I know this is not specifically genealogy related but it does greatly affect Indiana families and their observation of funeral rituals, so I thought I would send this message out just to let people know what is happening here in Indiana. Spc. Matthew Frantz was a Lafayette soldier who was killed in Iraq on Jan. 20th. The military was a life long dream for him and he was passionate about serving his country. Now, his family is facing fire. The Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church, led by Rev. Fred Waldron Phelps Sr. is planning to protest at his funeral services today, declaring that Spc. Frantz was punished with death for defending a country that protects the rights of homosexuals. There are endless disagreements about the war in Iraq and homosexuality in the United States and while I appreciate that people on both sides of the argument feel strongly about these matters I think we can ALL agree on one thing: a grieving family absolutely MUST be allowed to lay their loved ones to rest in a peaceful and private manner. While I strongly believe in our right as Americans to protest, we must be allowed to bury our sons, brothers, fiancees, cousins, friends, etc. in peace, surrounded by people who will support us in our time of need and not condemn. The Indiana House of Representatives will soon be voting on a bill that will prohibit protests within 500 feet of a funeral. If you support this bill, please contact your representative and let them know. http://www.in.gov/legislative/ > Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 20:29:40 -0800 > From: Jeff Scism <scismgenie@adelphia.net> > To: INMONTGO-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: DoD Identifies Army Casualties > > DoD News wrote: > > > NEWS RELEASES from the United States Department of > Defense > > > > No. 061-06 IMMEDIATE RELEASE > > Jan 23, 2006 Media Contact: Army Public Affairs - > (703) 692-2000 > > Public/Industry(703)428-0711 > > > > DoD Identifies Army Casualties > > The Department of Defense announced > today the death of four > > soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi > Freedom. They died in Al > > Huwijah, Iraq on Jan. 20, when an improvised > explosive device detonated near > > their HMMWV during patrol operations. > > > > Killed were: > > > > Staff Sgt. Rickey Scott, 30, of > Columbus, Ga. > > > > Sgt. Dennis J. Flanagan, 22, of > Inverness, Fla. > > > > Spc. Clifton J. Yazzie, 23, of > Fruitland, N.M. > > > > Spc. Matthew C. Frantz, 23, of > Lafayette, Ind. > > > > Scott, Flanagan and Yazzie were > assigned to the 1st Battalion, > > 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, > 101st Airborne Division, > > Fort Campbell, Ky. > > > > Frantz was assigned to the 1st Special > Troops Battalion, 1st > > Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort > Campbell, Ky. > > > > For further information related to > this release, contact Army > > Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000. > > > > > > > > > > [Web Version: > http://defenselink.mil/releases/2006/nr20060123-12355.html] > > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com