It’s much too soon since the funeral of 20-year old PFC Tina Priest — but once again the Patriot Guard Riders have been asked to help honor another young Texas Soldier.
On Friday, March 17, we’ll ride in remberance of and to honor 19 year-old PFC Amy Duerksen of Temple, TX.
I don’t have many details yet, but I do know that PFC Duerksen has a sister who is also a Soldier (currently training at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio), and her father, Lt. Col. Duerksen, is a Chaplain in the US Army.
From Doug Smith, the East Texas Ride Captain:
Please remember that our mission is to honor this fallen soldier and pay our respects to her family. Stand tall and proud in the best traditions of the Patriot Guard as we salute this American hero.
Indeed.
***
UPDATE: I just found out from our Patriot Guard Ride Captain that Fred Phelps and his “church” will be protesting at this fallen hero’s funeral.
Once again, I am extremely grateful to my company for allowing me the time off to take part in these rides.
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Robbie: There was a raging debate over at AoSHQ this weekend over how to handle Phelps & Co. , i.e., beat the shit out of them vs. beat the shit out of them.
I’d have to go with option A.
Or B.
For a wiser approach, and one that has drawn supportive comments from the right wing, see http://www.gonemild.com/2006/03/fred-phelps-makes-me-proud-to-be.html
Though I cannot be there to show respect for PFC Amy Duerksen, but send my prayers to her family and friends.
Stand tall TX PGR keep your backs to the protestors. Last weekend Phelps and his crew left before the funeral begin due to the intimidating number of PGR that were shielding the family and friends of our fallen soldier in Colorado Springs.
You too can intimidate the protestors.
I know it is hard to ignore them, but they don’t deserve to be acknowledged. They will soon walk away.
Maybe God be with you all.
And thank you!
Good Luck yall. I found this site by searching “funeral, protest, texas” on Google – I was hoping to find a story about how it’s now illegal to protest soldier’s funerals in Texas. I didn’t find that, but I was heartened that yall will be there for another funeral. I actually saw the work the Patriot Guards were doing on the BBC of all places and it was really inspiring. Keep it up and let’s hope someone passes a bill banning funeral protests in Texas – a few other states are doing it. If not, I’d like to go follow around that “preacher” and protest his sleeping, his eating, and his sleeping again until he loses it.
Me again… The more I think about it, I really can’t believe that people are protesting a soldier’s funeral. I can’t decide if it makes me more sad for the families or pissed off at the protesters. A lot of both in any case.