Soldier's funeral peaceful as threatened disruption fails to materialize

SOUTH PARIS, Maine --Hundreds of mourners paid their last respects Saturday to a soldier killed in Iraq as an even larger crowd gathered outside waving flags in response to a threatened disruption that never materialized.

About 3,000 people assembled outside Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, turning it into a sea of red, white and blue to counter a fringe church group that had promised to attend with pickets proclaiming "Thank God for dead soldiers."

More than 30 local, county and state police officers were stationed around the school to keep the peace, but the pickets never materialized.

Inside, Army Sgt. Corey A. Dan of Norway was remembered as a funny, friendly and caring man who watched out for those he loved -- friends, family and country.


http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2006/03/25/soldiers_funeral_peaceful_as_threatened_disruption_fails_to_materialize/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Maine+news

I can't imagine how horrid a protest like this is for the family. Thank goodness it didn't happen here.

and burst into flames.

:grr:

This is about the third time I have read that he had said he was coming to protest and did not show. But in all case a major anti-protest did come out...

Rev. Fred "Thank God for AIDS" Phelps and his merry band of mental health refugees?

They still got their name out in the press pre-funeral, the bastards!

Three thousand in South Paris -- that must have been something to see.

then protested in front of the state capitol on Thursday since the legislature is considering a bill that will require that protestors stay 500 feet away from funerals. Tomorrow he plans to protest local churches.

:spray:

I see this as another major victory for the Bush administration. At least, that's what my teevee will tell me tomorrow morning on the Sunday talk shows.