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badseed1980Some of you may have heard of Captain Jennifer Harris, a USMC pilot who lost her life last week while on a blood transport mission in Iraq.
She was a Swampscott MA native, and her funeral is on Monday.
What you may not have heard is that the Westboro Baptist Church will be there. This is the group that has been going to service members' funeral, and harrassing families, based on the military having the Don't Ask, Don't Tell, policy.
Veterans Agent Jim Schultz says visiting hours will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, at Solimine, Landergan & Richardson Funeral Home, 67 Ocean St., Lynn.
A Funeral Mass with military honors is scheduled at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 19, at St. John the Evangelist Church, 174 Humphrey St., Swampscott.
After the Mass, her funeral procession will go down Humphrey Street to Burrill Street, through Army Spec. Jared Raymond Square (the corner of Essex and Burrill streets, named for a Swampscott U.S. Army soldier killed in Iraq last fall), turn right to Essex Street and proceed up Essex Street to Swampscott Cemetery.
Police plan to close Humphrey Street from Eastern Avenue (the Lynn line) to Greenwood Avenue at 9 a.m.
There will be no parking along Humphrey Street from Monument Avenue to Fisherman's Beach from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be no parking on Burrill and Essex streets from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Harris will be buried in a family lot at the cemetery.
The Patriot Guard will be in attendance:
The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles:
We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America's freedom and security.
If you share this respect, please join us. We don't care what you ride, what your political views are, or whether you're a "hawk" or a "dove". It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It doesn't matter where you're from or what your income is.
You don't even have to ride.
The only prerequisite is Respect.
Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family.
Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives.
1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
2. Shield the mourning family and friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of
protestors.
We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.
For further information on the PGR itinerary, check this link here.
She was a Swampscott MA native, and her funeral is on Monday.
What you may not have heard is that the Westboro Baptist Church will be there. This is the group that has been going to service members' funeral, and harrassing families, based on the military having the Don't Ask, Don't Tell, policy.
Veterans Agent Jim Schultz says visiting hours will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, at Solimine, Landergan & Richardson Funeral Home, 67 Ocean St., Lynn.
A Funeral Mass with military honors is scheduled at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 19, at St. John the Evangelist Church, 174 Humphrey St., Swampscott.
After the Mass, her funeral procession will go down Humphrey Street to Burrill Street, through Army Spec. Jared Raymond Square (the corner of Essex and Burrill streets, named for a Swampscott U.S. Army soldier killed in Iraq last fall), turn right to Essex Street and proceed up Essex Street to Swampscott Cemetery.
Police plan to close Humphrey Street from Eastern Avenue (the Lynn line) to Greenwood Avenue at 9 a.m.
There will be no parking along Humphrey Street from Monument Avenue to Fisherman's Beach from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be no parking on Burrill and Essex streets from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Harris will be buried in a family lot at the cemetery.
The Patriot Guard will be in attendance:
The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles:
We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America's freedom and security.
If you share this respect, please join us. We don't care what you ride, what your political views are, or whether you're a "hawk" or a "dove". It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It doesn't matter where you're from or what your income is.
You don't even have to ride.
The only prerequisite is Respect.
Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family.
Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives.
1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
2. Shield the mourning family and friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of
protestors.
We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.
For further information on the PGR itinerary, check this link here.
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no subject
Date: 2007-02-17 05:41 pm (UTC)I loathe the Westboro Baptists.
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Date: 2007-02-17 08:37 pm (UTC)But yeah, the Westboro Baptists are a waste of fucking oxygen.
no subject
Date: 2007-02-17 09:15 pm (UTC)The Act was sponsored by Rep. Mike J. Rogers, a Republican from Michigan. It was introduced in large part to combat the campaign by Fred Phelps from the Westboro Baptist Church, of Topeka, Kansas. Phelps and his supporters regularly demonstrated at the funerals of American soldiers who lost their lives in the war in Iraq. While protest is normally protected by the First Amendment, verbal abuse and fighting words are not; see Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire.
"Families deserve the time to bury their American heroes with dignity and in peace," Rogers said. "It saddens me that such a law is necessary, but it is crucial that America put its arms around these grieving families and say â˜we support you and thank you for the sacrifice your loved one has made for our nationâ™ and that we will do what it takes to protect your right to mourn in quiet peace and with dignity."
It was approved by the House via roll call vote with an overwhelming majority of 408 to 3. Barney Frank (D-MA) received the ire of Veteran's Groups as one of the three to oppose the act on civil liberties and constitutional grounds. David Wu (D-OR) and Ronald Paul (R-TX) also opposed it, and twenty-one Representatives did not vote. The Senate passed the bill unanimously.
It was amended in December of 2006 by S.4042 to change the distance to 150 feet from 300.
no subject
Date: 2007-02-17 11:52 pm (UTC)