Funeral Procession

Quote :

"(KMOV)-- The sheriff in Jefferson County has made a name for himself based on his response to an angry email. A woman complained about her experience in traffic during a soldier's funeral procession last month. Sheriff Glenn Boyer, a Vietnam veteran didn't appreciate this lengthy email at all It said among other things, this funeral procession should not have been happening during rush hour along I-270. She said she was yelled at and felt threatened by "dirty, nasty renegade motorcycle men who were escorting the deceased soldier. She said she wanted them arrested. So the sheriff sent back an equally long email and respectfully, let the woman have it. The Sheriff went on to explain while she was stuck in traffic, soldiers just like Sergeant Woods were busy carrying 100 lbs of equipment in 120-degree heat up a mountain. He also told her protecting her right to complain is the reason Sergeant Woods fought and died for his country. ---------- From: http://www.stltoday.com 09/10/2009 The original email was sent to Sheriff Glenn Boyer on Thursday, August 27. Below is the citizen's email followed by Sheriff Boyer's response. I tried to call you earlier this morning, but was unable to obtain your extension from the voice mail system as I was not sure of your first name or correct spelling of your last. I was inadvertently in this procession as I was leaving work on 270 from Creve Coeur and proceeding on Hwy. 30 West. I have some issues and complaints. I called the Sheriff's office last night, but the officer in charge would not speak with me. His name was Corp. Curtis. I am in no way complaining about your officers. I, however, was not treated very fairly when I called last evening because I wanted a ticket/complaint/or at least a slap on wrist for the people involved. Let me explain: 1) This procession should never have been held during rush hour traffic! Hwy. 270 is dangerous and people drive way too fast and there is too much traffic. This soldier's certainly would not have want his family hurt on the interstate taking him to Cedar Hill. People were dead-stopping on the interstate even though the procession was in the far right lane, the other three lanes just stopped. There were many near accidents and possibly were after I drove through. I was in the 2nd to left lane, no way obstructing the funeral procession. 2) I exited off on Gravois (30 W), far right lane. Your police officers went in the left lane to stop any additional on-coming traffic so the procession could exit off 270 into the LEFT lane of 30. Again, I was in the right lane. The St. Louis County officer stopped and turned around at Weber Hill to return on 270 after the procession passed. 3) The road was not closed. (Only for president as far as I know.) Again, the road was not closed. Your officers only had the left lane blocked/closed for the funeral. All other traffic by MO law can proceed as long as they do not interfere (weave in and out )with funeral procession. Let me say, that I did not know what was happening. I knew the did not have Kennedy coming to STL, at least not yesterday. I was at work all day. No news. Nothing reported on the traffic on the radio driving home. Anyway, two of these dirty, nasty, renegade, who knows what motorcycle men that were escorting the procession proceeded to stop in front of me in the right lane on Gravois. I had to stop in the middle of an intersection. They proceeded to scream and yell at me about respecting this soldier, etc. One of them climbed off his motorcycle and came over to me and stuck his head in my car continuing to scream at me. I asked him what this was for and he told me I needed to stop as the officers had the road blocked and show some dang respect. #1, the road was not blocked, the funeral was in the other lane. #2, I am proud of our country and sorry for the family, but they had no idea where I was going or anything else. I could have a child at day-care, I could have been sick and racing to the bathroom, I could have a sick parent waiting for me, etc., etc. #3, They are not law enforcement and had no right to stop in the lane on Gravois and they had no right to scream at me and intimidate and threaten me. If I would have had my pepper spray, I would have used it on this nasty man! He is just a big hoo ha that is not even related to this soldier. The other man did not get off his scooter, but was along side of my passenger window screaming. I left an abusive husband 1 1/2 years ago and I did not need this intimidation. I was livid and shaking!! My son is a deputy sheriff in another MO county. I respect police officers. It was not their fault as they were busy with traffic, but I called to make them aware of what was going on during this thing. The St. Louis County officer saw it but of course he was out of jurisdiction. However, I called last night and your office asked me if I knew about this soldier. Again, I am sorry about him, but I am a taxpayer. I got a speeding ticket a few months ago and paid the fine. I do not deserve to be treated like this. I wanted to let the officer know how these men were acting. Also, they were driving into the turnarounds on Hwy. 30 and then back onto the road. the funeral was much further ahead. One of them nearly got hit by me and other people almost hit him and another as well. I wanted to lodge a complaint about them why they were still there, but no one in your office would take any information or do anything. This was not a military funeral, even though it was a soldier. There were not military vehicles. It was a funeral and the road was not closed, the lane was closed, I was in the other lane and again, these nasty men had no right to do this and I would have liked them to get a ticket! I am sorry for the soldier and his family but you cannot let these motorcycle renegades do this. They could have caused several accidents and I really wanted them arrested. If they had any respect for the soldier they would have dressed better and not looked and acted so scuzzy. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- REPLY FROM SHERIFF From: Glenn Boyer/JEFFCO Date: 08/31/2009 02:05 PM Subject: Re: Fw: Re: Funeral Procession - Yesterday p.m. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear XXXXX: Yes, you do deserve a response and I am willing to give you one. I would like to say that I am sorry for the inconvenience we caused you during the funeral procession of Sergeant 1st Class William B. Woods, but I cannot do so. I would ask instead that you take a moment of your time to take into consideration the scope of the event. Your very right to complain was the reason Sgt. Woods fought for his country and ultimately gave his life; thus making the ultimate sacrifice for you and your family. Let me introduce you to him. After high school, Sergeant Woods entered the Marine Corps. After his contract was up, he joined the Army, where he became a Green Beret. He comes from a long line of military members in his family. His Uncle is a Vietnam Veteran and two of his grandfathers were World War II Veterans. His job in the Army was one of the most dangerous jobs - he was a sniper looking for the bad guys to stop before they killed or injured one of our soldiers. He has numerous decorations to include the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He grew up in Catawissa and was best known by his middle name, Brian. He enjoyed the outdoors, playing sports, and skydiving. He had a wife, Elizabeth, and two daughters, whom he loved dearly. He was a soft-spoken, level-headed young man who was proud to serve his country no matter what the risk. Now, I did not know him, but I wish I did. I am quoting from newspaper articles written about him. At the young age of 31, he was shot during an engagement with Taliban forces in Ghanzi , Afghanistan . He died of his wounds in Germany on August 16, with his family by his side. He did not choose the time of his death, nor did he choose the time his remains would be brought back to his home in Catawissa. He just did his duty. He was quite a young man. While you were being inconvenienced in your car on your way home, there were soldiers just like Sergeant Woods carrying 100+ pounds of equipment in 120 degree heat, up some mountain or in the middle of some desert. They will shower out of a helmet liner if they get the chance. They will eat a cold meal of MRE's; something most people would consider garbage. They cannot text their family or friends, or go to McDonalds, or watch TV. They can only continue the mission and look out after the guy to the left and right of them. They don't complain because they know they volunteered. The only thing they ask is that we do not forget the sacrifices they have made. One of the dirty "big hoo ha" bikers, as you call them, was Brian's uncle, a Vietnam Veteran, like myself. We were not treated with a homecoming. We were spit on and called baby killers by a misguided public. Brian's uncle was giving him the respect that he, himself, never received when he came back and I, for one, am proud of him for doing so. You say that your brother is a deputy in another Missouri county. I am sure he would be proud to escort the casket of a fallen solder, the same as he would that of a fallen officer. I am also sure he would not agree with your complaint about being inconvenienced. My mother recently passed away. She was a World War II Veteran, serving the U.S. Army. She would say, maybe you should pick up Sergeant Woods' ruck sack and carry on where he left off. Then you could see first hand what it really is to be inconvenienced. Per your request, I will forward your complaint to the Prosecuting Attorney's Office for his review. It is my personal opinion that your complaint is self-serving and without merit. Sheriff Oliver "Glenn" Boyer "

[Edited on September 13, 2009 at 1:56 PM. Reason : title too long]

9/13/2009 1:54:12 PM

im going to go out on a limb here and say it was a fat bitch

9/13/2009 1:56:03 PM

i, too, think that funeral processions during rush hour on an interstate are a result of poor planning and i, too, would be annoyed if they held me up in any significant way

i don't care if he's a soldier or a regular joe...it's inconsiderate

the dude's dead...i doubt he cares one bit when his funeral procession is...it could easily have been during the mid-morning or mid-afternoon when traffic is lighter

i admit that i didn't read anything but the first few sentences summarizing her letter...it was enough knowing about it being during rush hour on an interstate for me to sympathize (a little, at least...it DOES sound like she was quite the bitch) with her

[Edited on September 13, 2009 at 2:02 PM. Reason : .]

9/13/2009 2:00:56 PM

Doesn't sound like he was having too much fun to me

9/13/2009 2:01:19 PM

it didn't seem to me that she was complaining about being inconvenienced, but w/e

9/13/2009 2:04:10 PM

Quote :

"i, too, think that funeral processions during rush hour on an interstate are a result of poor planning and i, too, would be annoyed if they held me up in any significant way"

Traffic is slow in rush-hour anyways. On I-40 it would actually move faster during a funeral procession. Because at least one lane would be moving. What is another 5, 10, or 15 minutes out of your oh-so-important day anyways?

9/13/2009 2:04:26 PM

Mmm...

I would probably go "dammit" if I got stuck somewhere due to a funeral procession, but I'd just call into work/whoever/wherever and tell them I was going to be late and deal with it.

Bitching at the cop wasn't exactly a smart thing to do. People die, they're just making sure that traffic from the procession moves through as quickly as possible. It's like a 3 minute delay, unless you're following the funeral procession for a while.

9/13/2009 2:04:28 PM

I would hate it if my funeral inconveniences other people in any way, even if I was someone as important as Obama or Bush.

And I wouldn't want a funeral any way... just fucking throw me in to the ground and pour dirt over me. I am dead... leave me be and get on with your lives and don't inconvenience others because of my death.

Note: I didn't read her email or the response, so I don't know if her bitching was justified or not. I am just saying something hypothetical.


[Edited on September 13, 2009 at 2:07 PM. Reason : ]

9/13/2009 2:04:56 PM

I, too, read this as " Angry Womans Letter to Sheriff About Soldiers Fun Funeral Procession"

9/13/2009 2:05:02 PM

what a shitty human being

people like her are what is wrong with this fucking country. self important ass holes

she left an abusive husband and now thinks everyone is required to treat her a certain way

A+ to the response letter

and lol at "i might have had to pick up a kid at daycare etc" shit i bet she was trying to get home to watch some tv show and get her mcdonalds on

9/13/2009 2:06:06 PM

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" BIG HOO HA BIKER "

really, all this you're either for or against the troops bullshit has to stop. its as bad as the "think of the children" defense.

9/13/2009 2:07:05 PM

i'm against the war, but i support the troops

[Edited on September 13, 2009 at 2:10 PM. Reason : i even have a yellow ribbon to prove it]

9/13/2009 2:08:27 PM

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"really, all this you're either for or against the troops bullshit has to stop. its as bad as the "think of the children" defense."

That's irrelevant here. Someone died. Show some respect for that person, their friends, and family.

9/13/2009 2:09:58 PM

i don't care about either letter

how's that make you feel?

9/13/2009 2:10:13 PM

^so tuff

9/13/2009 2:11:05 PM

Quote :

"Traffic is slow in rush-hour anyways. On I-40 it would actually move faster during a funeral procession. Because at least one lane would be moving. What is another 5, 10, or 15 minutes out of your oh-so-important day anyways?"

possibly...it depends on where they're going and how many people are involved...it also depends on the "rush hour"...some parts of rush hour are congested while others are a parking lot

i don't suppose it's fair to say that ANY procession during rush hour is bad, but i don't think it's fair to assume that they're not holding anyone up, either...in all likelihood, they COULD have done it at any other time during the day that would have allowed people to pass easily

it also depends where you're going and when you're supposed to be there...if i allow myself 10 extra minutes to get to work and i get caught behind some dead guy and his friends for 15 minutes, yeah, i'd be pissed

*shrug*...no funeral procession has ever inconvenienced me, i just understand how it can be frustrating

Quote :

"That's irrelevant here. Someone died. Show some respect for that person, their friends, and family."

whoop-de-fucking-do...everyone dies at some point...knowingly and intentionally causing an inconvenience for others because you think the dead person is important is rude

again, i don't know the particulars or the traffic patterns...maybe the procession had absolutely no negative impact and the woman is a raging bitch...or maybe the procession was a huge pain the ass for those not involved, and if that's the case, i'm on the side of those who are pissed off about it

[Edited on September 13, 2009 at 2:13 PM. Reason : .]

9/13/2009 2:11:10 PM

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"i'm against the war, but i support the troops"

I know everybody says that... but if you think about it, that's a contradictory position. Not on the surface perhaps, but think deeper.

9/13/2009 2:12:24 PM

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"so tuff"

i got a bonus here

9/13/2009 2:13:27 PM

^^i was being facetious

[Edited on September 13, 2009 at 2:14 PM. Reason : ^ ]

9/13/2009 2:13:40 PM

I understand how it can be frustrating to get caught in it...but honestly how often do you get caught in a funeral procession? Unless she lives in a town where someone dies every day I don't see why having one day of being stuck in traffic is something so horrible.

9/13/2009 2:13:55 PM

fecesious?

9/13/2009 2:14:15 PM

^x6 I agree that you should minimize the impact if you can but sometimes you can't.

If it was that lady's child in the funeral I think she wouldn't wanted disrespected in any way, but there is always going to be someone pissed off for whatever reason.


When my sister died at the age of 2 I felt she was respected when people pulled off onto the side of the road out of respect for the funeral procession. I really didn't care about how the other people felt. I was devastated. People just need to look at the bigger picture.

[Edited on September 13, 2009 at 2:16 PM. Reason : -]

9/13/2009 2:16:31 PM

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"i was being facetious"

hahaha oh i know

but i searched the internet for tough guy and that came up and good lord i loled

---

tell you what i love though

i love it when people bitch about people not getting over in the left lane

"please act selfless for my selfishness"

9/13/2009 2:16:46 PM

OH I GUESS YOU WEREN'T THEN

I SEE HOW IT IS

FACETIOUS JAPAN

9/13/2009 2:17:23 PM

Quote :

"whoop-de-fucking-do...everyone dies at some point...knowingly and intentionally causing an inconvenience for others because you think the dead person is important is rude"

I disagree 100%. Lose someone close to you and I will come shit on their grave. I'm pretty sure their death will become important to you then.


[Edited on September 13, 2009 at 2:22 PM. Reason : Also, it's not like that person is going to inconvenience you anymore ever again.]

9/13/2009 2:20:23 PM

super duper

2 wrongs is awesome

throw everything you believe down a hole for spite

9/13/2009 2:22:04 PM

No wonder her ex-husband abused her.

9/13/2009 2:22:09 PM

yeah, because

inconveniencing others, i.e., being in their way = someone dumping shit on you when you are not in anybody's way

9/13/2009 2:22:13 PM

lol at being pissed at being 15min late for work bc of a funeral

ya, i know my boss would fire me if i was late because i was held up by a funeral procession that i couldn't possibly predict

i guess im fortunate that being slightly late for something doesn't wind me up and piss me off like some other people. sure i like being on time but when something unpredictable happens you just have to go with the flow and not let it ruin your life

9/13/2009 2:23:07 PM

Quote :

" I really didn't care about how the other people felt. I was devastated. People just need to look at the bigger picture"

the bigger picture being...you? so the bigger picture is a small number of people instead of a large number? that makes no sense.

at the same time, i DO agree with you...i DO believe the dead deserve respect, not so much for those that have passed (because, really they don't care), but for the living to mourn them

but FORCIBLY imposing an inconvenience on others is a wrong way to go about it...the dead and their family are NOT more important than the scores of people who have to be inconvenienced by poor planning (again, this is assuming that it really was causing a problem...a delay of a couple of minutes is not a big deal...a delay of 10 or more would piss me off...it's possible that this woman is blowing it out of proportion)

9/13/2009 2:24:04 PM

just makes me sleepy

9/13/2009 2:24:04 PM

Quote :

"I disagree 100%. Lose someone close to you and I will come shit on their grave. I'm pretty sure their death will become important to you then."

blah blah blah...i've lost people close to me and i didn't need to upset the traffic pattern of an interstate system to mourn them

some people are capable of mourning without the requirement of the pity of others...you, apparently, are not one of them

9/13/2009 2:26:29 PM

Quote :

"I know everybody says that... but if you think about it, that's a contradictory position. Not on the surface perhaps, but think deeper."

negative, not contradictory at all

9/13/2009 2:26:36 PM

i think she was complaining more about being screamed at and harrassed than anything else.


not taking any sides here, but the entire situation could have been handled better.

9/13/2009 2:46:55 PM

Quote :

"whoop-de-fucking-do...everyone dies at some point...knowingly and intentionally causing an inconvenience for others because you think the dead person is important is rude "

Quagmire, you are an inconsiderate cunt. This man was a soldier who died protecting your rights and you act like it's no big deal. If this incident had been a normal funeral procession I could understand, but it was a military funeral held to honor the life of a fallen soldier. I'm sure he was a better man than you could ever hope to be. Show some fucking respect to those who have earned it.

9/13/2009 2:57:17 PM

there's people that live to be 100 who teach 3rd graders all their lives

21 gun salute

9/13/2009 2:59:53 PM

Maybe he intentionally killed/raped/tortured some Iraqis/Afghanis. Did you think about that?

Soldier != necessarily a good person

[pot stirred]

9/13/2009 2:59:58 PM

^^yeah, to me, it's more of a matter of this hag being an inconsiderate bitch at a funeral procession, regardless of who was boxed up.

[Edited on September 13, 2009 at 3:01 PM. Reason : ^^]

[Edited on September 13, 2009 at 3:02 PM. Reason : ^ maybe, but the odds are overwhelming greater than he smoked a few assholes who did stuff like that]

9/13/2009 3:00:59 PM

You see that marko? Those are American flags. AMERICAN FLAGS! You terrorist!

9/13/2009 3:05:10 PM

^^^ He was a highly decorated soldier and recipient of the purple heart. Considering he was a sniper, I'm sure he protected many American lives over their. Regardless of what type of person he was, he gave his life while protecting you, me, every user on tww and our entire country. The man at least deserves to have rude soccer mom pull over while his funeral procession advaces.

[Edited on September 13, 2009 at 3:09 PM. Reason : .]

9/13/2009 3:08:48 PM

Quote :

"Quagmire, you are an inconsiderate cunt. This man was a soldier who died protecting your rights and you act like it's no big deal. If this incident had been a normal funeral procession I could understand, but it was a military funeral held to honor the life of a fallen soldier. I'm sure he was a better man than you could ever hope to be. Show some fucking respect to those who have earned it."

hahahaha...i love that

fuck you and fuck your "respect"...he's DEAD and his FAMILY has not earned JACK SHIT from me...the soldier is dead and at this point in time doesn't give a rat's ass about his procession

soldiers DESERVE nothing more than a "normal" person...they are people doing a job...for all i know, he joined the military because he was a fucking high school dropout with no better options (i'm not saying this is true, but it COULD be)...he could also have joined because he believed in the cause, which made him a fucking moron

it's also possible that he was a decent guy who joined the military because he felt that he wanted to give back to this country and he went where he did because he was told to and he's a good soldier...no matter what, HE'S DEAD and my thoughts on this matter have NOTHING to do with him or what he did

the funeral procession is comprised of family and friends and they have done NOTHING to earn respect from ME...i resent those that ride on the coattails of others and pretend like they DESERVE something just because they happen to be related to or know someone else that has contributed something worthwhile...THEY are the inconsiderate cunts

but i couldn't care less what you think of me...a person is a person is a person...when they are dead, they cease to be a person and become fertilizer (or they should, if we didn't pump them full of preserving chemicals)...respect of their memory is not to be extended to the family...the family deserves respect in their own right, and if they're a bunch of assholes that think their personal issues should envelope the whole of rush hour, they deserve NO respect in my eyes

go fuck yourself

[Edited on September 13, 2009 at 3:10 PM. Reason : okay, so he WAS a good soldier and a good guy...the points i made still stand]

9/13/2009 3:09:32 PM

EMCE, YOU GOT A LOT OF NERVE CALLING ME OUT

COW-MAN TWINKLETOES

9/13/2009 3:12:49 PM

I'M TWICE THE COW-MAN YOU'LL... EVER... BE

9/13/2009 3:14:08 PM

He was in that procession. His body was in the coffin cloaked with an American flag. Just because he is dead, doesn't mean his body should not be respected. I never said that his family deserves anything at all. Out of respect, the woman should have pulled over to allow the body of a fallen soldier to pass.

9/13/2009 3:16:44 PM

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"#3, They are not law enforcement and had no right to stop in the lane on Gravois and they had no right to scream at me and intimidate and threaten me. If I would have had my pepper spray, I would have used it on this nasty man!"

This would have been the problem that I had. These guys are not law enforcement/emergency personnel and I wouldn't have appreciated the way they acted either.

9/13/2009 3:47:42 PM

in the end, here's the thing:

dude's still dead

and she'll be on time for work on monday

maybe

9/13/2009 3:51:17 PM

Quote :

"i think she was complaining more about being screamed at and harrassed than anything else."

yeah, this is really what would have bothered me. former soldier or not, the big hoo ha biker had no right to get in her face.

9/13/2009 3:56:23 PM

it's not like anybody in St. Louis can drive properly anyway

9/13/2009 3:58:31 PM

words

9/13/2009 3:58:56 PM

I wonder if they really yelled at her.

With statements like "dirty, nasty, renegade, who knows what motorcycle men", I can only imagine what her preconceptions of bikers are.

9/13/2009 4:10:55 PM