Repost: Alert - Protest of a lesbian service member's funeral

[elaby]

Reposting from tumblr:

Westboro Baptist Church will be protesting SGT Donna Johnson’s funeral at 10:15am Saturday Oct 13th at the Raeford Presbyterian Church, 128 Edinborogh Ave Raeford NC 28376. If you live close, please go & help the volunteers stand in line between WBC & the family. If you don’t, please repost so others will know about it. SGT Johnson was killed in Khost, Afghanistan on Oct 1st by a suicide bomber. She has served our nation for 6 yrs. This was her 3rd deployment. She leaves behind her wife, Tracy.

I wish I lived close enough to go. My greatest fear is losing my wife, and to think that this sergeant's wife and family would have to endure protests along with that pain is beyond horrific.

Comments

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Your parents are wonderful! Tell them thank you for me. I'm so glad they're able to go - especially with a motorcycle group, which would present a very strong barrier, I'd think. *hugs* I hope nothing happens too.

[rubymulligan.livejournal.com]

My parents just got back. With tears in her eyes, my mom said that it was the most beautiful service she's ever seen. She said that the town of Raeford, as they were required to do, issued a permit to the WBC to protest. However, and here's the happy part of the story, it was only good for one hour and that hour was strictly from 8-9 this morning. The funeral didn't start until 10:15 am. So, yay! They didn't get to disturb the funeral at all. My mom said that over 1,000 bikes were there and probably 4,000 people. It was so crowded and so love-filled. My parents were very moved and I was moved to hear it from them first hand. ;-;

Oh, and their group is called the Patriot Guard.

[rubymulligan.livejournal.com]

Here are a few photos from the day. My mom's memory is horrible so she takes her camera with her everywhere she goes, every single day. I'll leave them as links just in case someone doesn't want to look at them:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/mathrockgirl/560371_510481418964351_1904458463_n_zps5d05118a.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/mathrockgirl/318993_510481455631014_1622784722_n_zps83f32e46.jpg
Both pictures are of the massive line of motorcycles from the Patriot Guard.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/mathrockgirl/552329_510481175631042_283727051_n_zps5e4f9a98.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/mathrockgirl/545298_510480892297737_406022705_n_zps1f20d26a.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/mathrockgirl/479906_510481105631049_1076538315_n_zps04f57583.jpg
People with lots and lots and lots of American flags.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/mathrockgirl/285616_510479852297841_281230572_n_zps339aa517.jpg
My mom with the flags.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/mathrockgirl/8169_510481938964299_221167444_n_zps3eb2c567.jpg
Donna's hearse was actually pulled by a motorcycle.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/mathrockgirl/375823_510482228964270_1801068389_n_zps0b4720e6.jpg
Her flag-draped casket and pall bearers.

;-;

[elaby.livejournal.com]

That RULES. I'm so glad the town was clever about that. Thank goodness.

Your parents and their group are ten million kinds of awesome. <3

[caitirin.livejournal.com]

SERIOUSLY!!! :)