[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 18 (Tuesday, February 14, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PROTESTS AT MILITARY FUNERALS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LANE EVANS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 14, 2006

  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, approximately 138,000 troops are serving in 
Iraq and hundreds of thousands more are stationed at bases all over the 
world. These men and women bravely volunteered to serve their country 
and fight to preserve the democratic ideals we as Americans hold dear. 
It is because of them and the sacrifices they make, I rise today to 
bring attention to a very serious issue.
  On a rainy November day in my district, a group of protesters 
gathered at the funeral of SGT Kyle Wehrly--the first resident of 
Galesburg, IL to die in Iraq. During the funeral, they shouted cruel, 
hateful words at the mourners. Upon hearing the protesters might show 
up at the funeral, a group of students from Knox College in Galesburg 
organized to silently stand in front of the protesters, raising their 
umbrellas to block the hateful words and placards from the family 
members and friends of Sergeant Wehrly.
  In response to the emotionally charged and widespread attention this 
incident and other similar protests brought to the State, Illinois 
Lieutenant Governor, Pat Quinn, proposed a new law preventing protests 
at funeral services throughout the State. The Let Them Rest in Peace 
Act prohibits protests within a 300-foot zone around any funeral or 
memorial in Illinois from 30 minutes before a service until 30 minutes 
after. ``No grieving military family should be subjected to vile 
epithets and signs at the funeral service of their loved one who has 
made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,'' Quinn said in a recent 
press release. ``This legislation strikes an important balance between 
the First Amendment religious rights of families to bury their dead 
with reverence and the expression rights of those seeking to harass 
mourners at a funeral service.''
  I wholeheartedly support free speech and the right of every American 
to exercise that right. I also strongly believe the rights of families 
privately mourning the loss of loved ones are violated and the 
contributions of our fallen military heroes are belittled when funerals 
are targeted for picketing and other public demonstrations. Picketing 
of funerals only cause emotional disturbance and distress to grieving 
families, which is why I support the Lieutenant Governor's proposal. 
The Let Them Rest in Peace Act allows family members to peacefully 
mourn while preserving free speech. Under the Lieutenant Governor's 
law, people can still protest, they just have to do it from 300 feet 
away.
  I commend the students of Knox College for the decency they showed 
the family and friends of Sergeant Wehrly by peacefully and silently 
creating a barrier between them and the hateful, painful words of the 
protesters. I hope their actions help bring further attention to this 
issue so we can better honor our men and women in uniform, while 
continuing to uphold our treasured first amendment rights.

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