Our brave Hero Major Mike Mundell is laid to rest today, among family, friends and supporters. Unfortunately, he is also joined by the protesters of the Westboro Baptist Church. They intend to picket this funeral.
Protest what? The passing of a Hero who chose to serve our great country? The war that is showing us how much we stand to lose if our freedoms are not defended? The friends and family who have lost someone dear to them?
I realize that we have the First Amendment. I know we're allowed to say what we choose without fear of reprisal and torment. It's only one of a thousand reasons I love this country so much. With this comes an innate sense of responsibility. We are able to speak freely; this does not mean that we have to do this at the expense of others' feelings and the sacrifice of common decency.
If it weren't so absurdly horrifying, I would go to any Westboro Baptist Church member's family funeral and protest just to show them how awful they would feel; and how terrible the family of the fallen Heroes must feel to have these people disrupting and intruding on such a moment of personal trial and sadness. It's a good thing I was raised better than that. I am not a Saint; I wasn't raised right but I wasn't raised rude, either.
Along with the First Amendment, we also have the Patriot Guard Riders who will be there. They will stand between the family and the protesters, forming a wall of solidarity blocking out the heinous acts and inappropriate words of the WBC. They will bring the dignity of this fallen Hero to the forefront and God willing, leave the hateful, hurtful acts of this "Church" (I'm finding it difficult to call it that) in the dirt where they belong.
My heart goes out to Major Mundell's family and friends. My prayers go to God to take his soul to Heaven's gates where he can be whole and again live in peace.
Patriot Guard Rider
The silence of Death – broken by
Screams of protest.
Screams of Protest
Broken by the thunder of
Pride and Honor of the Guard
We stand side by side to honor
Those who can no longer fight
We stand side by side to comfort
Those whose hearts are broken
We stand side by side as Americans
Once as strangers, now as friends
But now and foremost we stand
Side by side as Patriot Guard Riders
Defenders of America's Patriotism
BY: Gus Pappaeliou NY Ride Captain
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