Patriot guards at soldiers' funerals are critical

U.S. Army Cpl. Jacob Carver of Cass County, Missouri, just 20 years old, is the latest local man to die in Afghanistan.

Allen Edmonds of the Cass County publication, The Star Herald, wrote a beautiful piece on Saturday chronicling the motorcycle escort on U.S. Highway 71 of the hearse carrying Carver's body home. 

Edmonds wrote:

There was an emotion - it was almost excitement - among the small knot of family and friends gathered Saturday afternoon on an overpass above U.S. 71 just south of Peculiar.

Truckers sounded their air horns and motorists waved at the American flags the group carried. Perhaps, miles to the north, they had encountered the massive convoy of nearly 100 bikers surrounding the shiny black hearse and had figured out what was going on.

As the convoy reached the Peculiar area, Edmonds described it as follows:

Suddenly, there was silence.

The lights and sounds of 100 flag-bearing motorcycles announced that the moment had come.

Around the curve the line wrapped, with motorists politely pulling to the right while the homecoming mission stayed to the left, in seemingly perfect military order.

The first set of bikers passed under the bridge first, followed by the hearse, followed by a seemingly endless parade of flag-adorned cycles.

Seconds later, it was over. The normal sounds of the traffic below seemed almost serene.

And the silence on the bridge was overwhelming. Not a word was said.

Jake was home.

Sadly, these scenes are becoming more commonplace around small town America. And so are the ugly protests at funerals by the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas.

Westboro plans to protest at the funeral of Jacob Carver on Tuesday, November 23rd. Their posted announcement reads as follows:

WBC will picket a respectful distance from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Whorehouse where they will take a break from raping the children long enough to worship the corpse of Cpl. Jacob R. Carver whom God blew up with an IED, dispatching his soul to hell forever. 

Some commenters on the media coverage of the Phelps family and the Westboro protesters say it is best to stop covering the protests at fallen soldiers' funerals. In their opinion, all it does is give WBC the attention they crave.

But others point out that a new phenomenon has developed - one much like the tea party movement. Everyday Americans are organizing themselves to come out to honor the young person who gave their life for their country and to support their family in their time of grief.

In addition, these patriot guards are proving a formidable opponent to the hate-mongers from Topeka. They are forming a shield around the funeral attendees so that their grieving will not be dishonored by inappropriate messages from compassionless misanthropes. 

Such responses from the American patriot guards serve many purposes.

First and foremost, they honor the fallen hero. Second, they protect the grieving family by forming a loving human shield around them. Third, they provide the best deterrent to the Westboro people and the message that their behavior will not be tolerated. And finally, it continues to remind those whose mission it is to terrorize the American people, especially those in small town U.S.A., that we the people can do mighty things.

Local organizers are planning a patriot shield at the funeral of Cpl. Jacob Carver tomorrow in Harrisonville.

Such groups as Political Chips and Operation Payback are contacting their members and asking for volunteers to attend. Results so far indicate a huge response.

A Facebook group called Operation Patriot Shield has been formed to disseminate information and details for all those who wish to participate in this event. Visit this page for times, locations, parking information, and funeral procession map. Bring your small American flags to wave.

Read Jacob Carver's obituary here.