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Letter about KIA soldier - Bravo... Boo... or Shrug?

Dutch-NJ

New member
Read the stories > Soldier from Atlantic City dies in Iraq - Atlantic City soldier killed in Iraq



Spc. Eric Rivera, 21, joined the Army in 2003. He re-enlisted in June, 2006. He wanted to make the Army his career. He has been KIA.

Spc. Eric Rivera’s body has just came home today. He will be buried this coming Saturday.

The following letter to the editor appeared in today’s Press.

*****************************************************

How sad to die to benefit Big Oil
Published: Tuesday, November 28, 2006

The death of Eric Palacios Rivera, the soldier from Atlantic City killed in Iraq, was certainly a devastating event for his family. And for what?

For rich corporations too chicken to send their sons to war, too chicken to possibly put themselves through what the Rivera family is going through.

His death was only for the love of oil, for the ones who get others to do their dirty work for them. It was for the eventual opportunity of being nothing but a pawn in the battle over whatever was so important as to lose his life over. Also, for a vicious man in the White House who calls himself the president.

The innocent ideals of a young boy were twisted from “fighting for his country, making a difference in life, helping his buddies” to “helping the rich” on the battlefield to the point of losing his life.

MAY HUDDLESTON
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/opinion/letters/story/6971861p-6832993c.html


*****************************************************

What are your thoughts about this letter to the editor?
 

mla2ofus

Well-known member
GOLD Site Supporter
Not hard to see which way she leans. I think it takes a really small minded person to print what she said,especially in the same town the deceased's family lives in.
Mike
 

bczoom

Super Moderator
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
If it was for "big oil" and he or his family believed to be true, why did he re-enlist?
 

Dutch-NJ

New member
Here's the latest

Army Spc. Eric Rivera came home Tuesday morning.

The Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka said it still expects to send fewer than 10 people to protest the funeral, church attorney Shirley Phelps-Roper said.

She said the church hoped for a confrontation with area residents..................

The Westboro members also likely will face overwhelming opposition Saturday from everyone from motorcycling veterans and American Legionnaires to others, such as Northfield resident Linda Grabowski, who read of the church's plans in Monday's Press of Atlantic City.

“When I read that article, I just got sick to my stomach,” she said. “I thought ‘How dare they?'”

Grabowski, a 45-year-old cocktail waitress at Bally's Park Place, said, “I think soldiers deserve respect. If you don't believe in the war, that's one thing, but to disrespect the family is just horrible.”

Dozens of others are expected to attend in support of the family. Dan Danchak, of Somers Point, who belongs to several area veterans groups, expected about 100 members, many in uniform, to attend.

If the family approves, the Rolling Thunder veterans motorcycle group expects 30 to 50 bikes and many more individuals to join, said local chapter President Ted Farina, who oversees Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties.

Whole story
 

Dutch-NJ

New member
UPDATE #1
Atlantic City Police refuse to issue permit to Westboro radicals to protest funeral anywhere near church, citing traffic and public safety.

UPDATE #2
County Executive issues Press Release closing County Park and Veteran's Cemetary to everyone except mourners.
http://www.aclink.org/AdminServ/press/mainpages/pr_detail.asp?ID=1006

UPDATE #3
Atlantic City Press reverses and agrees to publish my letter rebutting the "Huddleston" letter.

UPDATE #4
Atlantic City government ignors objections from some people that City flags should NOT be lowered to half staff.
 

Doc

Bottoms Up
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
:applause: :tiphat: :a1:
Good job Dutch and your comrades in NJ. :beer:
I am glad to see you all prevail over those loosers.
 

XeVfTEUtaAqJHTqq

Master of Distraction
Staff member
SUPER Site Supporter
Hey Dutch - how about a link to your letter if they print it?

I read an "opinion" piece the other day that this woman wrote where she told this story of taking her now deceased mother to Washington DC a year or two ago and how her mother got to meet Donald Rumsfeld on the street. Her mother was so happy about it and it sounds like it was great thing for her Mother. The lady went on to take jabs at Rumsfeld and say things similar to "I wonder what Mom would think now that her hero is gone".

It just amazes me that people can be so blinded by their political hatred that they would take something that their mother thought was one of her greatest moments and use it to further their political hatred.

Lots of sick people in this world.
 

Dutch-NJ

New member
Doc said:
:applause: :tiphat: :a1:
Good job Dutch and your comrades in NJ. :beer:
I am glad to see you all prevail over those loosers.

I wish I could take credit for some of this, but I can't..........

**************************************************

The police are right. Traffic in Atlantic City is difficult on good days. If there was a protest during a funeral, it would bring traffic to a standstill.

I'm told a protest permit was offered to the Westboro radicals at a safe and out of the way location, but they didn't respond.

I'm told the order has been issued to the police that if anyone protests without a permit, ARREST and remove them immediately.

Bravo to Chief Mooney for taking a firm stand.

**************************************************

I've known County Executive Dennis Levinson for many years. He was a tough kid, and now he's a tough man. Levinson is not afraid to take a position.

I'm told the County Sheriff has been ordered to sweep the park Saturday morning and get everyone out before 11:00 AM. That includes nature lovers, picnicers, bird watchers, tree huggers, everyone. ARREST and remove anyone who doesn't understand what "get out - now" means.

*************************************************

On Tuesday, Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed Executive Order 43, ordering state offices to fly the state and U.S. flags at half-staff Friday, December 1, 2006 in honor of Rivera.

Atlantic City Mayor Bob Levy already has ordered city flags to be flown at half-staff until Dec. 3.

A small group of "loosers" notified Levy that only the Governor or President can order a flag flown at half-staff. "Oh well............. Apparently Levy has overstepped his authority."
 

Dutch-NJ

New member
PBinWA said:
Hey Dutch - how about a link to your letter if they print it?

I was told my letter may have to edited. It seems the editorial staff didn't think I was "civil" enough.

It seems to me there is a double standard of "civility" when it comes to bile spewing American haters and normal Americans.

If they print it, I will post a link. In the meanwhile, here is my letter as sent:

*******************************************************

The Nov. 28, 2006 letter, "How sad to die to benefit Big Oil" was
disgusting. May Huddleston selfishly used Spc. Eric Rivera's death as a
soapbox to voice her own personal political views.

Huddleston trampled over the Rivera family's feelings at a time of grief
by claiming Spc. Eric Rivera's sacrifice was, "only for the love of oil"
and he gave his life "helping the rich."

Spc. Eric Rivera was not a "young boy." Rivera was a brave man, a soldier,
who volunteered to serve his and our country as a member of the U.S.
Military.

How dare Huddleston suggest that Rivera's ideals were "twisted?" Spc. Eric
Rivera's ideals brought pride to all Americans, to Latino/Americans in
particular, and especially to his mother, brother, and family.

Shame on May Huddleston for not understanding what "inappropriate" means.
The only thing that should be said to the Rivera family is "Thank you for Eric"
and God Bless you.

*******************************************************
 

Dutch-NJ

New member
No access for protest at soldier's funeral

‘The family will be protected' says county executive

“I will promise you this, any disruption by any person, and they will be arrested,” Levinson said. “This is not a threat. This is a promise.”

Members of the unaffiliated Westboro Baptist Church have protested the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq, claiming the war is God's revenge for increasing acceptance of gays and lesbians.

Church attorney Shirley Phelps-Roper became angry Wednesday when told of the county's decision to close the park and veterans cemetery, claiming it's an overreaction by “God-hating government actors who think they can change God with their vote.”

“I would recommend that none of those government actors take one step towards violating our constitutional rights,” she said.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/atlantic/story/6977124p-6838211c.html
 

Dutch-NJ

New member
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Heavy Security Planned for Soldier's Funeral
WPVI By Ray Regan

Atlantic City, New Jersey - December 2, 2006 - - New Jersey State Police will limit access Saturday to Atlantic County Veterans Cemetery, to prevent protesters from disrupting the burial of an Atlantic City soldier killed in Iraq.

U.S. Army Specialist Eric Rivera died on November 14th.

Members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas are scheduled to protest at his funeral, but say they won't disrupt the burial.

Taking no chances, state police will only allow mourners into the cemetery and adjoining park from noon to 7:30 a.m Sunday.

Westboro Baptist say the deaths of soldiers are punishment from God for the country's tolerance of homosexuals.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=local&id=4816380
 

Dutch-NJ

New member
362-Rivera%20Main_001.jpg

Hundreds celebrate ‘the life of a hero'

ATLANTIC CITY — Hundreds of friends, family members and other well-wishers who never met him mourned Spc. Eric Rivera, the first Atlantic City resident to die in the Iraq war, at a funeral Saturday in a resort church and later burial at the county veteran's cemetery.

“We are not here to celebrate the death of a soldier,” said the Rev. Joseph Pham, pastor of Our Lady Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church, where Rivera had his first Communion, “but the life of a hero. He surely did not sacrifice his life just for Atlantic City, but for all of America as well.”

Family friend Janet Markowitz said they called Rivera “The Great One” when he worked at her Chester's Discount Plants at Iowa and Arctic avenues because he was boundlessly optimistic, strong and kind.

Once he re-enlisted last June, Markowitz said, “I remember him telling me there was more work to do there and he would be home when the job is done.”

“I'm sure that Eric is OK,” she added later, with difficulty. “After all he is ‘The Great One.'”

Rivera, a 2003 Atlantic City High School graduate, died Nov. 14 west of Ramadi, Iraq, when he was shot and killed while his platoon searched for a weapons cache. He and his brother, Jeff Rivera, a prospective Atlantic City police officer, did not tell their mother Cayetana Palacios he was in Iraq because they did not want to frighten her.

It is believed Rivera is the first Atlantic City resident to die in wartime since March 1971, when Marine Corps Sgt. James Bingenheimer, 23, became the last of 17 resort military personnel to lose their life in Vietnam.

A planned protest by a radical Topeka, Kan., church, which calls military funerals God's revenge against America for tolerating gays and lesbians, fizzled when midwestern snowstorms blocked their travel.

Expecting conflict between the protesters and angry funeralgoers, area law enforcement had taken no chances. Atlantic City police set aside a small barricaded area for the church at Florida Avenue. It also blocked off four blocks of Atlantic Avenue between Florida and Brighton avenues and closed side streets near the California Avenue funeral site.

Dozens of area police and county sheriff's officers were stationed on duty in Atlantic City, along the procession's route and at the cemetery.

In western Atlantic County, State Police shut down a 3-mile stretch of Route 50 between 11th Avenue and Tuckahoe Road from 1:30 to 3 p.m. and the county closed its Veterans Cemetery in Estell Manor throughout the day to almost all but mourners.

Galloway Township Vietnam veteran Joseph J. Cavallaro, who heads Northfield's Disabled American Veterans chapter, said it was an overreaction to shut out hundreds who wanted to attend.

He blamed “nonveterans (who) do not understand the tight-knit bond between military veterans. We're brothers and sisters and it hurts us a lot when we are not able to bury our honored war dead.”

Outside Star of the Sea before the service, Charles and Stephanie Newman waited in their denim and leather heavily festooned with military-themed patches and pins. Like many in the veterans-oriented group, the members of Firebase Nam said they came to pay respects to a person they called a hero.

“Besides, we have six sons between us and every one of them could be here,” said Stephanie Newman, who wore a belt made from a metal drive belt with a scorpion buckle.

Aura Osorno was one of several Local 54 of UNITE HERE members handing out 1,000 small flags to people going inside the church. They said it was a great honor and also came on behalf of Rivera's mother, Cayetana Palacios, a union member who works at Caesars Atlantic City.

The people inside the church were a diverse cross section of the resort that included area leaders, gray-haired veterans and casino employees, several of whom arrived in uniform after their shift.

They slowly filed past the open coffin between two white-gloved Army sergeants standing at parade rest. Rivera, 21, lay amid a wooden crucifix and a heart made of white flowers. Many hugged Rivera's brother, cousins or mother, who stood nearby in a dark coat with a large picture button of her son pinned over her heart.

Church leaders held the service for Rivera, whose family is from El Salvador, in Spanish and English. Atlantic City Mayor Bob Levy, a decorated 20-year Army veteran, read and gave the family a city proclamation and a letter from Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

At about 12:30 p.m., a lone bagpiper played “Amazing Grace.” As he finished, a dozen other bagpipers previously unseen in the choir loft joined in, filling the church with the swelling, powerful sound.

As if by an unspoken command, first one, then two, then dozens of attendees raised and waved their American flags.

The bagpipers filed out the door, the sound diminishing in the distance, leaving a silence broken only by tearful sniffles.

In Mays Landing, more than 100 people gathered in an impromptu tribute to Rivera, whom almost none had ever met, in front of the Atlantic County office building on Main Street.

As volunteer firefighters directed traffic, organizer Aline Dix handed out flags and updated the crowd as the procession drew closer.

Billy Fursin, 14, said he was riding bikes with four friends when organizers gave them flags and asked they attend.

When the procession passed by at about 1:47 p.m., they stood on street with their bikes and waved the flags, trying to get the passing firetrucks to blow their horn. Veterans standing nearby quietly saluted. Nine minutes and 127 cars later, the group broke up. “That was really, really something,” said Bruno Scittolon, shaking his head as he walked away with his wife, Pat.

At the veterans cemetery, motorcycling veterans groups lined both sides of the road for about a quarter-mile from the county park's entrance. Their rumbling engines could be faintly heard from the graveside as church leaders led the several hundred people in the Lord's Prayer in Spanish and English.

After the honor guard placed Rivera's casket on top of the grave, the six-member group held the covering American flag aloft while seven other soldiers fired a three-volley salute to Rivera.

As the gun smoke hit the attendees, another soldier played “Taps” from a bugle, while a bagpipe and drum band played “Amazing Grace.”

The soldiers holding the flag then stiffly and silently folded it into a triangle and gave it to Brig. Gen. Kevin R. Wendel, who leaned over and presented it, along with a Bronze Star and Purple Heart, to Palacios.

Receiving these final remnants of her young son's life, she audibly sobbed.

When the formal service ended, friends and well-wishers surrounded the family while others in attendance layered red roses and white carnations about a foot thick on top of Rivera's closed casket.

For the hundreds of people over the last two weeks who never met him, Eric Rivera became a symbol for their beliefs. To some, he was the wrath of an angry God. To others, Rivera was just like someone they knew, a young adult full of youth, promise and optimism, a person killed in a foreign country.

But to those who were there at the end, to those who consoled the family while Saturday afternoon's shadows grew, Rivera was a person they knew.

For them, however sad, Eric Rivera had finally come home.


http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/top_story/story/6985807p-6846295c.html
 
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