:mad:
Protest Planned At Maine Soldier's Funeral
Police Hoping For Best, Planning For Worst
NORWAY, Maine -- A religious group known for its protests against gays and abortion is coming to Maine to protest a soldier's funeral next weekend.
Members of the Westboro Baptist Church, of Topeka, Kan., are planning to protest at Sgt. Corey Dan's funeral.
Dan, a member of the 101st Airborne Division from Norway, was killed in Iraq on March 13 when his Humvee was attacked with a roadside bomb and small arms fire.
The church members have been protesting service members' funerals across the county carrying signs that say "Thank God For Dead Soldiers." The church said soldiers are being struck down by God for defending a nation that tolerates homosexuality.
The church members' antics have led to legislative efforts in several states to keep the protesters away from grieving families.
Dan's funeral is being held this weekend at the high school he attended in South Paris.
Dan's half-brother, Ritchie, said he was stunned to learn of the church's plans when the family still is devastated by the soldier's death.
"How can you be so heartless and then call yourself a man of God, is one of my questions," Ritchie Dan said.
Dan said several veterans groups were planning to show their support at the funeral. He hoped the crowd would shield the family from any of the protesters.
"I'm looking at this as sacred ground, because it's not supposed to be about anything but Corey on that day," Dan said. "He gave all there was to give, and he deserves at least one day of peace."
Members of Oxford County's law enforcement said they are hoping for the best Saturday, but they're preparing for the worst.
Paris Police Chief David Verrier said his phone has been ringing off the hook since word got out that the church was headed to Maine.
“I’m telling them, ‘Don’t give Oxford Hills a black eye. We have a wonderful community. Don’t do something that’s going to bring a bad response from these people,’” he said.
Verrier has been soliciting advice from police departments that have already met up with the church group. And he is rounding up a small army of officers from several departments to be on hand Saturday.
In the meantime, Maine veterans -- such as Arthur Roy -- also plan on being at Dan’s service, to support the family.
Toy said, “When you lose a member at that age, and a church has the audacity to come and say, ‘God hates you’ and ‘God this-and-that,’ I’ll be there. I won’t be violent.”
A group known as the Patriot Guard also plans to be at the service. The motorcyclists, who attend soldiers’ funerals by invitation, carry flags and form a human shield between soldiers’ families and protesters.
A scholarship has been established in Dan's name. To contribute:
Sgt. Corey Dan Scholarship Fund
c/o Norway Savings Bank
261 Main St.
Norway, Maine 04268
