What would you do if Westboro Baptist Church showed up when you were on funeral detail?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 May 2014 16:45:00 -0400

I am proud and honored to be part of the funeral tomorrow for SGT Shawn Farrell. Unfortunately I found out today that the Westboro Baptist Church has passed out fliers and plans to come protest. If you were on the detail what would you do? I am interested to hear what you would do or suggest.

Response by SSgt Gregory Guina made May 7 at 2014 4:49 PM

SSgt Gregory Guina — Wed, 07 May 2014 16:49:38 -0400

Ignore them and carry out your duties.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2014 6:36 PM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 May 2014 18:36:15 -0400

I would remain professtional, fulfill my duties to best of my ability, and pray for them.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made May 7 at 2014 7:07 PM

SSG Trevor S. — Wed, 07 May 2014 19:07:56 -0400

It is almost to the point with these nut jobs that we need to adhere to OPSEC for funerals. Since we can't do much about it, maybe use it for gain. When speaking with the family remind them that the protest would not be happening if their loved one was not important enough to protest. They should take the protest to mean that his life had an impact.

Response by SFC Christopher Perry made May 7 at 2014 8:14 PM

SFC Christopher Perry — Wed, 07 May 2014 20:14:15 -0400

They had planned to show at a couple we were privileged enough to be part of. Fortunately the Patriot Guard Riders made this pretty tough for them to do. The first was for a young SPC. We were pretty new at handling funeral honors at that point. Like I said the Patriot Riders showed up in force, as did the officers from not just that county but three surrounding counties as well. One of the officers was talking to us for a while before the service commenced. He informed us they could be pretty aggressive toward the team. He said that he and the other officers would do their best to maintain order. He also felt inclined to tell us that if we were forced to handle the situation ourselves at any point, and he was unable to pretend that they had had in fact fallen down a few flights of stairs, that it would only be a $50 fine there in Arkansas.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2014 8:25 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 May 2014 20:25:41 -0400

Those guys make me sick. But remember why you are there. Stand tall and honor your brother by not missing a beat or letting them get to you. There are many organizations out there that will take the steps to keep them at bay.

Response by 1LT Marc Kinder made May 7 at 2014 8:37 PM

1LT Marc Kinder — Wed, 07 May 2014 20:37:12 -0400

Here's the thing. You are part of the funeral detail. The best thing you can do is not flinch when it comes to the WBC. You let them do their thing and you do yours the best way you know how. We are trained to work under pressure and handle ourselves in a professional manner at all times, even in the face of adversity.

As far as the detail is concerned, just act as if they don't exist. I would also put a call out to the Patriot Riders, they would be happy to escort and form a line blocking the ignorance that is WBC.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2014 8:40 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 May 2014 20:40:38 -0400

Probably go to jail. I hope you can be more professional than that.

Response by MAJ Dallas D. made May 7 at 2014 9:24 PM

MAJ Dallas D. — Wed, 07 May 2014 21:24:58 -0400

I am a Proud Patriot Guard Rider. I am sure there will be some of us there to block them. That is what we do!

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made May 7 at 2014 9:30 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Wed, 07 May 2014 21:30:22 -0400

And I think that there should be a Military Goon Squad that is able to do juuuuusssst enough stomping, that it would never be an issue again. EVER. And then, since the people protesting are clearly not Americans, find them somewhere else to live.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2014 9:37 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 May 2014 21:37:56 -0400

I have been on a funeral detail that the church showed up too. You do not even acknowledge their presence. You are there to honor the veteran and that is it. You are there to perform your job to the best of your ability to honor the veteran and maybe/hopefully bring some solace to the family. Anything less than that and you are dishonoring the job you were brought there to do.

The last thing the family needs is for their loved ones funeral service to turn into some kind of brawl or circus. Remember, the military is professional, and the honor guard that we are a part of is the most professional amongst other professionals.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2014 10:15 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 May 2014 22:15:10 -0400

I would ignore them. They are NOT worthy of a second of my personal attention. My primary focus is on the conduct of the funeral and honoring the deceased service-member and their family. My secondary focus is the Soldiers, under my leadership, conducting the funeral honors themselves. To give WBC the time of day is to dishonor why I am there in the first place.

In addition, as a Patriot Guard Rider, we are taught to never engage them in the emotional abuse they are trying to inflict on others. They are deliberately trying to elicit an emotional and eventually physical response from their "targets". Don't give in to their hate.

On a final note, God will handle them accordingly with His will. I refuse to hate them or call them names, or even call for their deaths as many have disgustingly done so.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 8 at 2014 2:45 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Thu, 08 May 2014 02:45:57 -0400

I have had the displeasure of being a few feet from them but it was outside a concert where Prince was performing. Yeah, I went to a Prince concert and it was awesome. Anyways, the best thing to do is ignore them.

Response by PO2 Rocky Kleeger made May 8 at 2014 8:48 AM

PO2 Rocky Kleeger — Thu, 08 May 2014 08:48:33 -0400

From a professional standpoint, I would do my duty.

From a personal standpoint, I'd turn the muzzle their way...

Response by SFC James Rigdon made May 8 at 2014 8:57 AM

SFC James Rigdon — Thu, 08 May 2014 08:57:37 -0400

It's not about them, it's about the families of the fallen Soldier and the US Army that you are representing.

Response by Sgt Edward Fennell made May 8 at 2014 10:58 AM

Sgt Edward Fennell — Thu, 08 May 2014 10:58:24 -0400

I would stay professional and carry out my duty! Let everyone else handle the scum!

Response by Cpl Reginald Whitcomb Jr. made May 8 at 2014 11:10 AM

Cpl Reginald Whitcomb Jr. — Thu, 08 May 2014 11:10:48 -0400

This is my advice and a two set process...

#1 Fulfill your duties to our fallen brother and the family your fight is not with WBC on this day. Stay frosty, Remain Professional.

#2 Call Patriot Guard Riders ASAP and inform them of the planned protest, they will handle the rest.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2014 11:15 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 May 2014 11:15:36 -0400

I have only had the honor to be apart of one funeral in my career so far, but if it came down to it, I would ensure my team and I remain professional, and diligent in our tasks. The WBC will be dealt with eventually, just not by us.

Response by PO1 Bruce Avants made May 8 at 2014 11:38 AM

PO1 Bruce Avants — Thu, 08 May 2014 11:38:37 -0400

Ignore them and do your duty to honor SGT Farrell. And I would contact the Patriot Guard. They came to a funeral here in Norfolk, VA and the Patriot Guard drove them down the street a respectable distance and stood between them and the procession.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2014 12:19 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 May 2014 12:19:56 -0400

Ignore the garbage, eventually all their 5-6 members will either die or dissapear back into the woods where they came from

Response by SN Jason Wilson made May 8 at 2014 3:14 PM

SN Jason Wilson — Thu, 08 May 2014 15:14:24 -0400

I think that people with this mentality should not be let out in public without a leash that is my personal opinion. On a professional note I would do my best to not allow them to ruin a fellow brothers funeral by keeping this group at a distance from the proceedings.

Response by SSgt Gregory Guina made May 8 at 2014 5:41 PM

SSgt Gregory Guina — Thu, 08 May 2014 17:41:52 -0400

Sir How did everthing go with the funeral detail?

Response by SPC Jason Neal made May 8 at 2014 6:16 PM

SPC Jason Neal — Thu, 08 May 2014 18:16:51 -0400

If I was on the detail I wouldn't let them bother me. I'd do my godamn job and focus on the family and the dead.

But if I were only in attendance and those fucks showed up....god/allah/krishna/whoever help them.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2014 8:58 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 May 2014 20:58:12 -0400

Like others have stated - be professional. Everyone expects you to be at your best while on funeral detail.

There are still good people in this world - let them fight the idiots while you are the most professional funeral detail the family has seen.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2014 9:15 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 May 2014 21:15:23 -0400

Thank you all for your comments. The funeral went well and there was no issues that I heard about or any interactions.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2014 11:09 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 May 2014 23:09:37 -0400

Kill em all! In seriousness, dont let your personal feelings interfere with military business, stay professional.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2014 8:31 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 May 2014 08:31:36 -0400

IGNORE them. Attention is their only objective.

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made May 9 at 2014 12:00 PM

LCpl Mark Lefler — Fri, 09 May 2014 12:00:24 -0400

I'd probably end up in prison. Respect for the dead is one of my most important beliefs.

Response by SP5 Robert Grant made May 9 at 2014 12:09 PM

SP5 Robert Grant — Fri, 09 May 2014 12:09:42 -0400

I'm a member of the Patriot Guard and also an American Legion Rider. We block any UG's (uninvited guests)so they can not be seen or otherwise bother the family. All non violent.

Response by CW2 Jonathan Kantor made May 10 at 2014 12:07 PM

CW2 Jonathan Kantor — Sat, 10 May 2014 12:07:42 -0400

I would do my job to the best of my ability and pay absolutely no attention to them whatsoever.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made May 25 at 2015 8:31 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Mon, 25 May 2015 20:31:13 -0400

Ignore them.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2015 8:41 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 May 2015 20:41:04 -0400

As everyone else has said, "Ignore them." BUT if I could crop dust them with the raunchiest cloud of grossness, it wouldn't be beneath me. (Joke)

Response by SGT Richard H. made May 25 at 2015 8:43 PM

SGT Richard H. — Mon, 25 May 2015 20:43:13 -0400

Give the 21 gun salute squad live ammo?

Seriously, I don't know what I'd do if they showed up at one if I was on the detail. Professionalism would probably override my instincts on that one, and pretty much dictate that discipline override desire.

Now...if they show up to picket MY funeral? I'll count that as a win.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2015 9:43 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 May 2015 21:43:46 -0400

Pay some kids to do a drive by with paintballs on the protestors.... Hahaha. I'm kidding but it would be nice to see... Try to be professional. It disgusts me someone would protest at anyone's funeral. The funeral is not of the dead but the family of the deceased. It's a pretty ignorant thing to do. In NJ there are laws against protesting one hour before, during, and one hour after a funeral. I believe (never had to use the statue) the protestors are not permitted within 500 feet of the location of the service when they do protest... You can't help that some people are a**holes... Good luck with your detail.

Response by MSgt Michelle Mondia made May 26 at 2015 3:17 AM

MSgt Michelle Mondia — Tue, 26 May 2015 03:17:23 -0400

Smiles and hugs, shake hands...thank them for coming. They are so used to being faced with opossion, it would be hilarious. Totally ignored the BS they write on their signs and thank them for paying respects to the deceased.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Aug 2 at 2017 5:28 PM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 17:28:50 -0400

Patriot guard riders..which I am part of...will take care of it in a most professional way outside the noise/sight shot of the funeral.