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Jun-28-2006 16:55printcomments

Anti-Gay Hate Group Will Protest Funeral of War Hero Thomas Tucker

A law was recently signed into effect by President Bush that bans protests at funerals in national cemeteries, the rule offers no protection for the Tucker family though in Eastern Oregon.

image: Thomas Tucker
Pfc Thomas Tucker grew up in Madras, Oregon
Photo courtesy: Oregon National Guard

(MADRAS) - The anti-gay hate group from Topeka, Kansas that operates the Website godhatesfags.com, has announced that they will protest the funeral of Pfc Thomas Tucker of Madras, Oregon this weekend and the funeral of Pfc Kristian Menchaca of Houston, Texas, the two soldiers kidnapped and killed recently in Iraq.

The group that hails from the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka is headed by the notorious Pastor Fred Phelps. He claims that American soldiers are dying in Iraq because homosexuality is condoned in American homes.

According to the rumor mill, very little proof of that theory exists in Topeka, Kansas.

The group has been traveling to the funerals of soldiers to stage protests in recent months, using each tragedy to bring attention to themselves, and drawing the ire of citizens nearly everywhere they go. One veteran described their actions as `The single most disrespectful act anyone from a supposedly Christian church has ever attempted. It is no wonder they are getting attacked nearly everywhere they go."

Proof of that is found on the group`s Website. Video clips show them being assaulted as they attempt to leave a soldier`s funeral in a city van, which the angry mob broke the windows out of, as members waved tauntingly back at them.

Both soldiers were with the U.S. Army`s 101st Airborne out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Thomas Tucker`s service will be held Saturday, July 1st at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds Expo Center, 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond, Ore. at 1:00 PM. A private internment will follow at the Mt. Jefferson Memorial Park Cemetery in Madras.

There are unconfirmed reports that the Patriot Guards, a motorcycle group that receives, welcomes and escorts returning soldiers from the war, will be on hand to drown out the sounds of the protestors with their motorcycles. The public is invited to the service.

Related articles on Salem-News.com

Group Claims Responsibility For Kidnapping Two Americans: salem-news.com/articles/june192006/iraq_captors_61906.php

Statement From the Family of PFC Thomas L. Tucker: salem-news.com/articles/june192006/soldier_family_61906.php

Oregon Soldier Missing in Iraq: salem-news.com/articles/june192006/iraq_oregon_soldier_611906.php

Witness: U.S. Troops in Iraq Taken Captive: salem-news.com/articles/june182006/iraq_pow_71806.php




Comments

Comments are Closed on this story.



Ken October 29, 2007 3:25 am (Pacific time)

Fred Phelps and members of Westboro Baptist Church should be ashamed of themselves. They claim to be Christians but behave like Satanists. They are doing the work of the Devil and claiming to speak for Jesus. Flat out disgusting.


tina November 13, 2006 11:02 pm (Pacific time)

I cant believe a group of people could be so disrespectful! It is so funny that they call themselves christians. My heart goes out to the family. This hateful group should be locked up, and have the key thrown away!


Brandon July 26, 2006 2:50 pm (Pacific time)

I think this group is a bunch of ignorant morons. The people who they are protesting are the ones who just died defending their freedom. I'm 18 and leaving for the Air Force June '06 and how these people can say "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "God made IED's"(as I've seen the signs on the news) astonishes me. Besides all that, they do have the right to be morons, but just to be tolorable human beings they should be out of the sight of the family


billie June 30, 2006 10:03 am (Pacific time)

i know we have a right to freedom of speech and protest,but there are some places that we are not allowed to speak freely...such as in a court room.so i think a fallen soldier should receive that same respect as a supreme court judge would in his courtroom.let the soldiers be laid to rest in peace.my heart goes out to the family of Pfc.Tucker for my husband is in the army as well.they are all in our prayers.


Courtland June 28, 2006 9:45 pm (Pacific time)

Excellent work, Tim. I didn't hear about this anywhere else. An issue like this really ought to bring alot of people together to speak out against what this group is doing -- yet it's just not happening. Whatever ones views on the war in Iraq or homosexuality, I think all could agree that it is absolutely disgraceful to use the funerals of these soldiers as a staging ground for a personal agenda like this. Yet I don't hear Lars Larsen, Bill O'Reilly or Air America talking about this at all. If you actually do make it out there, I hope you take your camera and can bring this story back for people. We've had enough "wedge" issues. And, yes, I'll pray for some loud bikes, too.


rayme lacey June 28, 2006 6:18 pm (Pacific time)

hooray to the motorcycle group- i hope god makes your bikes extra loud to drown out the hate!


The Editor June 28, 2006 12:01 pm (Pacific time)

Geoff makes a strong and valid point, and maybe this will go to prove that all of us in Oregon are more alike than we realize we are. I never knew it would seem so personal, but I am extremely proud of Thomas Tucker and Madras and I believe that everyone in this state agrees, even if they don't agree with national policy. Using pseudo-religion as an excuse to propagate hate is a shame. I'll see you in Redmond on Saturday. Tim King


Geoff June 28, 2006 8:45 am (Pacific time)

what ignorance.... Tim as you know being a soldier is one of the greatest honors / sacrifice a human can give to their country. To protest their death and tie it in to homosexuality is not only wrong, but totally against what our country stands for. If they are really trying to look at it from the bible and they believe being gay is wrong, then hate the sin but love the sinner. They are a discrace to all religions and quite frankly to our country. With that said our nation is pretty awesome to let any group taint a ceremony that is providing closure to a family and a town. I hate what they are doing but we do have the right to be free. Hopefully people will see this story and go to this event in honor of PFC Tucker. Let's show this group of village idiots we are proud americans that can tolerate even the most ignorant fools.


RJ June 28, 2006 6:04 am (Pacific time)

While everyone has a right to their own opinion...I am frankly mad that a religious group, would go to a soldier's memorial service and protest. This soldiers family, who has chosen to offer the opportunity to the public to attend and honor their son, was probably not even thinking that an overly zealous religious group may show up to protest. There is a time and a place to protest peacefully and at a memorial of a fallen US soldier...is clearly NOT the time or the place. Personally, I think GOD, is hanging his head at the shameful activities this so called Christian group is preforming in HIS name. My heart goes out to the family. They are the ones who are truly suffering with the loss of their son.


The Editor June 28, 2006 12:31 am (Pacific time)

We can't post comments that directly call for illegal activity. We understand that this story evokes such sentiments. Those who do not see their post here should detune their comment a little bit and resend it.


B.G. June 27, 2006 10:47 pm (Pacific time)

I'm all for the right to protest but these people need locked up.

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Sean Flynn was a photojournalist in Vietnam, taken captive in 1970 in Cambodia and never seen again.