Patriot Guard Riders at Soldiers Funerals

The following three articles are from The Indianapolis Star, PodcastingNews and MSNBC respectively. They help describe the details of a group picketing at the funerals of fallen US soldiers killed in Iraq. According to the reports they are chanting hateful slogans at the funerals and interrupting funerals.

This organization his housed under the roof of Westboro Baptist Church, however they appear to show no Christian traits. It needs to be made clear, this church has no affiliation with any larger orgnized Christian Church. Not even the Baptist church. Per an article on Beliefnet, the church is headed by Rev. Fred Phelps and members are mainly made up of Rev Phelps extended family.

The members of this church have also arrived at recent funerals of the Sago miners killed in West Virginia. There to the Westboro group yelled profanities, applauded the miners deaths and held up signs reading, "Thank God for Dead Miners." (from article 4 below)

Also in the Beliefnet article, there have been a group of motorcycle riders called the
Patriot Guard Riders (articles; 1, 2, 3, 4, PGR History) who have chapters in 49 states and number more then 5,000 nationally. They just need an Alaskan Chapter leader. Click here to see who the Chapter leader is in your state. These riders are traveling to soldier's funerals upon request or approval of the family to drown out the sinful cheers of Westboro and Mr. Phelps. The Patriot Guard Riders keep their bikes running during the funeral and cheer "U-S-A" and other supportive slogans alongside residence of the local communities.

Patriot Guard Riders are heroes! Member names mentioned in articles;
Don Woodrick
Bob Swanson -"The mission of the Patriot Guard Riders is twofold. One is to show respect for the fallen heroes and their families. The second is to shield the mourning family from any interruptions."

March 2006
Indianapolis Star
PodCastingNews.com

August 2005
MSNBC


Additionally, there have also been other activities just prior to the soldier’s funerals.

Coinciding with the funerals, typically a few days before the fallen soldier’s family is called by unknown parties and they say things such as “I am glad your son is dead.” “God makes IED’s.” The phone calls are also accompanied by vandalism to the family’s houses. Sometimes the houses are egged.

The phone calls and vandalism have not been proven to be the same group, however it is obvious either the members are doing the vandalism themselves or they are arranging/inspiring others to do the work for them.

The organization is part of the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas. Their website, GodHatesFags, is part of their formula to get their message heard. This church has been on watch lists of many states and are known to be a “hate” group.

The Westboro group has come to the conclusion all US Soldiers are homosexuals. Because the group hates homosexuals, they are apparently compelled to bring the above hate and sadness to funerals of US soldiers and their families.

The next funeral they are attending is Monday, March 6, 2005 in Kokomo Indiana for Sgt Jones.

Per sources in the Kokomo Police Department, there may be a number of Vietnam Veterans who are organizing to attend the funeral and interrupt the protests at the Sgt Jones funeral.

Legistlators in Indiana have also passed a law which does not allow these protests to occur within 500 feet of the funeral.