OMAHA, Neb. — Army Cpl. Jeremy Jones will be buried Saturday with full military honors. It’s a service that will attract dozens of protesters to Omaha along with a contingent that plans to buffer Jones’ family from their message.A roadside bomb in Iraq killed the Omaha man on June 27. As his family gathers to say goodbye to Jones, members of a Kansas church will protest nearby.
Unfortunately, the story of these protesters has come up more than once here in the Midwest.
The Topeka-based Westboro Baptist Church said it plans to share its anti-gay message at Jones’ funeral. Westboro Church leaders feel God is killing U.S. soldiers for defending a nation that tolerates homosexuality.
Growing up Baptist, I am absolutely puzzled about this church group’s behavior and judgments. A man died fighting for the very freedoms they have to protest and speak out and they thank him by subjecting his grieving family and friends to their insulting remarks that don’t even apply to this man’s situation or circumstance. When will they understand that a funeral for a fallen soldier is about the fallen and not about their twisted cause? Never, of course, because to them it *is* about them.
With a new law in Nebraska requiring protests to remain 300 or more feet away from funeral services and a group planning to shield the family and friends from the protesters, my hope is that Jones’ family and friends will be allowed to honor him privately and with the respect and dignity he deserves.
At the same time, a group of bikers called the Patriot Guard said they planned to protect Jones’ family and shield them from the hateful words of protestors. More than 300 guard members plan to stand between the protesters and the church where the funeral will take place.
Guard members traveled to Omaha from Iowa, Minnesota and Kansas. Many of them are military veterans, like Cliff Leach. “Every time I do one of these it’s a Band-Aid on my heart,” Leach said.
Leach said the group’s mission is to support military families and give fallen soldiers the respect they’ve earned.
The Jones family is in my thoughts and prayers. My hope is that Westboro Baptist Church figures out that their prayers would be much more meaningful than their protests.
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Today's Jawa Report Brought To You By The Number 300
Barred from protesting within 300 feet, 300 Patriot Guard riders. If Phelps were on fire, I wouldn't piss on him to put it out. Unless I pissed charcoal lighter fluid....
read Fred Phelps "church" story at wikipedia : ...
He's a disbarred Lawyer, his "church" is his home aka Tax shelter, his family is his congregation who are mostly lawyers.
Gee, I wonder if the plan is to sue any municipality who stops their "protest" or does not protect them if they're assaulted?
davec has it right. So, don't get the idea there is a new theology in the Baptist Church. They are about as wrong as wrong can be.
The Baptist church doesn't recognize his "off-shoot" church, but I do think most Christian groups hold many of the same ideas about loving your neighbor, etc. It's obvious these loons are just that.
Our fellow blogger, Ari, has attended some of the Patriot Guard's interventions of these protests and the families have been very thankful. You should check her blog out for her entries about it.
I can't believe that any one would be so insensitive, especially a church group.
Jeremy was my best friend and big brother..he helped me ever since i got to ft hood texas and was always there when i needed him..same with his wife and the rest of his family..it makes me sick that these assholes would even attempt to protest at a funeral for a fallen hero..my family was there riding in the limo with the jones'..ill just say that the protesters were damn lucky i was back in iraq and not at the funeral...RIP Bulldog we love ya bro
I'm glad the assholes were far outnumbered by the Patriot Guard - my hope is that the family didn't even notice them there at all. But no matter what, Jeremy's service to our country and his bravery will leave much more of a mark on history than those slimeballs ever will...they will fade into non-history.
Please stay safe in Iraq....we pray for you every day!
My deepest heart felt sympathy to the Jones family belated of course. I found this site by searching for my name it is a terrible thing to lose a loved one. It is even worse to to show up and protest at a funeral and disrespect CPL Jones or any service member who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. I applaud the efforts of Cliff Leach and the Patriot Guard for comming foward. I do hope the funeral was uninterupted and CPL Jones received his just Honors. CPL Jones and the Patriot Gurad I salute you.
Cliff Leach
