I have recently returned from the Rally for Respect and Reverence held to counter-protest the statements and actions of the Westboro Baptist Church and its leader, Fred Phelps, in regard to the death of US soldiers in Iraq. The Rally was held at the funeral of West Virginia native Sgt. Matthew Hunter on Saturday, February 4 in West Alexander, Pennsylvania.
Let me preface this diary entry by saying I have been awake for 26.5 of the past 29 hours. Please forgive any errors.
After reading a Westboro Baptist Church press release overnight on Thursday, I learned that WBC members would be protesting at the funeral of Sgt. Matthew Hunter, 31, of Valley Grove, WV. I am familiar with Hunter's family, having attended school with his brother and briefly working with his mother, and naturally the press release outraged me. I had a great deal of built-up anger over recent statements of Fred Phelps in regard to the Sago Mine Disaster a few weeks ago. To me, this was the perfect opportunity to express a strong, clear message to the WBC, though I doubt they comprehended our statement in their irrational, paranoid minds.
Upon showing the press release to a friend, he likewise decided to help organize the Rally for Respect and Reverence. It was a faction of anti-war protestors and pro-Bush supporters coming together to make one very unified message --- EVERY HUMAN BEING DESERVES A DIGNIFIED FUNERAL. We gathered a few others together, and I began making calls to local press outlets, and blogging on the subject. For more information on the preparation, please read my February 2 diary entry.
And so, I began to brainstorm the clearest but most effective message to send to both the grieving community of the Ohio Valley and the insipid apostates from WBC. I chose to create five posters: blue background and gold lettering (West Virginia colors). Four of them contained the text of Galatians 5:22-23
For the Fruit of the Spirit is this: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and [humility].
How else to better convey one's message to those who woefully misquote, misinterpret, and misrepresent Scripture than to use Scripture and expose their fallacy?
Upon the fifth blue and gold poster, we chose the State Motto of West Virginia - Montani Semper Liberi - "Mountaineers are always free."
My three friends and I worked until 5:15AM and had to arrive at the Rally at 9:30AM. Needless to say, all four of us had very little sleep. We completed the posters, packed them in the car, and headed to West Alexander.
We arrived as the color guard and casket motorcade were pulling up to the West Alexander Presbyterian Church. After converging in the small borough's Post Office parking lot, we were greeted by about 40 members of the Patriot Guard Riders who had come to assist in preserving the respect and dignity deserving at any funeral. Furthermore, about 25 law enforcement officials --- most of whom arrived in uniform, without pay, and from out of jurisdiction --- came to support and protect us in our effort. Let me be very clear on this point: absolutely every single law enforcement officer on the scene was extremely polite, courteous, accommodating, and even grateful.
I took great comfort in having first noticed one deputy sheriff from Ohio County, WV whom was familiar with my friends and me. Another soon followed as did former classmates. They urged us to stay on the church's side of the street as WBC demonstraters remained on the other side of Main Street. We walked up to the church and were warmly greeted by other members of the Patriot Guard Riders as well as local residents. At their suggestion, we decided to stand with our backs to WBC with our signs facing toward them.
After about 25 minutes of reverence and respect from our delegation, the screams of "Your pastor is a whore" and "Matthew Hunter is burning in Hell," the WBC demonstrators abruptly stopped, walked toward their car, and were given an optional police escort out of town. Please note, the WBC demonstrators left of their own volition without intimidation or harassment.
As the demonstrators walked away, the crowd of law enforcement, members from our Rally, the Patriot Guard Riders, and others in attendance resoundingly sang:
Na-Na-Na-Na, Na-Na-Na-Na, Hey-Hey-Hey, Good-bye!
Law enforcement officials from Donegal Township and the Pennsylvania State Police granted the remaining family supporters full access to Main Street. We thanked each other and expressed our sorrow for the family of Sgt. Hunter. A reporter from the Washington Observer-Reporter walked over to me and asked me several questions (if there is an article in the Sunday Paper, I will update this diary entry). The sky remained dry as the final parishoners entered the church along with members of the US Army.
And, as if it was meant to happen, as soon as the funeral began at 10:30AM, down came the rain. Our group marched with others from the church toward West Alexander Cemetery (where my family's plot is located) to "gauntlet" any attempt by renegade WBC demonstrators to interfere. Thankfully, it was not necessary.
We bid our farewells to our alliance and expressed our gratitude for their presence.
I would like to personally thank a few special people:
- Fellow Kossack Roxtar - Though we were separated early in the event, I truly appreciate your support and encouragement. I hope you got some great pictures for us.
- The Patriot Guard Riders - Without you, I would have felt very intimidated by the WBC and the emotional reactions.
- Local Law Enforcement including the Ohio County Sheriff's Dept. (Officers Croft, Meyer, and Siephas), West Alexander Borough Police, Donegal Township Police, Clearview Police (Officer Baldauf), Valley Grove Police, and the Pennsylvania State Police.
- Other supporters including American Legion Post No. 1 (Mr. Nanny, you are awesome!).
- Eddie, Kyle, and Liz without whom this Rally could not have been possible.
(More pictures and updates to follow as needed) ~MPH
A quick note: Thank you, Kossacks, for your wonderful statements of support. I do not deserve that much credit for this --- remember to thank the Patriot Guard Riders as well. Check out their website and their mission statement.
[Quick Update]: Here are a few pictures taken by fellow Kossack Roxtar. Please be sure to visit
Roxtar's Blogspot Page to read his account of today's Rally.
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
[Another Update] Here are a few excerpts from
'Can-do' soldier killed in Iraq honored at West Alex funeral in the February 5 edition of the Washington (PA)
Observer-Reporter:
Among those attending the funeral were members of Patriot Guard Riders, a veterans motorcycle group that provides an escort and color guard at military funerals. Lately, the group has been serving another purpose, that of shielding family members from a Topeka, Kan., church whose members have been protesting at military funerals, saying soldiers are dying because God is angry with America's tolerance of homosexuality.
About eight people from Westboro Baptist Church stood on the sidewalk across from the church, holding signs such as "God Hates America" and "Thank God for Dead Soldiers." The Patriot Guard members stood with their backs to the protesters and held up a large tarp so Hunter's family would not have to see the protesters as they entered the church.
"We believe our fallen heroes deserve a respectful service," explained Rick Gifford of Parkersburg, W.Va.
[My name] of Elm Grove, W.Va., agreed. He and three of his friends held signs reading "love, joy, peace," in what they called their own "rally of respect and reverence."
"My father is buried in West Alexander Cemetery, and I just could not let this go down without some type of representation," [he] explained.
The Kansas protesters left under a state police escort 45 minutes before the start of the funeral. They have plans to conduct a similar protest at Tuesday's funeral of Coretta Scott King.
A native of Valley Grove, W.Va., Hunter's funeral also was attended by members of American Legion Post 656 of West Alexander and Valley Grove and Clearview fire departments. American flags were hung from poles all through town, and many residents also had taken the time to display their own flags.
---and---
The Rev. Jeri-Lynne Bouterse, pastor of the church, said Hunter was a true leader. He went to Iraq because he had long felt called to serve his country. His family chose Isaiah 40:31 for Bouterse's meditation. The Bible verse says those who depend on God will someday rise up on the wings of eagles, fitting since Hunter was a member of the 101st Airborne Division, known as the Screaming Eagles and based at Fort Campbell, Ky.
Isaiah 40:31
Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.