Protest set for funeral of Marine

[thedrifter]

Protest set for funeral of Marine
By Tim Waldorf
staff writer

From all accounts, 19-year-old Lance Cpl. Adam Kaiser lived a quiet life before he was killed serving with the Marines in Iraq.

His funeral service, however, may not be that quiet.

A church group that protests funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq with signs that read God Hates America± and Thank God for Dead Soldiers± plans to be there.

Shirley Phelps-Roper, the attorney for Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., said a group from the church intends to protest at both Kaiser's funeral and the funeral of Byron resident Lance Cpl. Andrew Patten, 19, who was also killed in Thursday's blast in Fallujah. The group has already protested about a dozen funerals in Illinois.

Fred Phelps, Westboro's pastor, said soldiers' deaths are God's way of punishing America for its "acceptance of homosexuality.

Wade Kaiser, Adam's father, said he heard of the group about two weeks ago, and after his son's death, was told by the Marines to prepare for their presence.

Wade said he thinks it is sad that the group wants to do this, but he supports their right to do it.

"But I think it will show a lot of people what these people are all about," Wade said. "I think it should be an embarrassment to them, and it does nothing to help their cause."

Naperville Police Sgt. Joel Truemper said the department is aware of the possibility that the Westboro group may protest at Kaiser's funeral. He said Naperville police already planned to have a presence at the service, just as they have for the other funerals of Naperville soldiers recently killed in combat.

At past funeral services, police have worked with funeral homes and churches to protect mourners' privacy by asking unwanted parties to leave the property.

Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn is proposing a new law that would prohibit protests within 300 feet of any military funeral.

"To have these vile signs and epithets hurled at any family and any funeral is wrong," Quinn told the Chicago Sun-Times. "We should respect the right of any family to grieve and bury their dead with reverence."

Phelps said such a law would be unconstitutional, but Quinn said the U.S. Supreme Court has allowed the type of restrictions he is proposing.

Tim Waldorf
12/06/05

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Friends recall fallen Marine
By Tim Waldorf
STAFF WRITER

The flag at Naperville Central High School flew at half-staff Monday in honor of the school's second graduate to die serving in the war in Iraq.

Lance Cpl. Adam Wade Kaiser, 19, was one of 10 Marines killed Thursday in the deadliest attack on American troops in Iraq in the past four months.

Kaiser, a 2004 Central graduate, joined the Marines in October 2004 and left for Iraq to serve as a rifleman in July. On Thursday, a roadside bomb exploded while his unit was on a foot patrol near Fallujah.

Kaiser was known at home and around Central as a quiet kid with an intense focus on his goals.

David Kalal, a driver-education teacher at Central, had Kaiser as a student when he was a sophomore.

"He was a very quiet kid, but was one of those kids you loved to have in class," Kalal said.

"He showed up every day, and he was always on time. He never gave you any trouble. He never stirred the pot, so to speak.

"You could tell he was a very focused individual.

He was kind of one of those kids who had a goal in life and was focused on getting it done."
Kaiser kept a small but close group of friends, Kalal said, and he "didn't get caught up in high school."

Erik Abderhalden was one of those friends. The two met in the fourth grade at Meadow Glens Elementary School, attended Madison Junior High School and Naperville Central together, and graduated in 2004. That was the last time Abderhalden recalled seeing Kaiser.

The Adam Kaiser that Abderhalden knew was not as quiet as most people remember him. Abderhalden, now a sophomore at Illinois State University, recalled the crazy stories Kaiser would tell about the rabbits his family kept as pets, and the concoctions he'd make while playing with his lunch in junior high.

"Around friends, he was a nice guy and always had something to say," Abderhalden said. "He was really funny. If you knew him, he'd be doing jokes right and left."

It was no surprise when Kaiser decided in his senior year that he would join the Marines, Abderhalden said. That was his longtime goal.

"He had goals, and he achieved them," Abderhalden said.

Funeral services for Kaiser will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home, 2401 W. Royal Worlington Drive. Interment will be at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood. Visitation will take place from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

He is survived by his parents, Wade and Christine, both of Romeoville; a sister, Sarah; and a twin sister, Amanda.
12/06/05

Ellie

[rb1651]

This just steams the **** out of me. I plan on attending LCpl Andrew Patten's service here in Rockford. I have put the word out to our local VFW, American Legion, and F.O.E. about these a**holes coming. We will be at the service and make sure that these f*****s are not seen by family and friends. I already have six motor homes lined up, (and hopefully more) which we will use to block them from view.

I will let you know how it turns out. (Hopefully without having to post bail to do so!!)

Ron

[gwladgarwr]

This just steams the **** out of me. I plan on attending LCpl Andrew Patten's service here in Rockford. I have put the word out to our local VFW, American Legion, and F.O.E. about these a**holes coming. We will be at the service and make sure that these f*****s are not seen by family and friends. I already have six motor homes lined up, (and hopefully more) which we will use to block them from view.

I will let you know how it turns out. (Hopefully without having to post bail to do so!!)

Ron

Where do I send a donation to the bail fund?

Hmm, let's see: homosexuality and a funeral for a Marine KIA are connected...how? Westboro is a cult run by a clinically-insane man and his family, and he actually has followers. And I thought I had problems. This is truly, truly sad.

[GySgtRet]

rb1651,

I would definately have to back you on your RVs to block these SOBS. This Marine and other like him have paid the ultimate scarifice to **HOLES like this group. If there is a collection needed as gwladgarwr has mentioned just give us an address. I hope that it won't come to this.

[outlaw3179]

Hey Marines , just let me know where and what time. Nobody disrespects one of our brothers like that.

Semper Fi

[sgt.r.n.davis]

When ,we Always Knew The Enemy Was Coming, We Always Set Up AN Ambush...just Close Down Their Entry Route And Have A Face Off...
These People Are Not HumanS They Are Low Life Scumballs...

[CAR]

These freaks need to have "louisville slugger" stamped on the side of their heads ................. I just happen to have the bat to do it with to.

MAN that p*sses me off........

[thomas bruce]

The same kinda crap is going on here! In my home town of Virden, Il those idiots from Kansas are planning to protest a memorial service for a young man who was killed in Iraq. Granted he was in the Army, But none the less...He died for his country in the line of duty.

The mayor has headed up the service and alot of people are pitching in to make sure things are done right. The service is this Saturday Dec 10.

I understand alot of people don't believe in the politics and what not involved with our troops being deployed in Iraq, but DAMMIT support the troops. Sometimes thats all that keeps them going.

Those so called citizens from Kansas should be ashamed of themselves.

Semper Fi,
T.J. Bruce

[greensideout]

Ellie. why would post a thread like that?

[greensideout]

I understand alot of people don't believe in the politics and what not involved with our troops being deployed in Iraq, but DAMMIT support the troops. Sometimes thats all that keeps them going.

We, at least me did not give a thought or give a sh*t as to what people back home thought about anything. Have to disagree on that.

Semper Fi,
GSO

[greensideout]

Where do I send a donation to the bail fund?

Hmm, let's see: homosexuality and a funeral for a Marine KIA are connected...how? Westboro is a cult run by a clinically-insane man and his family, and he actually has followers. And I thought I had problems. This is truly, truly sad.

How do you know that is true? "clinically-insane man"?

[hrscowboy]

This same nut case protested a funeral at Leavenworth National Cemetary and got the shock of his life when 200 of our Veteran brothers on harleys met him at the gate and pushed him back across the street. Everytime he would start to talk on his blow horn the guys would rev up there harleys to cut him out, and it worked he got mad and left. His followers are nothing but his own family members and maybe a few straglers.. Buttom line is all he is doing is getting press attention and ****ing alot of people off where its about to back fire on him and someone is going to hurt him seriously..

[hrscowboy]

Right after that incident leavenworth city council brought out a city Ord that all protest rallys must have a permit to protest inside the city limits of leavenworth. You must apply to the Chief of Police and there is fee for that permit. The permit must be approved by the chief of police and the party that applies for the permit must give the chief of police a 3 week notice before the protest can occur. Anyone protesting without a permit is subject to a 1,000 fine and 30 days in jail.

[thedrifter]

Published: December 8, 2005
Local News: Rockford
Protests possible at Marine’s funeral
The lieutenant governor proposes legislation to stop such events.
By MELISSA WESTPHAL, Rockford Register Star

ROCKFORD — Members of a Kansas-based group that says military deaths in Iraq are a punishment from God have contacted local officials about demonstrating at the funeral for Lance Cpl. Andrew Patten, a Byron Marine killed last week.

Members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., started regularly protesting at military funerals this summer. According to their Web site, they believe America is doomed and God is killing military men and women, as well as causing major disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and Sept. 11, as a denouncement of homosexuality. The protests have had nothing to do with the sexuality of fallen military personnel.

Police, church, funeral home and state officials have worked during the past few days to eliminate disruptions the protests might cause for grieving friends and family members. Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, who has attended more than 100 military funerals during the past few years, plans to attend Patten’s service.

Quinn is proposing legislation that would keep protestors 300 feet from funeral services. He saw many protests firsthand this year organized by the Rev. Fred Phelps, the Westboro leader.

“Their sole purpose is to inflict pain on grieving parents, and it’s really very cruel,” Quinn said.

“My view in terms of the law is that families are exercising their First Amendment rights to conduct a funeral, their freedom of religion to lay their son or daughter to final rest.

“The First Amendment does not give unfettered rights to a hate group to interfere with or harass participants in a funeral.”

Westboro members have protested numerous military funerals, which they dub “Love Crusades,” across the country, and the group keeps an updated schedule of their efforts on their Web site. The group typically includes about a dozen people, most of whom are Phelps’ family members, who chant and hold signs that read “Thank God for Dead Soldiers” and “Don’t Worship the Dead” outside funeral homes and churches.

State officials and local police say the group has been in contact with local authorities, inquiring about protesting procedures for the city. Patten’s funeral will be at Maywood Evangelical Free Church in Rockford, but the time and date have not been finalized. Patten’s funeral is not listed on the Westboro Web site, but funerals on Saturday for military personnel in suburban Beach Park and downstate Virden are listed.

Rockford Deputy Chief Greg Lindmark said Westboro members did contact the Police Department.

“At this point, they’re unsure if they’re even going to come to Rockford, but we have spoken about what they can and cannot do, and they will be in contact with us if they do decide to come here,” Lindmark said.

Maywood administrative Pastor Larry Seagren said the groups have done “due diligence” in preparing for Patten’s services. Patten, 19, was a faithful member of Maywood, where he met several of his close friends. His fellow Marines had even nicknamed him “the Rev.”

“It’s unfortunate that they use this venue to protest when we’re talking about a young man who is a hero and leaving a legacy of being a great young man who fought for God and his country,” Seagren said.

Shirley Roper-Phelps, a member of and attorney for Westboro, said group members do plan to protest in Rockford if their schedules allow them to be here. She said her family has been protesting and spreading the literal word of scripture for 15 years.

“We’ve been to in excess of 60 of these funerals,” Roper-Phelps said. “First it was one or two a week, now it seems like every other day.

“God is punishing this nation. Our forum of choice must be these funerals if we are going to cause Americans to know their abomination. We have to be timely and topical.”

In Galesburg, a group of college students stood silently in front of Westboro protestors. At protests in Kansas, veterans with a group called Patriot Guard lined up their motorcycles in front of the protestors, sometimes revving their engines to drown out their chants.

Jason Wallin, a spokesman for Patriot Guard, said the group is talking to Patten’s family contacts, adding that riders only participate in the services at the request of the military families. The group includes a growing membership of about 1,700 people across 47 states.

“Our focus is partially to combat (Phelps’) group and honor our fallen,” Wallin said.

Quinn said he can’t think of a “lower thing than spewing hate and vile epithets” trying to disrupt a military person being laid to rest. He hopes his proposed legislation will see some movement early next year.

“Every funeral is special and different,” Quinn said. “These are the last moments a family has to say goodbye to their loved one. It’s been very impressive to see these families and understand why our young service members are so special. They have servants’ hearts. Many of them got their values from their families.”

Contact: mwestpha@rrstar.com; 815-987-1352

Ellie