March 23, 2006

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today ordered that United States flags throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters be lowered for one day on Monday, March 27, 2006, in honor of Army Corporal Nyle Yates III of Lake Odessa who died March 16 while on active duty in Iraq.  Flags should return to full-staff Tuesday, March 28.

Army Cpl. Yates, 22, was killed when he came under small arms fire by enemy forces during combat operations in Bayji, Iraq.  He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Outside Grand Ledge Baptist Church, where funeral services were held for Army Cpl. Nyle Yates III, about 250 flag-waving veterans and other supporters lined Willow Street to make sure the solemn occasion was not disrupted by nearby protesters.

Three people affiliated with the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., showed up at the funeral service, but they were vastly outnumbered by veterans and leather-clad members of the Patriot Guard Riders, a group of veterans and motorcycle riders.

Westboro church members have appeared at military funerals across the country for several months, saying U.S. soldiers are being struck down by God for defending a nation that tolerates homosexuality.

The veterans and motorcyclists formed a "wall of silence" to keep protesters away from the funeral.

The Grand Ledge Police Department supported the group's efforts and discouraged any counter-demonstrations.

"The funeral today is to honor Corp. Yates and all of the other men and women who serve our country with honor and courage," the department said in a news release. "Unplanned spontaneous counter demonstrations will only degenerate the solemnity of this memorial and add a circus atmosphere to their time of mourning and remembrance."

THE NEXT PICTURES ARE DISTURBING AND UN-AMERICAN.

I'M SURPRISED I DIDN'T SEE HOLLY COCHRAN-LOPEZ-ERB OR ANGIE BABBITT OUT THERE PROTESTING WITH THEM.  THEY BOTH DEFINITELY FIT UNDER THE TITLE OF UN-AMERICAN AND REPULSIVE.

IT'S DISTURBING TO ME AS I SIT AND THINK THAT I ACTUALLY PUT MY LIFE ON THE LINE FOR IDIOTS LIKE THIS.  I DECIDED TO POST THESE PICS TO SHOW OTHERS HOW IGNORANT OUR FELLOW AMERICANS AND FELLOW CHRISTIANS CAN BE.

IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE LIBERAL EXTREMISTS THAT HAVE MISINTERPRETED THE TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE.  IT'S TOO BAD THAT THEY HAVEN'T LEARNED THAT GOD DOESN'T "HATE" ANYONE.

THESE PEOPLE GIVE CHRISTIANS A BAD NAME -- THAT'S FOR SURE.