After Action Report of the Freep in Martinsville Indiana
A small group of protesters organized right outside a mortuary today where the funeral of Staff Sgt. Jeremy Doyle, was being held.
Sgt. Doyle, from Martinsville Indiana, was killed while serving his country in Iraq.
About thirty police stood in a long line right across the street from the 6 or 7 member group who were dragging American Flags on the ground and waving God hates America signs.
Counter protesters in front of the mortuary who numbered about 25 mostly local people held up American flags and a sign that said “God Bless our Troops “. One counter protester with his wife and children accused the the small group of being a cult.
At one point the spontaneous counter protesters started singing “God Bless America”. The smaller but louder group that appeared to be highly staged responded by singing God hates America to the same chorus.
Lots of media were there taking photos and interviewing. Everyone I talked to believed that the protesters were not really Christians but a paid for hate-America group and did not speak for any Christians that they were acquainted with. One local woman thanked me for helping to support our troops as she wiped away tears.
Although some locals feared that anger toward the hate group's presence at the funeral might spill into violence, the protests were conducted without incident.
The small Anti-America group left before the large supportive crowd gathered. Hundreds of people lined the town square.
There was one heated discussion with a local man who said President Bush was killing our children. I reminded him that our troops are adults who volunteered their service and the majority want to complete their mission. About five others standing close by agreed and voiced their opinions loudly.
A soldier in uniform was among those who stated that he supports the mission and our President. He made it clear that he made the decision to serve his country himself and wants to go back to Iraq to help his buddy's.
As the funeral procession of Sgt. Doyle rode through the center of his small town, the large crowd of supporters released Red White and Blue balloons and waved their flags high.