Here's a piece from IAVA's Perry Jefferies. If this story doesn't get you fired-up, then nothing will.
Staff Sergeant Mike Wenrick, who's been blogging from Iraq, took on the asshats from the Westboro Baptist Church (anyone from the Pat Robertson school of thought want to dissasociate from these guys? anyone?), and started a letter writing campaign to pass a law requiring them to stand back. (In case you need to catch up on what this vile little organization has been doing, here's some background.)
The bill would require protesters to remain 500 feet from any funeral, memorial service or memorial procession from one hour before to one hour after the service. Violators would face a misdemeanor charge.
Wenrick said the issue was personal -- and painful.
"I have lost some good friends to IED's, or improvised explosive devices, and I feel I owe it to their honor to do everything I can to prevent this from happening ever again," Wenrick wrote.
The story, and links to his posts from Camp Corregidor in Iraq are here. Give it a read. Although I have been, and remain, really uncomfortable about laws regarding any free speech, no matter how offensive, the interjection of this kind of disruptive protests into funerals seems to me to be trespassing or even assault. I applaud SSG Wenrick for his actions and really appreciate how he leveraged the voice he had with this newspaper to urge respect for the families of fallen troops.
Via his "Postcards from Iraq" blog on the Centre Daily Times Web site, Wenrick urged people to contact their local lawmakers to support legislation to limit protests at funerals and memorial services. He did so after seeing news reports about protests being staged at military funerals in Pennsylvania and around the country.
Another group continuing to protect families and friends from this sick intrusion is the Patriot Guard Riders. If you ride a motorcycle (or not) and have a few hours, you can help honor one of our nation's fallen near you. Check them out at www.patriotguard.org.