govoner at least once, as a registered democrat.
The link didn't work so here is another try - sorry.
http://cjonline.com/webindepth/phelps/
The death of a soldier is going to be picketed by the Kansas Phelps clan
Anyone in and around the area, if you have a way to help spare the family from this added pain, please respond.
Disclaimer...this list is composed of FReepers who claim this state as their home state. If you have moved or if you don't want to be alerted to urgent State news, please let me know. Please mention the state you were pinged to. Sorry for any inconvenience
Addendum: Don't do anything that will get you hauled into court by the litigious Phelps clan. Lawsuits are their primary source of income---so please don;t be help them meet this year's goals.
This is in Deltona on what day?
Ryan
Take me off the Florida list please.
Tomorrow, Saturday
I did...thank you for letting me know, and sorry for the inconvenience.
If God loves so much I.E.D.'s then maybe He can leave some for phelps and his crew.
Thank you TPD
Be careful and don't let yourself be tempted into violence. That's what they want so they can sue. You don't want to fund their next protest.
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