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[hookem]

I have seen this happen elsewhere, and really could not imagine our sleepy little corner of Texas would be the sight of such.  I am not a PGR member, but am calling on those that are to help this soldier's family get the respect and privacy that they deserve at a time like this.  I knew the soldier, and he was a good man.  Not to mention, he made the ultimate sacrifice, and deserves our best!

[hookem]

 
 
 
 
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KFDM's Bulletin Board is ready for your posts!
 
 




Kansas Church Plans Protest at Soldier's Funeral in Beaumont
October 3,2006

Members of a church from Kansas say they're planning to picket outside of a soldier's funeral service in Beaumont.

28 year old Edward Reynolds was killed last week in Iraq. His funeral is this Saturday at
at Borden Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. Visitation begins at 10 a.m. The funeral begins at 2 p.m.

Reynolds was engaged and has three children.

Ten to twelve members of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, plan to protest outside the funeral service, not because of anything Reynolds did, but because the Kansas church believes the soldiers are fighting for a U.S. government that is not tough enough against homosexuals. The church has conducted similar protests at soldiers' funerals across the nation.

During a telephone interview Tuesday afternoon, church spokesman Jonathan Phelps talked about the group's beliefs.

"Our position is, soldiers know this is a country that enables homosexuality, and they fight for the nation anyway," said Phelps. "If families didn't turn funerals into patriotic pep rallies, we wouldn't travel to Beaumont, Texas. But they're saying 'God bless America,' and we feel like we have to make sure our message is heard."

Phelps said the church doesn't believe God has blessed America. Instead, he says members of the church believe God has turned against America because of what he calls our government's support for immoral behavior.

Airon Reynolds is the pastor at Borden Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. He's also the soldier's cousin.

We asked him about the planned protest.

"It's an act of desecration," said Reynolds. "He was only doing his patriotic duty. To have any form of a protest is almost an act of blasphemy, because they say they're doing it in the name of God, and God would have nothing to do with such a thing."

A procession escorting Sergeant Reynolds' body is expected to arrive in Beaumont late Wednesday afternoon.

The public is invited to show its support for the sergeant's family.

For more information about the route, look at the next story on our web page.
scottl@kfdm.com

[hookem]

Procession for Local Soldier Killed in Iraq
October 3,2006

Plans are being made to honor a local soldier who was killed in Iraq. The body of
28 year old Edward Reynolds will be escorted back to Southeast Texas Wednesday by area law enforcement and the Patriot Guard Riders.

Reynolds' body will arrive at Bush Intercontinental Airport Wednesday afternoon. Police officers from Beaumont and Port Arthur will be providing an escort.

The procession is expected to arrive in Beaumont sometime around 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. The procession will travel along the following route:

Highway 1960 to Highway 90
Highway 90 to IH 10 West
I10 West to Hwy 69 South to Port Arthur
Highway 69 South to Highway 365
Highway 365 to Highway 347 (Twin City Highway)
Twin City Highway to Gulfway
Gulfway to Memorial/Woodworth
Woodworth to Proctor and on to Gabriel Funeral Home.

Everyone is encouraged to show their support for Reynold's family. Flags and signs of support are encouraged.

[hookem]

PGR riders who are making this ride, please contact me via pm here, or on my cell at 409.720.8791.

[Blueflameguy2]

this is complete bullshit.  if they want to protest homosexuality, they can go chant in front of a gay club or go to their state capital.  to stand outside a soldiers funeral and do this is just rediculous.  theyre just a bunch of media whores. 

[hookem]

Yeah, this whole thing has me fuming!  I can not believe that this "church" feels that it is "God's Way" to use a "child of God"'s death as a time to garner attention for some cause...whatever that cause may be.  I can say that this young man IS a child of God, and I feel that the protesters will be the ones to feel the wrath for dishonoring this guy and his family.  He has 3 (THREE) young kids!!!  What are they to think by seeing all this?  Will they think that their daddy was a homosexual?  What an image for these kids to live with.  Really makes me want to see that there is some major problem on the roads from Beaumont to Port Arthur so they can't reach the funeral

[rod181]

Weel the protesters are just a bunch of homophobic possbly gay them selves people that CANT DEAL WITH THERE OWN ISSUES SO THEY DISPLACE IT ON TO THE FALLEN HEROS> I AM IN pPGR BUT IM IN DALLAS AND WONT BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT MISSION BUT I DO HOPE THOSE IDIOTS GET A GOOD SKULL DRAGGING. NO ONE THAT HAS FOUGHT FOR THIER COUNTRY DESERVES TO BE TREATED THAT WAY.



JUST MY TWO CENTS

[Blueflameguy2]

i agree.  if it wasnt a funeral, id say each person standing out there deserves a severe beating....  maybe someone will catch em after they leave there.........

[larry_357]

   I belong to the PGR but had to work today so was unable to make the ride.They have a new law that just passed but  they get around it by being over 500 foot away.You would think any decent human beings would have more respect for the famlies than this one group no matter how you feel about whats happeninf in Iraq.

[Dusty]

 
I got this from the Patriot Guard Site:

28 Sep 2006 11:45 PM Alert   
This mission is CONFIRMED!!  All contacts have been made with family, funeral director, military and working with area law enforcement and media.

The service is schedule for Saturday 10/7/06.  Viewing will be from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm and the service will begin at 2:00 pm.

STAGING AREA FOR ALL COMING INTO BEAUMONT FOR THIS MISSION SATURDAY 10-7-06:
Home Depot Parking Lot.......3910 Eastex Freeway (aka Hwy 69 / 96 / 287) at Lucas
Staging time 12:00 noon - Kick Stands up at 12:15 pm.

From Houston and Louisiana Area:
Take IH 10 West.....
Exit Hwy 69/96/287 towards Lufkin. 
Take the 2nd Exit at Lucas. (1st Exit is Delaware)
After exiting Lucas move to right lane and turn RIGHT at the light (Texaco station on the right corner). 
Go to First Texas Bank parking lot and make your way back to Home Depot parking lot.

There you will greeted by myself or one of my assistants.  We will take you to the church.

Please make your plans to come and honor this soldier who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

God Bless the family and friends of SSGT Reynolds.

Sandra Womack
Beaumont, TX Ride Captain

Riding in Memory of my father Howard R. Womack, Sr (Army WWII) and my former husband Jim Riggs ( Army Vietnam)


NEWS RELEASES from the United States Department of Defense

No. 976-06 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2006
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was
supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. He died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Sept. 26, of
injuries suffered when their M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle rolled over while
maneuvering. The soldier was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor
Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Killed was

Staff Sgt. Edward C. Reynolds, Jr., 27, of Groves, Texas.


The incident is under investigation.

For further information related to this release contact Fort Hood public
affairs office at (254) 287-9993.


www.beaumontenterprise.com
 
 

[hookem]

Yeah, Dusty, I saw that earlier.  There wil be an escort in today for his body, and I think the PGR is planning on being here Saturday.  I would be delighted to know that there would also be an escort for his body today, which I think there will be, but can't get that confirmed by anyone with PGR.

[hookem]

If any local riders are interested, i will be picking up the police escort today on 90.  Wanna join in?  Should be in Nome approx. 5pm  If anyone wants to join, call my cell, 409.720.8791

[Dusty]

If any local riders are interested, i will be picking up the police escort today on 90.  Wanna join in?  Should be in Nome approx. 5pm  If anyone wants to join, call my cell, 409.720.8791

I went to the last one for the soldier from Lake Charles. The only escort were police units at a fairly fast pace. All supporters were staged at the sports complex and closer towards town on 90. I was told there were some PG escorting from Houston, but that turned out not to be the case unless they turned around before getting to Bmt. The whole thing seemed to be staged by the media and a local funeral home to me.

[Maw Maw]

Hookem, I will be making the ride to Houston today with the police and family.  If you want to join be at the Holidome on Walden and IH10 at noon.  This is the e-mail I received from our local ride captain.

PGR members,
If you would like to go to Houston to assist in the escort of SSGT Reynolds for a proper homecoming you have an opportunity.  You may be at the Holiday Inn Holidome parking lot at 12:00 noon on your bikes.  I realize that this is last minute but I did not find out about the arrival time until late this afternoon.
 
Port Arthur and Beaumont Police Depts will be traveling with the funeral home personnel and SSGT Reynolds family along with any PGR members that would like to ride to Houston.
 
If you are unable to ride to Houston, we will meet up with riders at the Elks Lodge on Hwy 90 to ride on into Beaumont and Port Arthur.  Again you will need to be on your bikes.  Sorry that is the way it needs to be.
 
Below is the route that was sent out to the media.  Please copy and paste the route and forward it on to all on your email list.  We really need a great showing of respect and honor.
 
Visitation on Saturday has been changed to 11:00 am - 2:00 pm instead of 10:00 am.  Gary Wagner will be the point of contact at the staging area at Home Depot.  I along with Pat Forster will be at the church to make sure the area is ready.
 
Thanks,
Sandra
 
We also have a short notice mission tomorrow for Christopher Welch who was killed in an auto accident while returning to his base after visiting family in Hampshire.  If you can make this mission, be at Bruce's Market Basket on 39th st, Groves tomorrow at 2:00PM. 

This is the obituary from the newspaper:
Chistopher Dean Welch, 20, of Hampshire, Texas died on Tuesday, September 27, 2006 while traveling back to South Carolina. He was born in Nederland, Texas on September 20, 1986 to Joan and Tommy L. Welch. He was raised in the area and graduated from Hampshire- Fannett High School in 2005, where he played football, basketball and ran track. He joined the United States Marine Corp shortly after graduation and was stationed in Charleston, South Carolina as a correctional specialist. Christopher was very proud to be a Marine. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. Tuesday and Wednesday evening at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home in Groves. He will lie in State all day Wednesday until 8:00 P.M. and on Thursday until the service time. Funeral Service will be at 3:30 P.M. Thursday, October 5, 2006 at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home with Rev. Bruce Stinson and Rev. Joe Constantine, officiating. Burial with Full Military Honors will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park.
 
If you have any questions, call me at 962-5440 or 749-0461.
Pat

[Swampfox]

O I got to someday soon!