American flags waved against a backdrop of storm clouds. The men and women flanking the doors of Memorial Funeral Home on Second Avenue North in Columbus stood at attention and did not flinch, not when the rain began falling, not even when lightning criss-crossed the sky and made contact close enough to hear the crackle of electricity.
Ed Baker did not know U.S. Army Sgt. Christopher Bell, but he made the 250-mile drive from Gulfport to attend his visitation Thursday night. As the state captain of Mississippi”s branch of the Patriot Guard Riders, he makes a point of personally attending the visitations and funeral services for every soldier killed in action.
Bell, 21, was killed with three other soldiers in a roadside explosion in Afghanistan on June 4. He was a native of Red Bay, Ala.
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley slipped quietly into the funeral home Thursday night and paid his respects to the family.
Baker said that”s the primary purpose of the Patriot Guard as well — to show respect for the fallen. The nationwide chapter, which has 249,000 members, was formed in August 2005 in response to groups like Westboro Baptist Church of Kansas picketing soldiers” funerals.
Baker said people often think the Patriot Guard attends the funerals to counteract protestors, but that”s not their purpose. They do not interact with picketers in any way, partially because doing so could result in a Freedom of Speech violation and lawsuit, but mostly because their main concern is for the bereaved.
Westboro Baptist, known for its anti-military, anti-gay stance, is monitored by the Southern Poverty Law Center and other watchdogs.
In advance of Bell”s funeral, which will be held 2 p.m. Friday at Living Faith Tabernacle Cemetery, the church blanketed area media outlets with faxes stating: “God hates America and is killing our troops in his wrath” and calling military funerals “pagan orgies.” The fax concluded with the message: “Thank God for IEDs.”
Bell”s funeral is not listed on the church”s official picket schedule, but Baker said he is working closely with law enforcement to make certain that if they do enter Lowndes County — which he doesn”t expect — Bell”s family will never hear or see them. The roar of motorcycles will drown protestors” shouts, and giant American flags will block them from public view.
“We don”t even call them by name,” Baker said. “We just call them ”the uglies.” Our primary concern is for the family.”
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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