A friend posted this on Facebook

[CoolBreeze]

"Barack is coming to Raleigh County on Sunday to honor the miners and their families...Big Problem...the Dignitary has ruined the event for the local people from showing their utmost respect...the Secret Service is now a part of the mix, and as much as I love our Governor...I'm NOT happy with the Patriot Guard NOT being able to fly the American Flags...BUT...the Westboro Baptist Church can indeed PROTEST.

No flags...or banners...only protesters get to do that and there are "regulations" for protests, but none for the show of respect via the American flag line that the Patriot Guard would certainly do...the Patriot Guard is a non-profit, and we've been asked to "Stand Down" by the Gov's office..."


In case you dont know what the Patriot Guard is:

Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives:

1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
2. Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protester or group of protesters.

http://www.patriotguard.org/

We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.


Above is my friend with the local Patriot Guard

[Bob Campbell]

Got a quarter says it's not true.

[Big Media]

For in this place, this old place, this ancient place, this glorious and beautiful and sometimes fearsome place of mountains and mines, there still lives a people like the miners.....and their families, people who yet believe in the old ways, the old virtues, the old truths; who still lift their heads from the darkness to the light, and say for the nation and all the world to hear:

We are proud of who we are.

We stand up for what we believe.

We keep our families together.

We trust in God but rely on ourselves.

We do what needs to be done.

We are not afraid.

- Homer Hickam

Excerpt from his speech at the Sago Memorial.. January 15, 2006. read it all here:

http://kenthomas.us/?p=1482

[AmpedNow]

The SS is being extra vigilant, because it's well known that West Virginians don't like black people.

Especially if one of them is the president.

[CoolBreeze]

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The Patriot Guard Riders are known for helping to lead funeral processions, and standing in silent honor with their American Flags. But they won't be at this weekends Upper Big Branch Mine Memorial.

The ride captain, Pat Hanifin, says he sat down with someone from Gov. Joe Manchin's office. During that discussion, he learned that --because of overwhelming security concerns with high-ranking federal officials -- it was just not logistically possible for them to be a part of the event.

Hanifin says it was tough to hear because some family members of fallen miners had asked for them to be there.

"It is a great disappointment that we are not able to do what we were requested to do," he said. "However, I felt no sense whatsoever either from the Governor's office, or any indication that it would be a problem for the Secret Service, that we were going to be there. It was just the fact that they were challenged with security issues that would not allow us to participate."

Hanifin says they also tried to attend by showing support alongside the road but -- because families were taking a different route and would not see them -- the major effort did not seem practical.

Several members, including Hanifin, say they are truly sad that they won't be at there. But they want the miners' families to know they continue to be in their thoughts and prayers.

http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/91956254.html

[AmpedNow]

Seriously, why are there "overwhelming security issues" in freaking Beckley of all places? This is honestly confusing.

Tell me the national media won't draw the same conclusions...

[Bob Campbell]

At this point it's only a WV story.

[Lester]

Are you sending an actual quarter, or will you be writing a check?

[Bob Campbell]

I'll drop a quarter in the mail. Should I use an envelope?

[jag]

The SS is being extra vigilant, because it's well known that West Virginians don't like black people.

Especially if one of them is the president.

Of course, technically, President Obama isn't black, but he is, truly, an African-American!

"Barack is coming to Raleigh County on Sunday to honor the miners and their families...Big Problem...the Dignitary has ruined the event for the local people from showing their utmost respect...

Did President Bush's appearance in New York after 9/11 somehow keep the locals from showing their utmost respect? How so?

[fearpeddler]

considering when 9/11 happened the majority of people still didnt hate bush like they did 6 months later......