One Army Wife's take on life during the third deployment. This blog started with 396 wake-ups to go before Captain Neal Miller returns with his unit, the 352nd Combat Sustainmment Support Battalion, from shutting down operations in Iraq. It's an historic mission that started with 400 wake-ups apart from family and friends.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Westboro Gets What's Coming to Them
I hadn't planned on posting today because a) what the world needs is more Shake Weight (and cowbell) and b) I am knee-deep in bridal party jewelry and Mother's Day orders...however...this was posted on Facebook today and since I've been trying to post about Westboro "Baptist Church" without losing my freaking mind, I decided to share it with you. The story is about USMC Staff Sgt. Jason Rogers, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on 7 April. He was brought home to be buried in Brandon, Mississippi. The Westboro cult caught wind of the funeral plans and left Topeka with plans to picket it. However, the good people of Brandon had different plans. The following paragraphs were pulled from The Hayride, which was in turn pulled from an Old Miss sports message board. They are in NO WAY my words (so let's just get that out there right now). Below the story is a 4-minute video of a state trooper's dash cam as he escorted the funeral procession through Brandon. The video is set to the song, Dress Blues, by Jason Isbell. This town is proud of Staff Sgt. Jason Rogers...and we are proud of Staff Sgt. Rogers and you, Brandon, Mississippi! Semper Fi and Hooah!!
A couple of days before, one of them (Westboro protestors) ran his mouth at a Brandon gas station and got his arse waxed. Police were called and the beaten man could not give much of a description of who beat him. When they canvassed the station and spoke to the large crowd that had gathered around, no one seemed to remember anything about what had happened.
Rankin County handled this thing perfectly. There were many things that were put into place that most will never know about and at great expense to the county.
Most of the morons never made it out of their hotel parking lot. It seems that certain Rankin county pickup trucks were parked directly behind any car that had Kansas plates in the hotel parking lot and the drivers mysteriously disappeared until after the funeral was over. Police were called but their wrecker service was running behind and it was going to be a few hours before they could tow the trucks so the Kansas plated cars could get out.
A few made it to the funeral but were ushered away to be questioned about a crime they might have possibly been involved in. Turns out, after a few hours of questioning, that they were not involved and they were allowed to go on about their business.
The video gave me chills and now I'm crying. Congrats to the lovely people of Rankin County. They deserved to lay their soldier and hero to rest peacefully. And he deserved to be laid to rest peacefully. Those Westboro baptist freaks need to be...I dunno. I can't even think of what. Without wishing bodily harm on them which sounds bad, I guess. That song is freaking making me cry. I have to go now. :/
That's awesome! You go girl! I plan to watch the video at the house this evening, because I'm a cryer anyway and we know that's what I will be doing. :) Thank you!
I will not watch that video until I get home from work. But I am in love with this story - good for the people of Rankin County, giving those Westboro crazies the welcome they deserve.
That's amazing. :) It always makes me happy to see towns rally up and shield the families of the deceased from these piss-poor excuses for human beings.
That video is amazing. It seems like everyone in the entire town came out. It gives me chills and makes me cry all at once.
And good for them...shutting down those Westboro assholes like that. I just don't understand those people. Maybe I'm missing something but I don't get the connection between gays and military funerals.
I couldn't see much through my tears but what I did see were true American people showing much deserved respect for fallen USMC STAFF SGT. This is exactly what we should do for our military! I am so happy that those idiots (Westboro protestors) didn't get to follow through with their plans. That video showed an awesome display of love and support for our military!
Nice work Mississippi! Why hasn't other towns thought of this. Maybe they will now. It's important to remember that these Westboro Warts are not Christians. We can only pity their poor souls when they face Jesus and he says, "What were you thinking?" And after that, it will be the scene from Ghost when the evil one rose up and engulfed those destined for a date with the Black Death Angel.
I heard about this town too....I couldn't be more proud of them. And for the way they all stood out on the street with their flags and their hands over their hearts to honor their fallen Marine (& his family)....touching. You always seem to know how to bring out my emotions Al.
I had to immediately turn off my sound, as the waterworks started. Not that it helped any. What a beautiful video!!!! And I'm just so damn proud of that whole town for supporting that Marine and his family!!!!
These awful, awful people are just unreal and I cannot believe they haven't been stopped yet. I have met some of them in person and let me tell you....they are soulless!!! Wayyyy back in 2003, when I was a brand new Army wife, and had moved halfway across the country, a new word was entered into my vocabulary. It was called....DEPLOYMENT. I previously hadn't a clue....*sigh*. At Fort Stewart, home of the 3rd Infantry - Rock of the Marne! - everyone was shipped to Iraq. And I mean EVERYONE!!!
And our casualties that year were the highest of any post. And there were many funerals. If that weren't bad enough, the Westboro freaks showed up as well. There were many fights and shouting and cursing. It angered everyone (but them), but God forbid their "rights" were violated. So they picketed.
BUT! We all stood IN FRONT OF THEM, holding up sheets to keep them hidden, many with inspiring quotes and words of support. They were loud, they were obnoxious, they were EVIL....but they were behind people who understood that some things are sacred.
That video has me with a huge lump in my throat! Good Job, Mississippi! How can anyone not support the people fighting for our rights and freedoms? Even if you don't agree with what's going on in the World, you could at least support the people who maintain your the right to complain!!! Janet @ No Ordinary Life
I'm a Rankin Countian! My hometown is nestled right beside Brandon, and a good number of my friends and family members lined the streets with posters on the day of the funeral.
Want to know something else pretty awesome? I was getting annoyed that I couldn't find any news stories on them getting arrested. - We are stationed at Pearl Harbor and I'm not at home anymore. - I called my mom to complain and she explained something: The local news stations and newspapers actively avoided giving the WBC jerks any news coverage at all. They announced that WBC was coming a few days before they showed up, but after that not a single story ran about them. I was so proud of the news channels for being so considerate to the Rogers family!
I am so late to commenting about this but well done to the state of Mississippi! They are freaks and I am glad people are finally finding a way to rain on THEIR parade! Take that Westboro.
In other news... Just wanted to toot a local horn. Jason Isbell is from the town where I live now. He comes back to do local shows from time to time and give this town some love. It's neat to see his name on another blog :)
The video gave me chills and now I'm crying.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to the lovely people of Rankin County. They deserved to lay their soldier and hero to rest peacefully. And he deserved to be laid to rest peacefully. Those Westboro baptist freaks need to be...I dunno. I can't even think of what. Without wishing bodily harm on them which sounds bad, I guess.
That song is freaking making me cry. I have to go now. :/
I saw this last night... the idea of blocking in all autos with Kansas plates was fantastic!!!
ReplyDeleteI've ALWAYS been proud to be a Mississippian... this just raised it another level or so!!!
~shoes~
That's awesome! You go girl! I plan to watch the video at the house this evening, because I'm a cryer anyway and we know that's what I will be doing. :) Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI am sad to say I am in the same state as the Idiots (Kansas) but MOST of us here DESPISE the Westboro Church.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this!!!!!
My heart goes out to the soldier's family
that is all
I will not watch that video until I get home from work.
ReplyDeleteBut I am in love with this story - good for the people of Rankin County, giving those Westboro crazies the welcome they deserve.
I think my comment got lost.
ReplyDeleteBut anyway. I am very tearful and moved by this.
I live in Kansas and I despise the Westboro Church.
My heart goes out to the soldier's family.
Thank you for your sacrifice.
It means SO VERY MUCH. There are no words
that is all
That's amazing. :) It always makes me happy to see towns rally up and shield the families of the deceased from these piss-poor excuses for human beings.
ReplyDeleteThat video is amazing. It seems like everyone in the entire town came out. It gives me chills and makes me cry all at once.
ReplyDeleteAnd good for them...shutting down those Westboro assholes like that. I just don't understand those people. Maybe I'm missing something but I don't get the connection between gays and military funerals.
Great job, Brandon, Mississippi!
I couldn't see much through my tears but what I did see were true American people showing much deserved respect for fallen USMC STAFF SGT. This is exactly what we should do for our military! I am so happy that those idiots (Westboro protestors) didn't get to follow through with their plans. That video showed an awesome display of love and support for our military!
ReplyDeleteI didn't even get 30 seconds in before the tears started...did I miss the warning on this?!
ReplyDeleteNice work Mississippi! Why hasn't other towns thought of this. Maybe they will now. It's important to remember that these Westboro Warts are not Christians. We can only pity their poor souls when they face Jesus and he says, "What were you thinking?" And after that, it will be the scene from Ghost when the evil one rose up and engulfed those destined for a date with the Black Death Angel.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and a big Thank You to the people of Rankin county. Well done! How do those Westboro idiots live with themselves?
ReplyDeleteWOW is all I can say about that song and video. Thank you for sharing sweet girl
ReplyDeleteTahnks for posting this, Ally. An excellent solution. Hope others follow suit! Hope you are well.
ReplyDeleteI heard about this town too....I couldn't be more proud of them. And for the way they all stood out on the street with their flags and their hands over their hearts to honor their fallen Marine (& his family)....touching. You always seem to know how to bring out my emotions Al.
ReplyDeleteI had to immediately turn off my sound, as the waterworks started. Not that it helped any. What a beautiful video!!!! And I'm just so damn proud of that whole town for supporting that Marine and his family!!!!
ReplyDeleteThese awful, awful people are just unreal and I cannot believe they haven't been stopped yet. I have met some of them in person and let me tell you....they are soulless!!! Wayyyy back in 2003, when I was a brand new Army wife, and had moved halfway across the country, a new word was entered into my vocabulary. It was called....DEPLOYMENT. I previously hadn't a clue....*sigh*. At Fort Stewart, home of the 3rd Infantry - Rock of the Marne! - everyone was shipped to Iraq. And I mean EVERYONE!!!
And our casualties that year were the highest of any post. And there were many funerals. If that weren't bad enough, the Westboro freaks showed up as well. There were many fights and shouting and cursing. It angered everyone (but them), but God forbid their "rights" were violated. So they picketed.
BUT! We all stood IN FRONT OF THEM, holding up sheets to keep them hidden, many with inspiring quotes and words of support. They were loud, they were obnoxious, they were EVIL....but they were behind people who understood that some things are sacred.
That video has me with a huge lump in my throat! Good Job, Mississippi! How can anyone not support the people fighting for our rights and freedoms? Even if you don't agree with what's going on in the World, you could at least support the people who maintain your the right to complain!!!
ReplyDeleteJanet @ No Ordinary Life
I'm a Rankin Countian! My hometown is nestled right beside Brandon, and a good number of my friends and family members lined the streets with posters on the day of the funeral.
ReplyDeleteWant to know something else pretty awesome? I was getting annoyed that I couldn't find any news stories on them getting arrested. - We are stationed at Pearl Harbor and I'm not at home anymore. - I called my mom to complain and she explained something: The local news stations and newspapers actively avoided giving the WBC jerks any news coverage at all. They announced that WBC was coming a few days before they showed up, but after that not a single story ran about them. I was so proud of the news channels for being so considerate to the Rogers family!
That's so very delightful. I particularly love the part about the tow trucks. =)
ReplyDeleteI am so late to commenting about this but well done to the state of Mississippi! They are freaks and I am glad people are finally finding a way to rain on THEIR parade! Take that Westboro.
ReplyDeleteIn other news... Just wanted to toot a local horn. Jason Isbell is from the town where I live now. He comes back to do local shows from time to time and give this town some love. It's neat to see his name on another blog :)