Radicals To Protest Sailors Funeral In Maryland

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Lambo

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This hits close to home! My brother was KIA in Nam!
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I plan to be there in support of the Family! Anyone on this Board who wants to join in PM me.

http://www.wcbm.com/tommarr.shtml
ACTION ALERT!!!
Congressman Gilchrest has asked that I send this message out to as many people as I can to alert them to a tragic situation unfolding in Harford County this weekend.

On Saturday, the family of Petty Officer 2nd Class David Roddy, who was killed in Iraq on September 16th while trying to dismantle a bomb, will have his funeral at a church in Abingdon. We learned this week that The Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas - a group of religious fanatics - plans to protest this funeral with their anti-gay, anti-military propaganda that is outrageous and disgusting. Friends of the family have asked that people come to the church to block the protesters from accomplishing their goal of disrupting the funeral.

Please come out to support this family during this terrible tragedy. Let's try and show that our love of our country, and our respect for our fallen soldiers and their families, far outweighs the hatred that festers in the ignorant.

The funeral will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the St. Francis de Sales Church in Abingdon. We know that the protesters plan on being there at 9:15 a.m. , so we must get to that church first. Friends have suggested that we line the streets by 9 a.m. and that we carry American flags. Please don't engage or even acknowledge the protesters, as that is their goal.

DIRECTIONS: From I-95 heading South, take Exit 80/Route 543 toward Riverside. Turn left on MD 543/Creswell Road. Turn right on Philadelphia Road/MD 7. Turn right on Abingdon Road, and follow to the church, located at 1450 Abingdon Road.

DIRECTIONS from I-95 heading North, take Exit 77A/MD-24 South/Emmorton Road. Turn left onto MD-7/Philadelphia Road. Turn left onto Abingdon Road. The church is located at 1450 Abingdon Road.
 
Best offense against these lowlifes is just a shield of people blocking them from the view of the family. Some biker groups have been nearby to rev loudly and drown out their disgusting shouts.

Just don't throw any punches. It's what they want.
 
If I were closer I'd go.

We had the Patriot Guard Riders at my friend's funeral, it was an awesome sight.
 
This topic came up over at the Ruger Forum not long ago about a church that was to protest the funeral here in Kentucky of a National Guardsman killed in Iraq, claiming America was being punished for allowing homosexuality. Protesting any funeeral is just plain wrong. The reasons are plain stupid. I know a lot of veterans, some like my own father from WW11 to the present that attend church and like I noted there, the idea of anyone protesting a soldiers funeral just might bring out an unchristian reaction from some of them.
 
They are a frequent (twice a month) sight picketing my wife's church. When they started maybe a year or two ago I stopped and asked one of them, "Why are you protesting in front of this church Is someone there homosexual or what?" A woman who looked like and spoke like a cretin said "Someone in that church does not follow God's holy word," ?? Only explanation I got. Looking further I found that a lady member of the church had written a letter to the editor of the local paper denouncing the silly group, and for that they put the church on permanent picketing. The only group that has ever given them a bad time legally was Michael Moore and his busload of impersonators. They love to file lawsuits, and that is their main means of support.
 
Update: Looks as though I won't be the only one there!


PGR is attending as well
Patriot Guard:
This is the Final Itinerary for the Patriot Guard Mission to honor Petty Officer David S. Roddy who gave all on September 16th, 2006. It is a go; all contacts have been made. Services are on Saturday, September 30th ; at approximately 10:00 hrs at St Francis De Sales church, 1450 Abingdon road, Abingdon, Md.

Ride Captains: Your Lead Ride Captain for this mission is David Shea, who can be reached on his cell at 410-459-9127. Other Ride Captains assigned are Richard Beckwell and Brian Parnes.

Weather: The current weather forecast for Abingdon on Saturday is partly cloudy with a high of 68 degrees; low of 52 degrees; with a 2 % chance of rain. Dress warm and comfy, Iron Horses if you can. Bring flag poles & flags if you've got them; flags on bikes would be great.

Staging Site & Time: From 07:45 hrs to 08:20 hrs at the Festival of Bel Air shopping center at MD route 24 and East Wheel road. The map to the staging area is at the end of this post.


Mission Sequence: This is a multi-part mission with several elements. This is partially due to expected high participation. The first element will be a group of 90 departing the staging area to form a flag line at the church at approximately 08:20am.

The second element with the remaining riders will leave the staging area approximately 09:15 to form an ?Honor line? on one lane of Abingdon road on the family?s route to the services. Abingdon road will be closed to all other traffic by the supporting LEO?s during this time period. We will park and dismount to pay respects to the family as they pass by. Once the procession passes, we will fall in behind and as the family arrives at the church, We will provide a ?rolling salute? past the church. We will continue past the church to Md route 7, turning right and riding to Old post elementary school where we will end this element of the mission.



Additional Information Please read!!
There is unfortunately no place within easy walking distance of the church to park additional cycles or cages. That combined with the large expected turnout from friends and the local community (approximately 1500) necessitates that we perform our mission in this manner. It is unknown at this time whether comfort facilities will be available at the church site, so please come prepared. There will be many cars parked around the church and possible pedestrian traffic all along our route so please stay alert.
Please remember that our mission is to respect and honor this fallen soldier and his family. Period. Stand tall and proud as we salute this hero and his family for their great sacrifice!!!
Thanks,
David Shea
NE Maryland RC
 
These protesters don't always show up at their "announced" protests. About 60/40. Mostly it's less than 10 folks (all Fred Phelps croneys)
 
Ah yes, Phelps. You just have to admire the guy for being so darn evil you can't even begin to fathom his thought processes.
 
About two weeks ago there was a funeral near here for a soldier and this group from Kansas was suppose to show up. I read in the paper that the Patriot Guard Riders were planning to be there so I decided to go as well.

Before I went I checked out their website http://patriotguard.org/Home/tabid/53/Default.aspx and here is a quote:

" We don’t care what you ride or if you ride, what your political views are, or whether you’re a "hawk" or a "dove". It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It doesn't matter where you’re from or what your income is. You don’t even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect."

I decided to go and participate. What a moving experience. I am a Vietnam veteran and have a son in the service so these things matter a great deal to me. If you find it despicable that some would dishonor our servicemen and their families by these awful protests at funerals you too can help by shielding the familes with the Patriot Guard Riders.

I also learned that our state has passed the following legislation to limit these protestors:

The People of the State of Michigan enact:​
Sec. 167d. (1) A person shall not do any of the following within 500 feet of a building or other location where a
funeral, memorial service, or viewing of a deceased person is being conducted or within 500 feet of a funeral procession
or burial:
(a) Make loud and raucous noise and continue to do so after being asked to stop.
(b) Make any statement or gesture that would make a reasonable person under the circumstances feel intimidated,
threatened, or harassed.
(c) Engage in any other conduct that the person knows or should reasonably know will disturb, disrupt, or adversely
affect the funeral, memorial service, viewing of the deceased person, funeral procession, or burial.
(2) A person who violates subsection (1) is a disorderly person and is guilty of a felony punishable as provided under
section 168.

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2005-2006/publicact/pdf/2006-PA-0148.pdf
 
one thing I think that is bringing America down is the seemingly increasing lack of respect from one citizen toward another,and this is another example.

These people can just about protest their message anywhere,but to choose to do this to the family and friends of a lost loved one is insulting and cruel,insulting and cruel to all citizens.

This is not Christian in my mind,it borderlines on antiwar and anti America protesting to me.
 
QUOTE;However the 1st amendment is absolute

I disagree with that,a persons rights end when they interfere with someone elses.In this case they are interfering with the families rights.
 
The 1st amendment is NOT absolute. "Absolute" carries a lot of meaning.

That Michigan law is not saying they can't protest. It is only saying they can't do it within 500 feet of a funeral. Protests and marches are often regulated in similar ways.

Do you think someone should be able to come on your front yard and protest? By your standard, yes, they can protest on your front yard since they are exercising their "absolute" freedom of speech. How about using loud speakers?
 
Just a thought, but revving Harleys might be just as noisy, if not more,
than the protesters. I can say that both probably would have
disturbed my family had I been carried home on my shield.
 
I had a relative who did not want the "21 gun salute" at the deceased
spouse's funeral. I just hope the counter-protesters and families are
always on the same page when it comes to noise or otherwise soothing
sounds in the 100+ decible range.
 
I'm sure that the Patriot Guard would abide by the family's wishes. They're there to help, one way or another.

Biker
 
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