http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/...99/detail.html

Phelps' Group Protests At Soldier's Funeral
Spc. Edward Myers Was Killed In Iraq

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Members of the Rev. Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., are picketing military funerals, KMBC's Micheal Mahoney reported Friday.

The group has made national headlines for traveling throughout the country to picket gay churches, gay weddings, and the funeral of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student who was murdered in Wyoming in 1998.

Friday, about 15 members of the group -- some of them children -- picketed the funeral of a St. Joseph soldier who was killed in Iraq. Mahoney reported that the group stood across the road from the Grace Evangelical Church during the funeral of 21-year-old Spc. Edward Myers.

"The first sin was being a part of this military. If this young man had a clue and any fear of God, he would have run, and not walked, from this military," said protester Shirley Phelps-Roper. "Who would serve a nation that is godless and has flipped off, defiantly defied, defiantly flipped off, the Lord their God?"

One protester had an American flag tied to his belt that draped to the ground. He was holding a sign that read, "Thank God For IEDs," which are explosive devices used by insurgents to blow up military convoys.

Protesters said America has ignored the word of God, and those who defend the nation must pay a price.

"That's the first piece of solid evidence that you have that the young man is currently in hell," Phelps-Roper said.

"The soldier is in hell now, you believe?" Mahoney asked.

"Absolutely," Phelps-Roper said.

'Protesters Were Rude'

About a dozen veterans stood across the road from the protesters, and Mahoney reported that there were some harsh words and insults traded between the two groups. However, sheriff deputies were stationed about 100 yards away and there was no violence.

"The protesters were so rude -- were disrespectful," said veteran Jim Fields.

"Do I like it? No, I don't. But what can you say, it's a free country," said veteran Dave Campbell.

Veterans told KMBC that a member of the soldier's family shouted at the protesters to leave, and they left about 20 minutes after the funeral started. Mahoney reported that there was applause from veterans and other crowd members when the protesters left.

After the funeral was over, one of the mourners commented on the irony of the protesters showing up at a soldier's funeral.

"They shouldn't protest the funeral for a man who was out there dying to protect the rights that they're demanding they receive," said Marvin Russell.

Russell said he thinks the soldier's family saw the protesters.

"I think it saddened them. They didn't say anything outright, but you could tell by the way they looked down that this was a sad thing to do. They're already in mourning, they don't need people like this to make it worse," Russell said.

Myers was buried with full military honors in Leavenworth National Cemetery. He leaves behind a wife and two children.

One of the protesters said the group is planning to picket other military funerals.

Can you believe these people!?

I do believe they put the ANK in wANKers. If they don't like America so much then maybe they should move to Iraq. I don't think i can explain just how much that irritates me.

Rich.

That is not the time nor place to voice their opinion.

Hate the sin, love the sinner. That's Biblical. That means honor the death of a fallen soldier, not smear it with a disgusting distortion of "freedom of speech".

God views all sin the same way. That means if the protestors are doing what is right, they should be protesting at the graves of every soldier who ever lived and died!!!

Everyone sins. Get over it, people. I am saddened once again by my fellow Americans.

This is what I like to call a "WTF moment". How could they picket funerals? Man disrespect and dishonor. How do they know the man wasn't a Christian?

No respect none what so ever, hope they get comments said at there crappy funerals

tahts about as low as you can go

sorta scary when priests have that much control over thier congregation, that they can mobilise like that.

surely the bible says something about not judging, lest you be judged yourself??? maybe the good Rev. should read hisbook from time to time, im sure Jesus preached about tolerance and understanding.....

That poem comes to mind, "It's the Soldier" By: Charles M. Province.

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