Friday, March 17, 2006
Patterson stands up against extremists in Veterans Cemetary Protest
Update: 3/26/06: TMR received word that the extremists who tried disturb the funeral were from a Kansas based hate group that masquerades as a church. They are not affiliated with liberals, moderates, or conservatives; just hate. All the more reason for them to be stopped from desecrating the funeral of a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice.
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Our good friend, true patriot, and fellow Aggie Jerry Patterson released the following statement today. It just goes to show that the battle against extremists is never-ending.
AUSTIN — Jerry Patterson, Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office, released the following statement today regarding the plans of a Topeka, Kansas-based church to protest at the funeral services of Pfc. Amy Duerksen. Pfc. Duerksen died in Iraq on March 11th.
“The policy at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery is that attendance at funerals is limited to friends and families of the fallen,” said Patterson, chairman of the Texas Veterans Land Board. “I will not allow a disturbance to degrade the sanctity of this hallowed ground. I respect the First Amendment right to protest, but I have a duty to protect the rights of those who have given their lives to defend American freedoms.”
Pfc. Duerksen graduated from Charis Christian High School in Copperas Cove in 2005 and joined the United States Army. She trained in signal systems equipment repair at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina and was stationed at Ft. Hood prior to her deployment to Iraq. She was promoted to Private First Class on March 1. Pfc. Duerksen comes from a military family, her father is a Chaplin in the U.S. Army.
“She is a hero and Texans are grateful to have soldiers like her, protecting the freedoms each of us holds dear,” Patterson said. “She will be buried with full military honors and in peace — her family deserves no less.”
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