Rogers’ Bill Ending Military Funeral Protests Approved

Tuesday, May 9, 2006 – Today, by an overwhelming bi-partisan margin, the U.S. House adopted legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, MI-08, that will protect the dignity and honor of military funerals by prohibiting protestors from disrupting the solemn services or burials.

“American military men and women who give their lives in defense of our nation deserve a peaceful and honorable funeral,” said Rogers, a military veteran and brother of a career Army officer who has served in Iraq. “Their families also deserve the freedom to honor their loved ones and celebrate their lives without the harassment of protestors who are targeting military funerals.”

Rogers introduced the measure, H.R. 5037, The Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act, after attending the funeral of a Michigan soldier who died from wounds suffered in Iraq.

“What that family was subjected to was nothing short of criminal,” Rogers said. “The vile, taunting hate speech went way beyond the bounds of common decency, and was clearly intended to harass and mock the families and their mourning.

“Thankfully, there was a group of veterans, headed up by the Patriot Guard Riders, who provided a buffer for the family, standing guard between the protestors and the grieving family. Their service to these fallen heroes is very much appreciated by the families, and we commend their commitment to protecting the dignity of the funeral services.”

Rogers said it is a sad situation when the Patriot Guard and veterans have to protect the funerals, or that Congress and state Legislatures must introduce legislation protecting military funerals.

“The disgusting tactics of the protestors makes it necessary, however, and that is why I introduced the Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act,” Rogers said. “America honors the men and women who fight to defend freedom, and their families who also carry the burden of defending our nation. May each of them be blessed with the love and respect of all Americans.”

Rogers’ legislation HR 5037 would prevent disruption of military funerals at national cemeteries beginning 60 minutes before and continuing for 60 minutes after the service; and keeps protestors at least 500 feet away from mourners during any demonstration.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that it is permissible to regulate the time and place of demonstrations. HR 5037 includes the precise wording from Supreme Court rulings, ensuring that the law will remain within the parameters of the First Amendment. HR 5037 does not regulate the content of the hate speech, but the time, and place of demonstrating.

The measure also includes a sense of Congress that all 50 states should adopt similar legislation affecting all military funeral and burial sites, using HR 5037 as a template, to avoid First Amendment concerns.

The Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act has bi-partisan support in the House, with more than 200 co-sponsors, including much of the leadership as well as the chairman and members of the Veterans Affairs Committee. The bill passed the House 408-3.

Rogers received nearly 30,000 emails supporting the measure.

HR 5037 is supported by the American Legion-Department of Michigan, American Veterans (AMVETS), Disabled American Veterans, Fleet Reserve Assn., Gold Star Wives of America, Jewish War Veterans of the USA, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW-Department of Michigan, Vietnam Veterans of America, and We Care America.

The House vote sends the measure to the Senate, with an effort being made to get the measure on the President’s desk as soon as possible.

Gulfport, Miss. (May 8, 2006) - Five U.S. Navy Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion One Three Three (NMCB-133) are presented with the Purple Heart for wounds received while serving in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Purple Heart is presented to any member of the Armed Services who is either injured or killed while serving in combat action. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Ja'lon A. Rhinehart

In the Bulletin Board section of the March ’06 issue, you carried a recommendation to support this organization. I couldn’t agree more.

I have been down here on the security mission with a cavalry troop for about a year now, and signed up with Soldiers’ Angels on line, and within about a month was contacted by a member of this network of fine ladies. Soon, I was in contact with a whole bevy of folks from all across America, who took the time to send cards, care packages, mail, e-mail, or just a kind word on a post card....

You can read the rest here, in the "FLAK" section (subscription required)

To learn more about Soldiers' Angels, visit the website at http://www.soldiersangels.org

by Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon II
May 10, 2006
A Soldier from 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division patrols Tal Afar, Iraq.

kyw.com - Marine Mom Refuses To Remove Flag

http://cbs3.com/local/local_story_129220609.html

Also see the update at Soldiers' Angels Germany

Update to the Update - Additional Link:
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=local&id=4158057

CLASS IN SESSION — U.S. Marine Sgt. Donnie E. Hebert observes every move that his Iraqi Army students make, May 4, 2006, during a 10-day Combat Squad Leaders course at Camp Baharia, Iraq. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Brian Reimers

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Talabani: Kidnappings, Killings of Iraqis Must Stop
German inquiry begins into spies' role in Iraq
Baghdad's Security Forces to Be Revamped

Homeland Security / War on Terror
Hayden Talks With Senators- Video: Hayden on the Hill
6 Dead in Pakistan Police Academy Bomb Attack
NSA Wiretapping Probe Halted Over Security Clearance
Security service watched two London bombers: report
NSA has database of domestic US phone calls: report (They have a record of what number called what number. They are NOT monitoring all phone calls - just watch how this one plays in the MSM)
Hayden may back spying law change

Other Military News
Rumsfeld says Russia, China policies worrying
Pentagon weapons buyer backs space missile plan

Hamas Rising
Hamas, Fatah Draft Joint State Plan with Final Borders

Worldwide Wackos
'A Tyrannical Regime'
ElBaradei urges compromise in Iran nuclear row

Politics
House OKs Tax Cut
House Committee Approves Car Fuel Mileage Target Bill
Bush: My Brother Would Make a Great President
Abramoff White House Visits Totaled About an Hour

Oddities
Pilots over flying on a wing and a prayer
Insurer offers policy for World Cup "sick days"

Other News of Note
WTC's 'Survivor Staircase' Now Most Endangered Place

Fox News
Teacher Claims School Fired Her For In Vitro Fertilization
Report: Agreement in Puerto Rican Govt. Shutdown Near
Duke Cops Overheard City Police Discuss Rape Accuser
Texas Tornadoes Kill 3
Stocks to Watch: News Corp.
Fed Raises Key Interest Rate to 5 Percent
Television For Baby?
Former New York Times Editor A.M. Rosenthal Dies
Internet Oversight Agency Rejects '.xxx' Domain Name
Identity Theft Page
Cybersecurity Center

Reuters: Top News
China and US commanders upgrade military ties
Experts consider abortion pill-infection link
Bird flu vaccine trial encouraging: study
New Sony service hints to PS3 strategy
Microsoft banks on online service to hook gamers
Hurricanes expose flaws in idyllic Cancun
Bird flu vaccine trial encouraging: study
Early drug therapy doesn't prevent asthma-studies
Hollywood friends rally around Tom Cruise
Tour manager imprisoned for deadly RI club fire
Viacom quarterly profit drops
Arcelor to take legal action against Mittal in US
Cendant files to spin off hospitality division
Wal-Mart critics jump on inaccurate bank testimony
Global Crossing posts wider 1st-qtr net loss
Liberty Global Q1 lifted by deals, Internet users
Union Drilling shares rise
VaxGen stock plummets on US contract changes
Tech stocks fall, Dow at 6-year high despite Fed
Icahn raises stake in Imclone, stock rises
Baidu.com soars 30 pct on earnings
Hedging copper gains
On the Radar: W. Coast banks for growth
Reuters Summit: Exchanges & Trading

AP World News
U.N. Council Rejects Somalia Sanctions
'American Idol' Shocks With Latest Cut
Ex-NYT Executive Editor Rosenthal Dies
DNA Tests Confirm Bear Was a Hybrid
Coin Dealer Asks to Change Guilty Pleas
Keith Richards Discharged From Hospital
Wade's 31 Leads Heat Over Nets 111-89
Dumont's OT Winner Puts Senators on Brink
Hurricanes Edge Devils; Take 3-0 Lead

Military.com
Reserve Chief Criticizes Pentagon
Bill Concentrates on Roadside Bombs
Active Duty Recruiting Exceeds Goals
Ex-NSA Chief Calls for CIA Breakup
V-22 Funding Status Still Murky

CENTCOM: News Releases
HISTORIC MEDCAP PROVIDES CARE TO KORENGAL

SOLDIER CONTINUES LEGACY OF RAISING MONEY FOR BREAST CANCER

TERRORISTS TARGET TALL AFAR NEIGHBORHOOD

COALITION FORCES DELIVER PRECISION MUNITIONS AT ABANDONED TRAIN STATION

Department of Defense
Memorial Honors Virginia 9/11 Victims - Story
General Notes Progress in Afghanistan - Story - Video
'Ardent Sentry' Tests Crisis Response - Story
Diplomacy Best Current Course for Iran - Story

IRAQIS TAKE THE LEAD
Iraqis Help Administer Medical Care - Story

REBUILDING IRAQ
Troops Build Iraqi Supply and Support Area - Story

ON THE GROUND
Medical Program Treats Afghan Patients - Story
U.S. Soldiers Note What They See and Hear - Story - On Assignment

IN IRAQ
Wounded Iraqi Police Receive Wheelchairs
Technology Connects Deployed Parents, Kids

IN AFGHANISTAN
Central Air Forces Commander Visits Troops
'Lion’s Pride' Brings Medical Care to Afghans

FACE OF DEFENSE
Soldier Strives for Ideal Weight - Story

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU
Groups Help Connect Families - Story
Operation Helmet Protect Troops

TOP NEWS
IRAQ
Coalition Strikes Insurgents
Casey Outlines Signs of Progress
IED Kills Coalition Soldier
Terrorist Chemical Expert Killed
Marine Harriers Conduct Ops
Renewal In Iraq
Fact Sheet: Progress and Work Ahead
Report: Strategy for Victory in Iraq
Iraq Daily Update
This Week in Iraq (PDF)
Multinational Force Iraq
State Dept. Weekly Iraq Report (PDF)
'Boots on the Ground' Audio Archive
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps

AFGHANISTAN
Air Strike Kills 4 Enemy Fighters
'Mountain Lion' Roars Into Valley
Afghan Police Discover IED
Helicopter Recovery Ops Continue
Afghanistan Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Speedy Budget Approval Urged
Leaders Support CIA Nominee
Command Changes to Support War
Cyclists Honor 9/11 Crews
French Forces Rejoin OEF
Fact Sheet: Budget Request
Fact Sheet: War on Terror
Fact Sheet: Terror Plots Disrupted
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
Agency Brings Americans Home
Active-Duty Recruiting Tops Goals
Program Offers Access to Disabled
More Asian-Pacific Americans Serve
Spouses Focus to Aid Wounded
NATO Strives to Build NCO Corps
National Guard, Reserve Update

Weather
Iraq
Al Azamiyah Al Basrah Al Hillah Al Karkh Al Kazimiyah
An Nasiriyah Baghdad Baqubah Mosul Najaf Nineveh Tall Kayf

Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar Ghurian Herat Kabul Qandahar

Gitmo

Today in History
1189 - German King and Holy Roman Emperor Frederik I (Barbarossa) leaves Regensburg with 100,000 crusaders.
1330 - Constantinople /Istanbul becomes the new capital for the Eastern Roman Empire.
1421 - Jews are expelled from Styria, Austria.
1502 - Columbus begins his fourth, and last, trip to the "Indies."
1674 - The Netherlands and Cologne sign a peace treaty.
1678 - French Admiral Jean d'Estrées' fleet runs aground in Curaçao.
1689 - The French and English naval Battle of Bantry Bay occurs.
1690 - English troops conquer Port Royal, Nova Scotia.
1749 - The British parliament accepts the Consolidation Act, reorganizing the fleet.
1751 - Pennsylvania Hospital, the first in the U.S., is founded.
1792 - U.S. Captain Robert Gray discovers and names the Columbia River.
1814 - Americans defeat the British at the Battle of Plattsburgh.
1858 - Minnesota is admitted as the 32nd U.S. state.
1862 - The CSS Virginia is scuttled off Norfolk, VA.
1864 - General J.E.B. Stuart is mortally wounded in the Battle of Yellow Tavern (Sheridan's Raid), VA.
1916 - Einstein presents his Theory of General Relativity.
1921 - Tel Aviv becomes the first all Jewish municipality.
1925 - The Communist Party of Holland splits.
1931 - Austria's largest bank, Credit-Anstalt, fails. It is the start of the financial collapse of Central Europe.
1941 - The first Messerschmidt 109F is shot down over England.
1942 - Japanese troops conquer Kalewa.
1943 - A German division in Tunisia surrenders; The U.S. 7th division lands on Attu, in the Aleutian islands - the first U.S. territory recaptured.
1945 - U.S. marines conquer Awatsha Draw, Okinawa.
1947 - Laos accepts a constitution for a parliamentary democracy.
1948 - Haganah takes control of Safed and the port of Haifa.
1949 - Israel becomes the 59th member of the United Nations; Siam changes its name to Thailand.
1955 - Israel attacks Gaza.
1960 - Israeli soldiers capture Adolf Eichmann in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
1962 - The U.S. sends troops to Thailand.
1963 - Racially motivated bomb attacks occur in Birmingham, AL.
1965 - Ellis Island is added to the Statue of Liberty National monument.
1967 - The 100,000,000th U.S. phone is connected.
1968 - Students and police clash in Paris, resulting in hundreds of injuries.
1973 - The Dutch Government of Uyl is formed.
1975 - Israel signs an agreement with the European Economic Market.
1978 - Margaret A. Brewer becomes the first female U.S. Marine General.
1985 - In India, a booby-trap bomb kills 86.
1987 - Corazon Aquino is elected President of the Philippines.
1989 - Kenya announces a worldwide ban on ivory; President Bush orders approximately 2,000 troops to Panama.
1994 - 6 white racists are sentenced to death in South Africa.

Birthdays
1568 - Christian I, ruler of Anhalt-Bernburg
1821 - Union Brigadier General Charles (Carlos) John Stolbrand
1830 - Union Brigadier General John Converse Starkweather
1852 - Charles Warren Fairbanks, Vice President to Theodore Roosevelt
1881 - Jan van Gilse composer/resistance fighter
1888 - P. A. J. Losecaat Vermeer, leader of the Dutch High Council
1891 - Henry Morgenthau, Jr., US Secretary of the Treasury
1894 - Anton A. Mussert, Dutch Nazi leader
1905 - Marjorie Sykes, peace activist
1911 - Roy James Alfred Kaulback, soldier
1918 - Richard P. Feynman, physicist, 1965 Nobel Prize winner
1927 - Justice Hollis
1929 - Edward Anson, British Vice-Admiral
1933 - Louis Farrakhan, minister, Black Islam Nation leader
1934 - James M. Jeffords (Representative-VT)
1957 - Luca Urbani, M.D. / astronaut (STS 78-alternate)

Passings
1742 - Francesco Stradivari, Italian violin maker/son of Antonius, dies at 70
1772 - Joseph Kerckhoff Limburg, surgeon/robber captain, hanged
1778 - William Pitt, Sr., English premier (1756-61, 66-68), dies at 69
1779 - John Heart, US farmer (signed Declaration of Independence), dies at about 68
1871 - John Herschel, cataloguer of southern hemisphere stars, dies at 79
1927 - General Henry Martyn Robert (Robert's Rules of Order), dies at 90
1976 - J. Anaya, Bolivian military/ambassador to France, murdered
1981 - Bob Marley, reggae singer, dies of brain & lung cancer at 36
1985 - Chester Gould, cartoonist (Dick Tracy), dies at 84
1988 - H. A. R. (Kim) Philby, British double agent
1991 - Ho Dam, foreign minister North-Korea (1970-83)
1996 - Nnamdi Azikiwe, President of Nigeria (1963-66)

Reported Missing in Action
1966
Feneley, Francis J., USAF (MI); F105D shot down, KIA/BNR

Villeponteaux, James H., Jr., USMC (SC); A4E shot down, KIA/BNR

1968
Jiminez, Juan M., US Army (TX); KIA at FOB Ngok Tavak, BNR

1969
The following US Army personnel reported MIA in a single ground incident:
Daugherty, Lenard E. (GA); released by PRG March, 1973 - alive as of 1998

Horio, Thomas Teruo, (HI); released by PRG March, 1973 - alive as of 1998

Jacquez, Juan L., (NM); released by PRG March, 1973 - alive as of 1998

Also reported MIA this day in 1969:
Ryan, William C., Jr., USMC (NJ); F4B shot down, KIA/BNR

1972
Allmond, Barry K., USAF (TX); remains recovered, DIC

Blassie, Michael Joseph, USAF (MO); A37 shot down - remains exhumed from the Tomb of the Unknown and ID'd June, 1998

Haselton, John Herbert, USAF (VT); O2A shot down - remains recovered April, 1974

Kittinger, Joseph W., Jr., USAF (FL); F4D shot down (w/Reich), released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Colonel with a Silver Star - alive and well as of 1998

Padgett, James P., USAF (FL); F105D shot down (w/Talley), released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Lt. Colonel - alive as of 1998

Reich, William J., USAF (WI); F4D shot down (w/Kittinger), released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Captain - alive as of 1998

Strobridge, Rodney L., US Army (CA); AH1G shot down (co-pilot, w/Williams), likely KIA

Talley, William H., USAF (OK); F105D shot down (w/Padgett), released by DRV - retired as a Colonel - alive and well as of 1998

Williams, Robert J., US Army (AL); AH1G shot down (pilot, w/Strobridge), likely KIA