PATRIOT GUARD-IOLA,KS MISSION

The following is an exerpt from the IOLA,KS REGISTER regarding the PATRIOT GUARD ride in honor of Spc. John Wood. For pictures of this and other missions go to Gallery, click on Patriot Guard.
An appearance by followers of the Rev. Fred Phelps from Topeka turned to a positive here late Wednesday afternoon near Waugh-Yokum and Friskel Memorial Chapels, where a visitation was being held for Spc. John Wood. Wood, a member of the 891st Engineer Battalion (Combat) was killed in Iraq Oct. 7 while on detached duty with another National Guard unit.Many people came to the funeral home for the visitation, including Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who is in charge of Kansas National Guard troops. She arrived at Allen County Airport and was carried, as inconspicuously as could be arranged, to the funeral home in a sport-utility vehicle without Highway Patrol escort. Her aim, unlike the Phelpses’, was not to detract from ceremonies meant to honor Wood and his family.The Phelpses’ demonstration was so well shielded from family and general public view that it essentially was rendered innocuous.Iola Police Chief Jim Kilby and Allen County Sheriff Tom Williams were made aware Monday morning that a contingent of Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church congregation would come to protest near the funeral home during the visitation. Kilby and Williams huddled often to develop a response to the pending picketing, which has and did include vile and hateful signs and reworded military anthems apparently meant to incite. By noon Wednesday their planning had resulted in carefully crafted orders.Several blocks near the funeral home were closed to vehicle traffic. Iola High School, next to where the Phelps disciples were restricted on North Buckeye Street, was cleared of students and staff well ahead of the demonstration and those coming to counter-protest were given specific areas from where to retort.Iola Fire Department’s largest truck — it was left running and often drowned out the Phelpses’ admonitions — and an ambulance were positioned to block most people’s view of the Phelps protest. Members of the Patriot Guard Riders, and others who volunteered, lined the streets’ edges on the east and north sides of the funeral home, holding full-size U.S. flags the Riders carried to the event.Officers were insistent in keeping the public separated from the Phelps group, which included several children, to prevent confrontation, an outcome that those who embrace Phelps’ hatred are known to covet.
The only incident occurred when Iolan Joe Myers, after being removed from near the demonstrators once, tried to return after being told not to. He was arrested and taken from the area. Others obviously upset restrained themselves without help of officers.
The Phelps demonstrators were escorted into and out of Iola by sheriff’s deputies and were watched closely throughout their time here by officers, although those assigned to protect them made a point to turn their backs — that was their charge — and never gave any indication of response to the vocal portion of the protest.
Several agents of local law enforcement videotaped the Phelpses, including one from third-floor vantage in the high school.
The Phelps theme is that God is punishing the United States, mainly through the deaths of soldiers in Iraq, for embracing homosexuality. Phelps has carried his message to funerals of soldiers and events and incidents involving homosexuals.

Tom Roush of the Iola Police Department stands guard in front of picketers from Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka during a protest Wednesday in Iola. At left, Richard Gilliland stands with a flag this morning at a cemetery near Mapleton as part of the Patriot Guard in support for Spc. John E. Wood, Humboldt, who was killed in Iraq while serving with the National Guard.