The "g-d hates fags" group from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas is at it again. Tonight, some of them gathered in my hometown to
protest against homosexuals at the funeral of a soldier who died last week in Afghanistan.
According to a family member who drove by the church, there were two adults and five children there holding up their usual hate signs such as "g-d hates fags", "thank g-d for IEDs," etc. It really pisses me off that these sorry excuses for human beings exploit children to propagate their hate message.
The twist continues below the fold...
However, in this instance, the family didn't have to endure this hateful nonsense.
The Patriot Guard Riders showed up to
hide the protesters from the view of those attending the funeral. Over 100 of these bikers showed up to stand, backs to these hatemongers, between the protesters and the church. But apparently it didn't stop there. According to my relative, several hundred residents of the city showed up and surrounded the church grounds to further shield the mourners from these vile people. Both the biker group and the townspeople were carrying American flags. When the protesters started their yelling, the Patriot Guard started up their bikes and drowned the protesters out.
The breaking news is that this soldier died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound (link, registration required). His brother was killed last year in Iraq and apparently the demons of war were too much for this young man to handle.
His parents said that Andrew, who never recovered from losing Fred, was determined to return to battle to finish the job his brother had started.
Andrew's older brother, Cpl. Jose "Freddy" Velez, 23, was killed in 2004 while fighting in Iraq.
Freddy died a hero by facilitating the retreat of his fellow soldiers from an enemy strong point. The soldiers found safety behind the blanket of gunfire he provided. When Freddy ran out of ammunition, he was shot and killed.
It looks like Andrew had PTSD from his war experiences, and yet he was allowed to go back to the front.
But Roy and Carmen Velez questioned whether Andrew should return to combat after they said police discovered him in an East Lubbock alley in December 2005.
Andrew was screaming at soldiers who were not there, grasping an invisible weapon in his hands, Roy said.
"Get down! Get down!" he yelled at his father. "I'm not going to die!"
He was never arrested, but Roy said a copy of the police report followed his brother back to Fort Irwin and that he had other episodes on base and underwent a psychological evaluation.
He leaves behind a wife and 3 small children.
A salute to the Patriot Guard Riders and the citizens of Lubbock for honoring this family and their sacrifices.