‘Field of Honor’ on One Side, Protesters on The Other!

Well, this is the Sunday of the potential visit to our area of one of America's most notorious hate groups, the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church.  This organization is reportedly going to be picketing at sites in Macomb, Quincy and Hannibal.

If you are not familiar with them, they're known for protesting at the funerals of American service members to draw attention to their message of hate, particularly aimed against homosexuality.

Their website indicates they plan to picket outside at Hanson Field at Western Illinois University in Macomb on Saturday from 11:45 to 12:45. Then on Sunday morning they are scheduled to picket in Quincy at Madison Park Christian Church from 8:15 to 8:55 and St. Peter’s Catholic Church from 9 to 9:30.  From there, they are scheduled to picket outside Hannibal's First Church of the Nazarene from 10:15 to 10:45.

Western Illinois University and the local churches involved did NOT invite Westboro Baptist Church to be there.

The irony of their visit Saturday is that Mother Nature forced the postponement last weekend of the Exchange Club’s 1000 flag “Field of Honor display. That “Field” will be visible Friday through Sunday next to St. Peter’s Church at Madison Park.  Meaning, that those 1000 flags representing our freedoms thanks to our Veterans and our active service men and women, will be trumping any picketing that may or may not occur.

My guess is that there will be no visits at all. All talk and no action… which will be fine by me. If they do show up, I’ll let my flag do my talking!