By Derek Spellman and Greg Grisolano
Globe Staff Writers
GIRARD, Kan. — While Americans awakened to news that U.S. forces had killed the most-wanted terrorist in Iraq, this small town — where “everybody knows everybody,” as one resident put it — mourned its fallen.
The funeral of Marine Cpl. Richard “Ricky” Bennett, 25, of Girard, drew most, if not all, of Girard’s residents, said Connie Edwards, a family cousin. Bennett was killed May 30 in Iraq when his helicopter crashed into a lake during a test flight outside Baghdad.
“Everybody loves them,” Edwards said of the family. “Nobody was a stranger (to them).”
The funeral drew about 250 members of the Patriot Guard Riders, a group of motorcyclists who attend funeral services for American troops upon request from the families.
“Our mission here is to support the family,” said Bob Peters, of Pittsburg, the Patriot Guard ride captain. “One is too many, but any time an American hero has died, we’ll come out at the request of the family. It’s unfortunate, it’s sad, but this is something we do with pride and honor.”
The riders also form a human buffer against members of Westboro Baptist Church, a Topeka-based group that claims American casualties in Iraq are God’s punishment for toleration of homosexuality.
The church’s pastor, Fred Phelps, did not protest Bennett’s funeral in person, but sent more than a half-dozen family and church members instead.
Gathering on the other side of a field separating them from St. Michael’s Hall, where funeral services took place, the protesters stepped on an American flag, decried American troops, and waved signs declaring “Fag vets” and “God’s view,” showing Uncle Sam in cross hairs.
“Jesus Christ said, ‘Let the dead bury the dead,’” said Jacob Phelps, 22, a grandson of Fred Phelps. “They should have left his (Bennett’s) carcass right on the ground. That would be the best thing for this nation.”
Members of the Patriot Guard staged their own demonstration in response, holding aloft flags to screen the protesters and playing patriotic music or revving their bikes to drown out the protesters’ voices.
The protesters from Westboro gathered in a spot less than a stone’s throw from where the Bennett clan lived many years ago, said neighbor Margaret Nelson. The house was across from Girard High School, which later purchased the property and razed it, Nelson said.
Because St. Michael’s Hall was jammed with people during the funeral services, many paid their respects from where they stood. They watched the funeral sitting in their front yards, on the beds of pickup trucks and on back porches. Outside houses lining the funeral procession route, they waved flags and hand-made signs, and dressed their houses and mailboxes with flags.
Nelson said the Bennetts are a popular family, known for being quiet, hardworking and close.
“They’re good, homebody people,” she said. “Their children are their life.”
The law and protesters
Kansas has a law restricting protests at funerals, but Crawford County Sheriff Sandy Horton said courts have interpreted the law in several ways.
For Richard “Ricky” Bennett’s funeral, members of Westboro Baptist Church were allowed to protest until the services began at 10:30 a.m. More than 20 uniformed officers were at the protest to ensure order. Horton said there were no problems.
Lead Stories
Related Photos
Discussion
June 9, 2006
Girard mourns Marine killed in Iraq
- Lead Stories
-
-
‘Fire all over’: Four suffer minor injuries in apartment blaze
Her phone started ringing, followed by a noise of uncertain origin outside her apartment. That’s how the sleep of 28-year-old Sylvia Moran was dispelled in the nick of time Monday morning. Moran got up, looked out a window and saw smoke.
-
Heat repeat: Year's third heat wave to continue through week
For the third time this summer, a wave of hot weather has washed across the Joplin metro area, causing heat indexes to soar into the triple digits.
- United Way groups note campaign status The Carthage Area United Way is more than two-thirds of the way toward reaching its campaign goal of $310,000 for the year, volunteers were told Thursday.
- Jerry Ray Clemens
- Agency shows off mobile home as possible alternative in buyouts MIAMI, Okla. — To help alleviate the housing problems facing some of the Tar Creek residents who are taking part in a federal buyout, officials staged an open house Thursday displaying a Federal Emergency Management Agency mobile home.
-
Local fairs attract crowds, competitors
For many area residents, the county fair is a pleasant diversion for an afternoon or evening, to admire the animals, eat a hot dog or take the kids to the carnival.
-
April showers might freeze flowers
Joplin gardeners were heading for the covers Thursday, not because they were trying to get warm in the cold but because their plants needed protection from record-cold temperatures and the possibility of a spring snowstorm.
- Counties examine roles of shelters Joplin officials are still assessing Memorial Hall’s role as an emergency shelter, while a Newton County official said the network of shelters there fared well during the ice storm this month.
-
Keeping education affordable
Autumn Peters, of Monett, has attended classes at Kent State University in Ohio and Pittsburg State University in Kansas.
-
Owner of Guest Houses defends track record
The owner of the Anderson Guest House, where a fire in November claimed 11 lives, defended his track record Tuesday and said the media have portrayed him unfairly.
- More Lead Stories Headlines
-
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom
Few Answers in Death of Sons of Missing Utah Mom
Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Raw Video: Deadly Helicopter Crash in Australia
Raw Video: Smoke, Purported Gunfire in Syria
Romney Latest Poll to Join Let-me-explain Club
Blast Kills Husband of Missing Utah Mom, 2 Boys
Obama: US, Israel Will Work Against Iran Nukes
NJ Museum Finds 19th Century Recording
Snow Causes Disruptions in Much of Europe
Clinton: Vetoed U.N. Syria Resolution 'travesty'
Romney Picks Up Decisive Win in Nevada Caucuses
Gingrich Renews Vow to Campaign Until Convention
Romney Rolls to Easy Win in Nevada GOP Caucuses
Raw Video: Missing Family Found Alive in Ore.
Police Clear Tents From Occupy Site in DC
