a fallen soldier

It is a rainy Sunday morning and I just finished a run through downtown Simpsonville.  All is quiet.  Most of the shops are closed.  The church parking lots are full, but the streets are empty.  Nothing like it was around these parts yesterday.

For it was yesterday that thousands of people lined main street from the center of our town well into the neighboring one to honor the memory of a fallen soldier.

Funeral services were held yesterday for Army Medic PFC Justin Whitmire, just 20 years old, who was killed in Afghanistan two days after Christmas.  All of Simpsonville, and then some, turned out to pay their respects to a local hero.

It was difficult to overcome emotion as the body was driven through the street.  Especially in view of the impact this death had on such a small community.   Thousands of weeping onlookers waved American flags and held signs thanking this young man for his sacrifice as the family and the body made the threeish mile procession from the baptist church here in Simpsonville where services took place to the grave sight in nearby Fountain Inn.

 

 

Even the mail man abandoned his postal truck to pay homage. 

Among the many men in uniform there to give honor to a fellow servant, this one caught my eye.  He was standing so tall and proud in his dress clothes.

This group, known as the Patriot Guard Riders, showed up to ward off any negative attention that the grieving family might have received.  Many of them are veterans themselves who feel it is their duty to maintain respect at such tragic gatherings.  In the days leading up to the funeral, rumors circulated about the infamous Westboro Baptist group making an appearance to protest.  But if they were there, their hatred was kept silent as thousands of reverant riders and towns people vowed protection for the family in mourning.  

The un-official motto of many anti-protestors has become "Not Today, Fred", referring to Fred Phelps who leads Westboro Baptist Church in their protests of America.  Phelp's group claims that deaths such as PFC Whitmires are God pouring out his wrath on America because our nation has fallen away, and have been known to wield signs reading "Thank God for dead soldiers."  

Instead, gatherers insured that respect was the theme of their song.  Much of the time was spent in silence allowing for those attending the funeral to say their goodbyes without disturbance.

 

Regardless of feelings concerning a war or American ideal, the God I serve hates sin, but He is a God of love.  He is our great protector, He is Sovereign, and He is the the great comforter.  He certainly would not approve of the "church" spewing such hatred, and I am ashamed to be even remotely associated with these people, as a professing Christian.  That is all I will say on the issue because I don't want to talk about Westboro.

I want to talk about this.

  

People matter.  What a day to be an American.  What a day to be a resident of this small town.  What a day to be a young adult who has so much to learn about the world.

And what an interesting day to be a believer in the Lord Jesus.  May we, the church, always remember the people who protect our religious freedom, and those who suffer on our behalf.

sag