Jefferson Co. Sheriff defends soldier's funeral procession

[48Rob]

JEFFERSON COUNTY — The Jefferson County sheriff has offered a stern response to a woman complaining she was inconvenienced by a procession accompanying a soldier's casket.

The woman wrote an e-mail to Jefferson County Sheriff Glenn Boyer after she had a hard time driving around the procession escorting the casket of Sgt. William Woods, who was killed by Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... enDocument

[ARKPAT]

I feel the same way the Sheriff's office response to the letter!



Pat

[WesGrimes]

It made me mad just to read her complaining. I don't understand what happened to respect in America...

[xrover]

I watched a movie last year with Kevin Bacon in it about escorting the body of a fallen soldier. It was quite a touching movie, and while it was a bit slow moving, it showed the respect the Marines and the community had. The movie is called "Taking Chance" and is based on true events.
We see this in Canada for every soldier and have a section of Highway 401 dedicated as the Highway of Heroes.

[Miriam C.]

The sheriff is 100% right and the lady should take up that ruck sack and bear it for the fallen soldier and her family. Even if it was just a funeral she should have pulled over and showed some respect.

Some people have no shame.

[Beachbuggy]

I see people like that all the time, it just makes me sick.
I have a son that will be leaving for Iraq next month, he just got back from Afghanistan last year. We were talking a few weeks ago about idiots with no respect for anything in this country and he told me when he's deployed he can't think about them, he just thinks about the ones that do care, he's fighting for them.

[bg]

It's sad to think that respect for the fallen has become forgotten. Or maybe we're all so busy with our daily lives that we forget of the sacrifices others make.

I remember a few years ago in the procession for my grandfathers funeral we passed by the county fair where an older man and a couple of teenagers were working on a fence - They stopped and took of their hats and waited for the procession to pass.

[RC]

Sadly, I imagine the sheriff's response fell on deaf ears.

[mandy]

I feel the same way the Sheriff's office response to the letter!



Pat

+1

[mandy]

I see people like that all the time, it just makes me sick.
I have a son that will be leaving for Iraq next month, he just got back from Afghanistan last year. We were talking a few weeks ago about idiots with no respect for anything in this country and he told me when he's deployed he can't think about them, he just thinks about the ones that do care, he's fighting for them.

Thank You for all that you do for me.

[Cutterpup]

I fully understand the women's complaint to the sheriff, after all she was only concerned about herself. However before we all jump into the fray remember that at the time she only saw a funeral procession, until she was forced to stop by non law enforcement motorcycle riders when the riders, upset about the loss, lit into her about her disrespect. We only know what she told us after what happen not while it was happening. It must be hard for people to understand as something unfolds not to judge until all the fact are in.

I have a big problem with anyone who over steps their authority and then thinks that it not a problem. The sheriff over looks the fact that under Missouri state law

Regulations for nonparticipating vehicle operators--violations, penalty.

194.509. 1. Any person who is not an operator of a vehicle in an organized funeral procession shall not:

(1) Drive between the vehicles comprising an organized funeral procession while such vehicles are in motion and have the flashing emergency lights lighted pursuant to subsection 2 of section 194.506, except when required to do so by a law enforcement officer or when such person is operating an emergency vehicle giving an audible or visual signal;

(2) Join a funeral procession for the purpose of securing the right- of-way granted in section 194.506; or

(3) Attempt to pass any vehicle in an organized funeral procession, except where a passing lane has been specifically provided.

vehicles can pass a funeral procession when a passing lane exists and had that happened this self centered little B* would not had a complaint. Remember the law also protects the fools and the guilty.

So what would I like the sheriff to had done? Told this little B* that his officer's were mistaken and he will deal with it and thank her for calling...and then told his officers not to do that again, and go have another round to toast the fallen soldier. After all its a public office.

[FireLion]

Remind me of when soldiers came back from Nam. They were spit on, and called baby killers! It's because of the fighting men and women that we are still free..

[Beachbuggy]

Kind of a similiar story;
I live in a very small bayside community. A lot of the residents here drive golf carts around town. After Hurricane Ike they were all destroyed, but slowly everyone is back on the road again. Weekends around town are full of golf carters cruising around keeping up with all the progress of the new construction of our town coming back to life.

We have a golf cart parade EVERY holiday, with the 4th of July boasting 106 carts!
The parade s ask for donations and all the $ is donated to the fire dept which was also destroyed.

Last month one of our golf carters drowned in a boating accident. Some of the carters had a golf cart precession around town and then a stop at his favorite bar& grill to drink a toast to him.

Afterwards a letter to the editor was posted in our local paper from a man who was in town looking to buy some property. He was complaining about the precession. He said he was forced to pull over by the fire dept. He said that was a bunch of silly B*** S***.

The Editors reply was short and sweet. He basically explained their "Silly B. S.", was saying goodbye to a dear friend, and thats the way we do our business here and if you don't like it, don't buy any property here.
I love my town

[BillandMarijo]

I see people like that all the time, it just makes me sick.
I have a son that will be leaving for Iraq next month, he just got back from Afghanistan last year. We were talking a few weeks ago about idiots with no respect for anything in this country and he told me when he's deployed he can't think about them, he just thinks about the ones that do care, he's fighting for them.

May God Bless your son and keep him safe.
Thank him for his service for us.
Bill and Marijo

[crappie camper]

My grandmother passed away a couple of years ago, and during the procession, we had to go on the main highway for a bit. (4 lane divided). I was very impressed by how many cars (people) on the other side of the highway stopped and got out and even took their hats off to show respect for someone they did not know. Wish i could have stopped and told each one of them Thank You.

Vernon