 Phillip E. Baucus U.S. Marine Corporal 1977-2006 Wolf Creek |
Montana senator’s nephew laid to rest
By Gwen Florio, USA TODAY
WOLF CREEK, Mont. — By the time the Chinook helicopter trailing a large American flag passed slowly over the ranch here Sunday, the protesters and their signs were gone, leaving Marine Cpl. Phillip E. Baucus, 28, to be put to rest.
Baucus was killed during a July 29 suicide bombing in Iraq’s Anbar province. He was the nephew of U.S. Sen. Max Baucus.
The funeral for Cpl. Baucus drew more than 500 people from across Montana and neighboring states. It also drew the attention of the Topeka-based Westboro Baptist Church, whose members picket military funerals across the country.
Sunday afternoon, four members of the church — including 20-year-old Megan Phelps-Roper, daughter of the church’s founder, the Rev. Fred Phelps — held up signs at the turnoff leading to the ranch. Church members say the troops deserve to die because they fight on behalf of a government that does not adequately condemn homosexuality.
“Thank God for dead soldiers,” read one sign.
The church’s protests spurred a measure, signed into law by President Bush on Memorial Day, that prohibits protests at or near national cemeteries. Sen. Baucus voted for the Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act; hence, Westboro’s presence at his nephew’s funeral, according to Westboro attorney Shirley Phelps-Roper, another of Phelps’ daughters. About 26 states have enacted similar laws, she said.
“What he got for his trouble … is a dead nephew,” said Shirley Phelps-Roper in a telephone interview.
A procession of pickups kicked up clouds of dust as they sped past Sunday’s protesters.
“That’s right. Don’t even look at them,” yelled Roy Banks, 54, a disabled veteran from the nearby state capital of Helena. He was among about 15 people, including other veterans and members of church groups, who gathered to form a peaceful counterprotest.
By the time the funeral began, the Westboro protesters had packed up their signs and left. Those at the funeral remembered Baucus’ more lighthearted moments, and his fellow Marines spoke of a supremely well-organized recruit.
Two hours after the service began, the pickups began their procession back toward the highway. As they left the ranch, they passed a sign taped to a fence post. It bore a single word:
“Honor.”
Story courtesy of USA Today.